Lost Licence Key

[fiza]

This is a question about a home user.

 

Bought a Dell PC about 2 years ago with Vista on it. at the time Dell were doing the free upgrade to Windows home with every purchase (they would send you the disk when W7 was released). Got the disk but never installed it. Eventually 2 years later have got around to wanting to install W7 on the PC but I have the disk but not the sleeve (with the licence key on it). Phoned Dell for assistance, not interested told me to phone Microsoft. Phoned Microsoft and was told we dont actually sell OS software directly so you need to go back to the OEM. Went back to Dell and they told me they cant help me as that promotion finished in 2010.

 

I have never installed W7 from the disk - have searched high and low for the sleeve with the key on it but no joy.

 

Am I stuffed?

[X-13]

Sounds like you are.

 

Have you tried the disk, sometimes OEM install disks have the key built in. [i'm going by the various XP/Vista ones we hve here. Plus, the Win8 beta install.]

[chazzy2501]

The disk is valueless, the sleeve key was the important thing. Can't think of a decent analogy... it's like the opposite of a chocolate bar.

[fiza]

@X-13

Tried that but its kept the Vista licence key which when you try to activate says invalid. Guess I will just have to buy another copy of W7.