Vista COA number recovery help please ?

[Alistair]

Hi Guys, have a new SATA hard drive to install on a vista laptop - the COA
is completely unreadable. If i put the failing drive in a USB disk drive is
there any software or way of retrieving the number from the COA please ?
(its not going to boot up as it is)
thanks
Allistair

 

[Paul]

Hi Guys, have a new SATA hard drive to install on a vista laptop - the COA
is completely unreadable. If i put the failing drive in a USB disk drive is
there any software or way of retrieving the number from the COA please ?
(its not going to boot up as it is)
thanks
Allistair

A word of warning.

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1226770659

"What are you using for a installation disk?

A Genuine DELL installation disk doesn't ask for a product key.

Also, the product key gleaned using Magic JellyBean KEYFINDER
from a genuine Dell installation will not work with a OEM
installation disk where as the product key on the outside
of a Dell system will work with a OEM disk.

Finally, A genuine Dell installation Product ID gleaned using
Magic JellyBean KEYFINDER, will not match the Product ID on
the outside of the case."

When you have a computer with branded OEM install on it, the user
doesn't enter a key when the computer is first turned on. It
means a key similar to a volume key of some sort is present.

If you "extract" that key, it is only valid for the particular
situation, which is an already installed image.

The key printed on the sticker on the side of the computer, is
different. That key can be used with a regular OEM install disc.

So, as far as I know, there are two keys. A key you could
extract with Magic JellyBean Keyfinder (which is not a useful
key). As well as a completely different "regular" key, printed
on the sticker (which you shouldn't lose).

If you were working on a home-built computer (such as mine),
then using the Keyfinder, you'd get a copy of the same 25 character
key as is printed on my COA. So then the Keyfinder would be a
useful thing to use.

If you discover otherwise, please post back your success story

Best guess,
Paul

 

[Unk]

Hi Guys, have a new SATA hard drive to install on a vista laptop - the COA
is completely unreadable. If i put the failing drive in a USB disk drive is
there any software or way of retrieving the number from the COA please ?
(its not going to boot up as it is)
thanks
Allistair

You said "failing". Is it still working?
If yes, just Ghost the old hard drive to the new one.

Norton Ghost v11 works well.

Unk

 

[Unk]

For a free solution, Western Digital and Seagate have free limited versions
of Acronis True Image which you can use to clone the drive. You need to
have a WD drive for the WD version or a Seagate drive for the Seagate
version connected either externally or internally in order to use the
software.

Why are you telling me? Tell the op...

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Why are you telling me?

Because you brought up Ghost, a paid commercial application.
Dominique offered a (potentially) free alternative, so it follows that
the post would be in reply to yours...

Tell the op...

Presumably if the OP is interested in following your recommendation
the OP will also ready replies to your post, so again, it is still
appropriate. IMO, of course.

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

the OP will also ready replies to your post, so again, it is still

Or *read* them, as applicable... Sigh.