Attempting to Retrieve Product Key with Easy Software from a Dead or Unbootable PC

"Recovering product key from a damaged HDD... Hi, recently my laptop had an issue with the motherboard, rendering it unusable. Almost everything was damaged, and I took it to a computer repair shop, but they couldn't do anything. We tried at least to recover the HDD, but without success. I'm currently building a new PC, and I'm wondering if there's any way to retrieve my Windows license. Thanks in advance for your help." -- Microsoft Website

When your computer becomes unbootable or “dead,” one common solution is to reinstall Windows so you can use it again. After finally deciding to take the “reinstall” plunge and stop procrastinating, another annoying thing happens: You need to enter your Windows product key. Some guides might suggest you check the sticker on your PC for the key, but over the years, that sticker may have become worn and the key unreadable, meaning you can't start your OS reinstall.

There are several ways to retrieve a product key from a crashed or non-bootable PC.

Quick navigation:

Method 1: Retrieve the Product Key from an Unbootable Computer Using a Key Finder Tool
Method 2: Obtain the Product Key with ProduKey
Method 3: Use KeyFinder Plus to Fetch Windows or Office Keys

Method 1: Retrieve the Product Key from an Unbootable Computer Using a Key Finder Tool

A quick way to retrieve your product keys is by using a specialized app, such as the Key Finder tool. It can scan both a functioning or a broken computer for the license keys of installed programs.

What can you do with this software if you download it?

On a healthy computer:

- Search for keys of popular software: Windows, Office, Adobe, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and Autodesk. - Retrieve saved browser usernames and passwords: Supported browsers include Chrome, Edge, IE, and Firefox. - Read connected WiFi passwords: Key Finder will find all WiFi passwords connected to the current computer. It makes identification effortless by running the software. - Locate usernames and passwords for Windows credentials.

On a frozen computer:

Recover product keys from an external hard drive: If your computer doesn't start, you can remove the system disk from your old PC and connect it to another device. This tool can then recover license keys of installed programs from the failed computer, such as Windows, Office, Adobe, and so on.

How to Retrieve a Product Key From a Dead Computer

Step 1: Remove the system drive from the unbootable or damaged computer and connect it to a working computer via a SATA-to-USB cable as an external drive.

Connect the operating system drive to the new computer via a USB-to-SATA cable as an external hard drive

Step 2. On a working computer, start the Key Finder tool, click on “External Hard Disk,” and then select the problematic or unbootable system drive from the “Select Drive” section. Click “Scan” to proceed.

Alternatively, you can browse under “Choose a Microsoft account” to select the user account on the unbootable or non-responsive operating system drive.

Step 3: Search for important product keys from the damaged or unbootable PC's operating system drive.

1. Find your Windows, app, or Wi-Fi password:

• Click on “Windows” or “Applications” to display the Windows product key or application software product key and WiFi passwords of a computer that won't start or is corrupted. • Click on “Copy,” “Print,” or “Save” to back up the Windows or installed software product keys and WiFi passwords.

Find your Windows, Application or WiFi key from a damaged or unbootable OS drive

2. Find the password for a browser or Windows credential:

• Click Internet & Network or Windows Credentials on the left, and then click Validate Now.

• Sign in with your Microsoft account and password to verify the damaged or unbootable PC.

Next, you will see all of the saved usernames and passwords in your browser or on your computer. You can “copy,” “print,” or “save” these accounts and passwords as a backup for your new computer.

Method 2: Retrieve the Product Key using ProduKey

Another key finder tool from NirSoft is ProduKey. If you've lost the keys to your installed programs (including Windows, Office, SQL Server, Exchange Server, Visual Studio, Adobe, and Autodesk products), this tiny utility can help.

Caution: The download link on a product page might not be obvious. Make sure the link is secure; otherwise, a malicious file could compromise your device.

How to use ProduKey:

Step one: Remove the hard drive from the old computer and connect it to a working one.

Step 2. Download ProduKey from the home page and run it.

Step 3: Click the “File” tab and choose “Select Source.”

Select the product key to transfer

Step 4: Select “Load product key from external software registry file.” Click the “Browse” button and navigate directly to the software registry file (Windows\System32\Config).

Click "Source Options".

Click “OK.” This will display the product key below it.

Method 3: Retrieve Your Windows or Office Key with KeyFinder Plus

KeyFinder Plus is another tiny program that can effortlessly retrieve lost product keys. It supports retrieving keys for Windows, Office, Exchange Server, SQL Server, and Adobe. If your PC has crashed and is unresponsive, this tool can be used to fetch the Windows or Office key from the malfunctioning computer.

How to use KeyFinder Plus:

Step 1. Run KeyFinder Plus and click the “Start Recovery” button.

Step 2: Select Recover from an unbootable system from the drop-down list.

Step 3: Click the “…” button next to the File location box. Select the SOFTWARE Registry file from the damaged hard drive. Navigate to the Windows\System32\Config folder.

Step 4. Click OK. KeyFinder Plus will search for all registry entries. You can now proceed with reinstalling Windows or export your other product keys.

Last Words

In this article, we have selected three applications to recover product keys from a malfunctioning or unbootable PC. For secure retrieval of your PC assets, we recommend using the Tools Key Finder. You won't have to worry about virus-infected files or complicated SOFTWARE registry entries. The other two tools also perform well in key retrieval. However, they might not be as straightforward for beginners when it comes to dealing with SOFTWARE registry files.