Finding the Windows Vista product key

[Radi_SVK]

Hello guys,need you help again.So I have another HP Pavilion (dv6000 series) laptop at home to repair.The issue is that just when it finishes loading Windows Vista and meant to enter it,the machine just restart itself.After examining it and doing several test,I've decided to try to boot the Vista installation a do a fresh one.Being able to enter the Installation of OS just proves,that the issue was probably just a really messed up Vista.So I should be just doing a fresh install by now you may think..So why Im not?Hey here it comes,a little problem.The sticker with the Vista OEM product key on the bottom of the laptop is so worn out,that its impossible to read the whole product key...so what now?
Im able to take out the hdd and use it on my other machines as an external hdd..and here comes my main question - is there any way to find that Vista OEM product key hidden somewhere,when the hdd is in a state of an external hdd??....cheers guys!!

 

[newtekie1]

Download something called Hiren's Boot CD.

It has an option to boot into something called "Mini-XP", that will give you an XP environment and it has a tool to read keys.

 

[Radi_SVK]

Download something called Hiren's Boot CD.

thanks my friend
and what it does?

 

[newtekie1]

thanks my friend
and what it does?

Sorry, I posted too early, I edited it to give more detail. It also has an assload of other useful tools.

 

[Radi_SVK]

Sorry, I posted too early, I edited it to give more detail. It also has an assload of other useful tools.

Thanks!!that sounds good..but where is the bloody download button on that page???

EDIT:never mind I've found it somewhere else.

 

[Radi_SVK]

Allright,I've tried the Hirens BootCD on USB drive and it works like charms.unfortunately,none of the utilities included on it helped me to recover the vista product key..but thats not important anymore,cos I just did a fresh install in the end..everything works fine,but a new issue arise.
DVD drive not recognized in my computer under Vista
tried few things but no results..what do you suggest guys?

 

[JousteR]

Try "Speccy" from piriform it tells you your CD/DVD Key..

 

[Radi_SVK]

Try "Speccy" from piriform it tells you your CD/DVD Key..

How does that help me to be able to see the drive in my computer?

 

[JousteR]

Ah ok you DID recover your key..my mistake i should read more in detail..sorry..:shadedshu

 

[stinger608]

Allright,I've tried the Hirens BootCD on USB drive and it works like charms.unfortunately,none of the utilities included on it helped me to recover the vista product key..but thats not important anymore,cos I just did a fresh install in the end..everything works fine,but a new issue arise.
DVD drive not recognized in my computer under Vista
tried few things but no results..what do you suggest guys?

It doesn't recognize the drive with a disk inserted? I know my systems will not show the cd/dvd drive in "my computer" unless they have disks in the drive.

 

[Radi_SVK]

Ah ok you DID recover your key..my mistake i should read more in detail..sorry..:shadedshu

No I didnt,it wasnt my key.Its a HP laptop where the OS was unable to boot..so In such a situation,its not easy to recover the key.If at all..but its not my concern anymore

 

[Radi_SVK]

It doesn't recognize the drive with a disk inserted? I know my systems will not show the cd/dvd drive in "my computer" unless they have disks in the drive.

No,the drive is not visible at all.

EDIT: to be honest,in your case something is wrong too.

 

[newtekie1]

No,the drive is not visible at all.

EDIT: to be honest,in your case something is wrong too.

In his case, he just has the option to hide empty drives under Folder Options.

As for your case, does the drive show up under Disk Management? It might just not have been given a drive letter.

 

[Radi_SVK]

In his case, he just has the option to hide empty drives under Folder Options.

As for your case, does the drive show up under Disk Management? It might just not have been given a drive letter.

Thanks,I've just looked and its actually not there either.strange thing is that uppon restart or when I insert a disc into the drive,its led blinks few times as it would start to read.but then it stops.

 

[Melvis]

Try this one> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

Not sure if it will work for a now external drive though, works well otherwise.

 

[newtekie1]

Thanks,I've just looked and its actually not there either.strange thing is that uppon restart or when I insert a disc into the drive,its led blinks few times as it would start to read.but then it stops.

Is it under device manager? Recognized in the BIOS at all?

 

[Radi_SVK]

Is it under device manager? Recognized in the BIOS at all?

Its not in the device manager and in the bios..well thats such a piece of junk bios,that doesnt even show the hdd..but I can confirm,that on bios post screen the hdd is detected,but the dvd drive not..so maybe we could assume that its simply a faulty drive?could it be a mobo issue however?I even took the drive out of the notebook and put it back,for the case there would be a connection issue.but that also didnt solve anything...so maybe I should suggest my customer to purchase a new drive?