Vista - Help, lost my Vista product key!!!!

I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out. I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one? Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

"bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
>I
> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
> the
> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
> I
> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
> Do
> I have to buy a new full edition??

Dunno.

Have you tried asking M$?

They must have a record of your current license and will
have a record of the legitimate Vista upgrades.
It might be worth giving them a bell.

The Product Key is not on the CD in any form.
The only record to on the wrapper you threw out.
If Dell can not help, you may need to purchase another if you want
Vista.

A very slight chance:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=326246
But I doubt it since it is OEM.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came
>out. I
> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or
> it got
> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have
> done the
> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to
> continue. I
> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do??
> Dell says I
> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another
> one? Do
> I have to buy a new full edition??

Go to this link http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download and
run this Belarc Advisor.
It will give you a list of all your hardware and software installed on your
system.
In the software section it will display your Vista product ID and Key.

Rich
"bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
>I
> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
> the
> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
> I
> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
> Do
> I have to buy a new full edition??

Julian

M$ has nothing to do with OEM=Dell which is what the OP has.

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Julian" <Julianlzb87@gmail.com> wrote in message news:5D1003CA-E44A-48D8-A921-DB2D69E426A8@microsoft.com...
> "bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
>>I
>> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
>> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
>> the
>> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
>> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
>> I
>> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
>> Do
>> I have to buy a new full edition??
>
> Dunno.
>
> Have you tried asking M$?
>
> They must have a record of your current license and will
> have a record of the legitimate Vista upgrades.
> It might be worth giving them a bell.
>

Rich

If the Key was never inputted it will not be there. Jupiter's advice stands

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Rich Elgin" <relgin@ameritech.net> wrote in message news:eud8S2DkHHA.4516@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Go to this link http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download and
> run this Belarc Advisor.
> It will give you a list of all your hardware and software installed on your
> system.
> In the software section it will display your Vista product ID and Key.
>
> Rich
> "bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
>>I
>> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
>> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
>> the
>> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
>> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
>> I
>> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
>> Do
>> I have to buy a new full edition??
>

"bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out. I
> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done the
> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says I
> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one? Do
> I have to buy a new full edition??

If you did not get the XP restore disk, there should be access to the XP restore via a hidden
partition on the hard drive. Check your owners manual on how to access it.
As others will tell you, you have to learn to keep track of the Product code that comes with the
disk. A hard lesson, but now you will know better.

"Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eleug5DkHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Julian

M$ has nothing to do with OEM=Dell which is what the OP has.

Fair enough. It was just a thaught.

"bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
>I
> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
> the
> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
> I
> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
> Do
> I have to buy a new full edition??

Is the product key not on a label on the side of the computer (bottom if
it's a laptop)?

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com

You would need the key, or have to buy a new copy. Mine came in a plastic
jewel case similar to a DVD case with it attached.

I'd be looking through the garbage trying to save a good $100 on a
replacement copy.

--
Dustin Harper
dharper@vistarip.com
http://www.vistarip.com

--
"bgosper" <bgosper@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9C6C4A81-FB60-4C7F-8D53-3D1C0FCB4688@microsoft.com...
>I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
>I
> received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
> thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
> the
> install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
> can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
> I
> am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
> Do
> I have to buy a new full edition??