Windows Activation Issue - Lost Product Key on Second-Hand PC

Windows 11
1

I'm having trouble activating Windows on my PC, which I purchased second-hand. Unfortunately, I don't have the product key.

2

Hey there, sorry to hear you’re having trouble activating Windows on your second-hand PC.

First things first, let’s try to retrieve the product key from the PC itself. Sometimes, the previous owner might have forgotten to remove the key, or it might be stored in the BIOS. Here’s what you can do:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type slmgr.vbs /dli and press Enter. This will open the Windows Script Host window with your license information.
  3. Look for the “License Status” section. If you’re lucky, you might see the product key listed there.
  4. If that doesn’t work, you can try using a third-party tool like ProduKey or NirSoft’s License Crawler. These tools can scan your system and retrieve the product key for you.

If you’re unable to find the product key, you have a few options:

  • Contact the previous owner and ask them if they still have the product key. They might be willing to provide it to you.
  • Reach out to the seller or the store where you purchased the PC and ask if they can provide the product key or assist with activation.
  • If all else fails, you might need to purchase a new license key from Microsoft or an authorized reseller.

Before you do that, make sure you’ve checked the PC’s documentation and any packaging that came with it. Sometimes, the product key is printed on a sticker or included in the packaging.

If you do end up needing to purchase a new license key, make sure you buy from an authorized reseller to avoid any potential scams or invalid keys.

Good luck, and I hope you get your Windows installation activated soon