Identifying OS from an unlabelled product key

NiftyDigits

jizzler wrote: »

Ohhh get you.

Troll.....

Anarchist

Guardsman wrote: »

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-windows_install/i-have-my-product-key-but-what-version-am-i/21492025-f456-4ae6-a719-042974a3d595

I guess the answer is to ring microsoft then!

The laptop came across the windows 7 release, so its model is listed as supplied with vista and 7 OS's.

Plus thats not to mean that the CoA wasn't swapped.

Cheers, just have to wait till monday then I guess.

NiftyDigits

Anarchist wrote: »

I guess the answer is to ring microsoft then!

The laptop came across the windows 7 release, so its model is listed as supplied with vista and 7 OS's.

Plus thats not to mean that the CoA wasn't swapped.

Cheers, just have to wait till monday then I guess.

Brand name and model number? Does the COA look as it it has been swapped?? Is there an OS currently installed?

Anarchist

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Brand name and model number? Does the COA look as it it has been swapped?? Is there an OS currently installed?

Strangely, your prompt to investigate the CoA for whether it looked like it had been swapped or not, resulted in me noticing that I could just about make out the MS part code...

x13-04660

Which turns out to be Vista Business OEM, mission accomplished!

WilliamO

You can narrow your search by going into System Information on the Accessories folder from START > ALL PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > System Information

Basically check the bios date, amount of memory installed, etc.....also check your hard drive size etc as these give clues as to the year of manufacture etc. So if it was manufactured in 2008 for example it would more than likely be Windows Vista's coa.

WilliamO

NiftyDigits

Anarchist wrote: »

Strangely, your prompt to investigate the CoA for whether it looked like it had been swapped or not, resulted in me noticing that I could just about make out the MS part code...

x13-04660

Which turns out to be Vista Business OEM, mission accomplished!

Nearly.... though you may have to call Microsoft anyway, to activate it.

Brand name and model number? Do you have the Vista DVD?

Anarchist

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Nearly.... though you may have to call Microsoft anyway, to activate it.

Brand name and model number? Do you have the Vista DVD?

The laptop is a dell vostro 1220. I have an iso of Vista Business somewhere. But the laptop came with XP installed.

NiftyDigits

Anarchist wrote: »

The laptop is a dell vostro 1220. I have an iso of Vista Business somewhere. But the laptop came with XP installed.

Selling it on or keeping it for yourself?

NiftyDigits

Anyway, the simplest alternative if everything but the number is gone, is to use this PID Checker
But with Branded machines there is another path.

Anarchist

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Anyway, the simplest alternative if everything but the number is gone, is to use this PID Checker
But with Branded machines there is another path.

Thats exactly what I was looking for, cheers! It's confirmed it was a vista business OEM COA.

Description : Windows Vista Business - OEM:COA

It was a laptop I was given by one of my customers. It has a smashed keyboard (missing several keys) and a dead battery, and so they were going to bin it. Both things things I can repair fairly easily/cheaply though, £3 for a replacement keyboard (well, keys) and £15 for a battery = decent spec laptop for £18!

Not sure yet whether I'll be selling it on or not - my mum could probably do with a better laptop than the one she has!