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In that case, click the option titled Retrieve key from backup, and then navigate to the Windows\System32\Config folder located under Windows.old folder. If you have moved the Windows.old folder to a different location, ShowKeyPlus will not automatically recover the product key from Windows.old folder.
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In addition to that, if the Windows.old folder is located in the root of the drive where the currently running Windows is installed, and it will automatically retrieve the product key from the Windows.old folder and display it as Original key. Step 3: Once the application is launched, it will display your current product key, installed version, and edition of Windows. Click Yes button if you see the User Account Control box. Step 2: Extract ShowKeyPlus.zip file to get ShowKeyPlus executable. It’s a portable utility designed to help you recover Windows product key and, more importantly, is free software. Step 1: Visit this page of GitHub and download the latest version of ShowKeyPlus software. If you have the image backup of a version of Windows, mount or extract the image file contents to a folder and then follow the given below instructions.
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Repeat steps 5–7 for each user account on your PC.Note: In addition to Windows.old folder, you can also use this method to retrieve the product key from any kind of backup that you previously created, either using the native image backup tool or third-party software on your internal drive or external drive. Open the folders that contain the files you want to retrieve.Ĭopy and paste the files that you want from each folder to a folder in Windows 8.1. (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Search.)Įnter Computer in the search box, and then tap or click Computer in the search results.ĭouble-tap or double-click the drive that Windows is installed on (typically, the C: drive).ĭouble-tap or double-click the Windows.old folder.ĭouble-tap or double-click the Users folder.ĭouble-tap or double-click your user name.
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Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. If you decide you want some or all of these files back, you can usually retrieve them from this folder. If you choose to “Keep nothing” when you upgrade to Windows 8.1, or if you reset, refresh, or reinstall Windows, your personal files are temporarily saved to the Windows.old folder for 28 days (unless you formatted your hard drive before installing).
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