Article: Your Windows Product key is buried in the registry, but it can be easily extracted by using a free key retrieval program. Two of the most popular options are ProductKey and Key Finder. Both of these programs are free and can be downloaded from the developers' websites. Both offer paid versions, but your Windows key can be retrieved with the free version. You typically will not need to install the program. Simply run it and a list of available keys will be displayed. Find the "Windows" entry to find your key. Your key will be listed as "Product Key" or "CD Key". The Windows Product Key is 25 characters split into five groups of five characters each.

What is a summary?
Download a key retrieval program. Start the key retrieval program. Write the key down or copy it.