Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
Very good question, and good idea to ask BEFORE re-installing windows (too many people ask
AFTER! ).
Here are some tools you can use to extract the Product Key(s) from your system
Tools to Extract Product Key
http://www.7tutorials.com/how-recover-your-lost-windows-7-or-windows-8-product-key
You can use any of the following tools to extract the Product Key from you computer. These tools report on many installed programs on your computer, not just Office.
PS: you should keep a copy (printed and/or file copies on external storage devices) of the report(s) generated by these tools so you have all of your product keys / registration numbers available for future re-installs
FYI: I (Rohn) have not tested these tools in Windows 8 (just haven’t had an excuse to make/waste the time), but I don’t expect any problem. The underlying mechanics of Windows 8 are essentially the same as Windows 7 if you ignore the Metro User Interface. Think of metro as “lipstick on a pig”. The pig is not changed by adding a little paint on the surface.
Normally you have several resources to find your Retail Product Key.
1. Your original package or purchase confirmation e-mail
2. Online download account
3. You can extract the Product Key from the machine itself
4. Image copy backups of system with Office installed
5. Activation backup utilities
From what I’ve read, MS uses a file called TOKENS.DAT to store encrypted product activation keys:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatform\Tokens.DAT
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareLicensing\Tokens.data
C:\Windows.Old\ProgramData\Microsoft\OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatform\Tokens.DAT (if you did an in-place Windows Upgrade)
After you extract the Product Key, make sure to write it down and keep it in a safe place. Burning a copy of the installation file to a CD would also be a good idea if you don’t have the installation disk.
NOTE: OEM (factory install and activated) licenses use a different key than the one reported. Only the factory can use the PK from the original factory activation. You would have been provided with a separate piece of paper with a Product key for reactivation.
I have tried the first 6 in this list with various degrees of success:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - not only does Belarcextract product keys, it reports on a WHOLE BUNCH of other stuff you want to know. Printing the report, or saving it is probably a good idea.
http://www.gtopala.com/ SIW – System Information for Windows(portable app), the install keys for Windows, Office and some other programs are displayed. Start SIW (no install required) and click on Software | Licenses. (SIW for Win 2010 Build 0714g)
http://www.**magicaljellybean**.com/ V 2.0.8- Office 2003 OK, 2007 OK, 2010 na, Win Vista Wrong)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/keyfinder / - Enchanted Keyfinder Beta Portable- Win (9X, ME, NT/2K/XP, Vista, Win7), MS Office (97, XP, 2003, 2007, 2010), Recover key for 484 other software and counting
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html Nirsoft ProduKey V1.45- Office 2003 OK, 2007, 2010, Win Vista)
ProduKey may be able to extract product key information from a registry file saved externally. This is useful if you’re trying to get the key details from the backup of a now defunct machine. Try the /Regfile option.
http://www.**winkeyfinder**.com/download.php (Office 2003 , 2007 , 2010 , Win Vista )
http://www.technibble.com/**license-crawler**-find-product-keys-in-the-registry/ License Crawler V1.2 B98 (Office 2003, 2007 , 2010 , Win Vista )
http://www.sterjosoft.com/list/ - SterJo Software Key Finder. Confirmed to work on XP through Win8, Office XP/2002 through 2010
http://techblissonline.com/product-key-cd-keyserial-number-software-vista-xp/ - License Crawler for Vista XP (Office 2003 , 2007 , 2010 , Win Vista )
Abelssoft MyKeyFinder- http://www.abelssoft.net/mykeyfinder.php - found all Office keys correctly
Product Key Explorer http://www.techrepublic.com/software/product-key-explorer-324-windows/32741939
Product Key Extract Tool Chart
| Product | Belarc Advisor V8.1 | SIW 2010 B0714g | Magical Jelly Bean V2.0.8 | Nirsoft ProduKey V1.45 | Win Key Finder V1.73 | License Crawler V1.2 | AblesSoft MyKey Finder 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win Vista Sticker | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Win Vista Extracted | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Win Default Product Key Extracted implied upgrade from NT | NA | Yes | NA | NA | NA | NA | Yes |
| Office 2003 Standard Sticker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Office 2007 Home & Student Sticker | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Office 2010 Home & Student Free Upgrade from 2007 Sticker | ID’d as 2007 | ID’d as 2007 | ID’d as 2007 | ID’d as 2007 | No | No | Yes |
| Office 2010 Home & Business Trial | No | Yes | Na | Yes | Na | Yes | Na |
| Office 2010 Pro Trial / Single Image | Yes | Yes | Na | Yes | Na | Yes | Na |
Backup Product Key
How to Reinstall Vista / Win7 / Office 2010 Without Having to Re-activate – http://www.howtogeek.com/75496/how-to-reinstall-windows-without-having-to-reactivate/
In Win7, can you use the Windows.old folder that the installer made to regain that product key?
I have not had an opportunity to try these tools:
Advanced Token Manger - Tokens.dat works as a digitally signed file, which stores the majority of the windows activation files.
All files together employ a digital signature that prevents tokens.dat be replaced on other machines
From what I’ve read, MS uses a file called TOKENS.DAT to store encrypted product keys:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatform\Tokens.DAT
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareLicensing\Tokens.data
Try Recover Keys http://recover-keys.com/. They have a free demo version to see if it will work for you. The full version costs $30. Use it search your Windows.old and use the hive function to point to the Windows.old\windows folder
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/tp/topkeyfinder.htm – 13 Keyfinder programs
http://recover-keys.com/ - Product Key Finder for Win, Office & 3000+ more prog. (Trial only shows first 4 char)