Previously used Windows product keys

[Coomber]

Hi folks,

Bit of a strange question; is it possible that a computer stores a list of Windows product keys?

For example:

A computer is purchased which comes with Windows 7 installed. I then install Windows XP over it with a volume license key. Is there any way of retrieving the Windows 7 key without referring to the sticker or paperwork that came with the computer?

 

[SiriusB]

Nope.

 

[Pho]

I very much doubt it.

However, if it came from a manufacturer (e.g. HP) then it would have likely been licensed using a SLIC 2.1 key. License data embedded into your BIOS from the manufacturer + an HP certificate corresponding to the stuff in the BIOS + a volume key corresponding to the other bits = automatic activation of thousands of machines, all of which use the same key.

So basically.. the key on the bottom of the machine will probably not have been used to license it anyway and if you made a back-up/extracted it from another machine of your certificate/original volume key you can easily re-activate it - PROVIDED they all match up to the stuff in your BIOS.