How do I find my Windows product key?
To install, or reinstall, Windows needs your Windows license number or, to use its correct name, the product key.
If you do not have this, or have lost it, you should be able to extract the product key from your computer with a free utility called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.
There are other utilities that can search for keys on your hard drive, such as SterJo Key Finder, Belarc Advisor and Recover Keys, the latter of which is a payment alternative that can extract keys for many more applications.
You will not be able to obtain the product key from a PC or laptop if your hard drive has broken, or if Windows is damaged and cannot boot, or if you cannot log in.
It is worth noting that the key calls of OEM products, such as those printed on a sticker on a Dell or HP laptop or PC, will not work with the versions of Windows that you can download from Microsoft.
Simply put: as long as you have a genuine password, you can reinstall Windows.
How to download Windows ISO files legally
You cannot download Windows until you know what version of Windows your product key is, such as Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.
This may be printed on the label, but if not, you can go to the Control Panel, then System and Security, and System.
Windows 10
If you have Windows 10, you can now download the Microsoft Media Creation tool.
Windows 8
Windows 8 is more complicated, because you cannot download a Windows 8 ISO, only Windows 8.1.
If you have a Windows 8.1 key, you can download Windows 8.1 from Microsoft.
Windows 7
You can still download Windows 7 ISO files from the Microsoft website.
As with other versions of Windows, the download will be done through Media Creation Tool and this is the easiest and most convenient way for most people.
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO download tool
You can download the free Microsoft Windows and Office download tool to legally obtain the ISO files for different versions of Windows.
After that, choose your language and 32 or 64 bits (probably the last one) and then click the Download button.
Install Windows from USB
At this point, and especially if you plan to make a new installation and format the hard drive as part of the process, make sure you have backed up all your documents, music, photos, videos and other files that you do not have.
Then turn off your computer and insert your USB flash drive (or DVD).
When you make your computer boot from the disk or USB drive, you must first present an option to choose the language and perhaps also the exact version to install.
Follow the instructions to install Windows.
NOTE: If your hard drive is divided into several partitions, you must choose the one on which Windows was previously installed.
You can often find out which one is correct by looking at the Total size column and also the type, since Windows has to be in a primary partition in order to be bootable.
For more information, see How to format a hard drive
The rest of the installation process must explain itself, but you will find more details in our How to install Windows 10 and How to reinstall the Windows guides.
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