If you want to recover the key from a bootable system you can use this application at
http://www.top-password.com/ called
Keyfinder Plus.
If the system has crashed and is not bootable - you can also use this same application to recover the genuine install key.
The unbootable hard drive just has to be 'slaved' on a pc that has this application installed on it. All you need for a SATA hard drive is a SATA cable and a spare power connector on the power supply.
You can also temporarily use the cables connected to the DVD-Rom that has a SATA connection.
If you know how to make a bootable Flash Drive with this application on it, you can also interrogate the crashed systems hard drive to get the key.
IDE connected hard drives can also temporarily be connected in place of the CD / DVD Rom Drive, making sure that the jumpers are set the same. ie Master / Slave / Cable Select.
Unfortunately it is not free - but well worth the money I spent to recover any keys on my systems - or just to check what key has been used on each installation.
http://www.top-password.com/
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Edited by
Bilo_Cape Town
20 hours 9 minutes ago