Solved old macrium free system image requires activation,

kkennyb

New Member
Messages
30
hi


when using macrium free to restore a system image that's older than a few weeks old, windows demands the windows product activation key for activation,which i haven't got because the OS is OEM and therefore has no sticker ,or any documentation containing the product key. the vendor refuses point blank to supply the key. i used to obtain the windows product key using the app ."windows key finder.exe" this no longer works. the real problem is how can i restore if i haven't got the key to activate. i could purchase a new key at 90 GBP but need to do this for 2 computers. i was wondering if there is any (safe)software that can recover the encrypted key from within windows like the aforementioned app used to do, perfectly well.


if there is no way of doing this ,how long is it before an archived system image needs to be activated when re-imaged? because then just before this time is reached i could re-image it ,let it activate itself then re-image back to the external HDD where it could be re imaged back (as and when needed)until just before the time-scale of it needing activation is not passed.i know i would have to keep repeating this time consuming process. . this is long winded (both to apply and for anyone to trying to follow this post-sorry)but as a matter of principle i dont want to purchase two windows product activation keys that i have already paid for when i purchased the computers new.


i know you are thinking that i could avoid all this by just creating a regular backup,but the archived system images are not infected with malware and are stable . i would be paranoid of creating a fresh system image that could be infected or that has somehow become unstable -i want to be able to restore from a guaranteed image that's good to go


i am hoping there is a simple solution to this that doesn't need me to do the above time consuming processes OR without having to purchase 2 product keys at considerable expense (considerable to me)


i know i could send the re imaged computer back to the vendor FOC (with whom i have an ongoing maintenance contract) and they could activate it but this would mean being without the computer for 7 days!


any advise would be most appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 bit PRO
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo ideapad 320-141SK
    Other Info
    THIS MACHINE WAS PURCHASED WITH WINDOWS 10 HOME 64 bit,and i want to run windows 8.1 PRO 64 bit
thank you very much!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 bit PRO
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo ideapad 320-141SK
    Other Info
    THIS MACHINE WAS PURCHASED WITH WINDOWS 10 HOME 64 bit,and i want to run windows 8.1 PRO 64 bit
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