Keep your Windows product key safe and sound
In 2013 I bought a Vostro 3560 laptop (4GB RAM) with Windows 7 Pro from Dell. To date, I have studiously updated Windows right up to the latest October Update (1809). Wishing to speed the laptop up, I installed a further 4GB of memory, taking it to the maximum.
Once complete, I started to get pop-up requests to ‘validate’ my Windows software. In horror, I checked Windows settings to see that the current version required activation ‘due to a significant hardware change’. I went through several attempts to activate Windows 10 Pro, without success.
In frustration, I spoke to a Microsoft technician who talked me through the same activation process. The conclusion is that I needed the original Windows 7 product key. Dell told me the original key would have been given to me when I bought the laptop, and remains for the lifetime of the software. They said I could call them to assist, but at a cost of £100!
I decided to remove the new 4GB memory module, and found the original Windows 7 OEM key on a sticker, hidden under the battery (surely Dell could have advised me where to look without attempting to charge such an extortionate support fee?). Activation has now been completed.
So the moral of this story is to keep meticulous records of your product keys. I’ve since discovered that the free download Showkeyplus ( www.snipca. com/29812, see screenshot) will also reveal your product keys. Despite organisations like Dell keeping substantial records of your product, they (apparently) omit to keep one of the most important pieces of information.
I can’t believe that simply upgrading the RAM caused such problems, and I imagine many people will have had similar issues. I hope this may be of help to your readers. Mike Everitt