Recovering old product key

We had a problem today that resulted in us having to do a full re install on our Lenovo C440 AIO. We had hoped to do it on their one key recovery but it wasn't possible.

We used a full copy of 8.1 that we had as a retail buy to upgrade our laptop. Worked a treat and the box is up and running. Problem is MS remind us that this has been installed before and to enter the correct key.

The OS came pre-installed and unlike the old days the product key is not on a sticker on the back or on the packing and does not come on a card in the packaging.

Using Jellybean I have been able to read the registry and confirm that the retail code is the key in the reg. I can see that there is a regback copy in System32/config/ albeit the files are shown 0KB.
Trying to open them using notepad is not possible as it reports the files are in use by another program..

Is there something that can read these files to see if the original key is contained?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27129-product-key-find-windows-8-a.html


You can Order Lenovo Recovery Disks from here:
Lenovo Support - Home (US)
Click on Parts & Accessories.
or
https://www.lenovorecovery.com/Extranet/Home.aspx

The first link only deals with installed current, not installed previous issues. IE. How I can read the backup files.

The second is possible but as we are in HK the level of customer service is dank PLUS we are at the start of the CNY holiday so everything is shutting down.

If someone can concentrate on the backup issue, that would be best at this point. Otherwise I will have to sort it out with MS admin I suppose.

Use rweverything to read the key from the firmware. RWEverything | Read & Write Everything

After opening rweverything, click ACPI tab, then MSDM .

Your key will be at the bottom

OK you have earned yourself a day of free drinking and eating on my tab.
Spot on answer.

You're welcome