The Glade 4.0

I bought a computer with Vista installed. I was not given an install CD. Hard drive is now shot, and I need to replace it. Surely there is some way to recover the CD key from the software? Download an install file?

The computer works in safe mode, so I can get to the software. Just don't know where to find the data.

If you bought the computer with Vista installed, it should have a sticker on it declaring it as housing Genuine Microsoft Software with the key on it.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Will look. Thanks.

I'm a little confused. If the computer boots in safe mode, then it's not too likely that the hard drive can be that shot. Are you sure it's not just file system corruption or maybe a few stray bad sectors in just the wrong places?

In any case, Kaffis is right. But if the Vista registration scheme is anything like Win 7, and AFAIK they are essentially the same, you can't install or activate retail box Windows using a "system builder" (i.e. OEM) key.

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Sail forth! steer for the deep waters only!
Reckless, O soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me;
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,
And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.

Yeah, found that out the hard way, Stathol. Bleh.

Still, if you've got access to an OEM disc or .iso, you should be able to do it.

Also, echoing Stathol's comment on suspecting file corruption. If you've got access to safe mode, you could try restoring registry hives from the Repair copy; it'll have to reinstall several drivers and whatnot, but it's better than doing a wipe and reinstall if you don't have to.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Don't most OEM systems now come with a recovery partition, or some kind of 'restore to new' button combination?

You can install any form of Windows 7 from any form of disc. There's a command line function that changes the registration state of the installation, but it eludes me at the moment.

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Belarc advisor, free version, it will audit your PC and provide you with your license keys

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History of the Condom
In 1272, the Muslim Arabs invented the condom, using a goat's lower intestine.
In 1873, the British somewhat refined the idea, by taking the intestine out of the goat first.

I just ran this. Pretty nifty. Thanks for the tip!