Solved Smudged Vista Sticker

A

Andybob274

New Member
What's the quickest route to take for a smudged/blurry Vista sticker? My wife uses a stand for her laptop and the rubber pads have made the serial key unreadable. I'm just not sure if my best start point is the laptop manufacturer or Microsoft. Anybody else been through this situation that may have a few tips? Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

Hello Andybob, and welcome to Vista Forums. :)

The program in the tutorial below will allow you to see what the pruduct key number that you are currently using is. This way you will be able to write it down and keep it somewhere safe to use when needed.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/85023-product-key-number.html

Hope this help,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hi Andy,

There is a product key on your HD that can be viewed using free SIW:

SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala

If it is a pre installed operating system , that is probably not the same as the one on the sticker.

To use the key off the HD to activate a reinstall, you also need the activation code , that is on the HD too.

Best to contact the manufacturer to see if they have a record of the key that is on the sticker.

Hope it helps
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
the key on the HDD is different than the sticker (i used magical jelly bean to sniff that) but i still want the true key from the sticker in the event of an issue down the road, probably will never be an issue, but it's the principal of it. ie: we paid for the key on that sticker and MS decided that a little laminate is too much of an expense. anyway i'll probably start with the manufacturer as they will have more record of it, thanks for the quick responses!
 

My Computer

System One

If you have your laptop's serial number still visable, the manufacturer may be able to look it up.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
the 3rd set of numbers are clearly visible but the other 4 sets are an indecipherable mess, not sure if that will be enough. i guess i will have to start the process with them but am not looking forward to it. it's a gateway and since acer bought them out you know how much fun their tech support is to deal with. not that they are a bad company, just, difficult to 'talk' to.
 

My Computer

System One

OEM Vista installs can be "activated" without contacting Microsoft. With Vista, if you have what is called a SLIC table in the BIOS (if your computer came pre-installed with Vista, it should); a valid OEM certificate installed that matches your BIOS; and a Vista key that matches the other two. The best thing is you can get all of this legally from your current install.

1) Check to make sure that your BIOS has a SLIC table; if it doesn't then you can't use this method. To check, download Everest (just get the 30-day trial version); extract/install/run it; click on Motherboard, then APCI; make sure you have a SLIC entry there and that it matches your computer manufacturer.

2) Extract the OEM SLIC certificate from your current Vista install. This link shows how to do this. Alternatively, you can search the net to see if someone has posted a certificate file for your manufacturer. The extension for the certificate files should be xrm-ms.

3) Use the Jelly Bean Keyfinder to get the OEM Vista key; the Vista key on the product key sticker will not work.

4) Save the OEM SLIC certificate and Vista key to a USB drive.

5) Use an Vista OEM install DVD to format and install Vista on your computer. You can get the install DVD from a friend; or a torrent if you're adventurous.

6) When installing Vista, do not enter the product key and choose the version of Vista that you had installed originally.

7) After the install finishes, copy the certificate file to the C: drive.

8) Run cmd as administrator: click Start, type in cmd, then hit Ctrl+Shift+Enter on the keyboard.

9) In the command window type in: slmgr.vbs -ipk <your product key>

10) Then: slmgr.vbs -ilc C:\<your cert file>.xrm-ms

11) Right-click on Computer, scroll down, you should see that Vista is activated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    a
    Motherboard
    a
    Memory
    a
    Graphics Card(s)
    a
    Sound Card
    a
    Monitor(s) Displays
    a
    Screen Resolution
    a
    Hard Drives
    a
    Case
    a
    Cooling
    a
    Keyboard
    a
    Mouse
    a
    Internet Speed
    a
this is the quick answer i was looking for

Replacement product key

To replace a product key, locate the appropriate telephone number by visiting the following Microsoft Web site: Help and Support

and by following that, MS clearly states:
Contact your computer manufacturer for support if your product was pre-installed on your computer.

thanks for all the help, i found my way to this info from the 'similar threads' links at the bottom of the thread which is extremely helpful as well since google was awfully quiet on the subject

great site! keep up the good work, and i'll be back if i hit another bump
 

My Computer

System One

Andybob, I'm happy you found the information you needed. I hope that you will be able to get your key number. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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