Moving a Windows product key sticker to a new case?

MarkS · Jul 21, 2013

When I built my system, I bought a mid tower. This turned out to be a mistake, but before I found that out, I placed the sticker for my copy of Windows on it. Now I am planning on upgrading the system to a super tower.

How do I move the sticker? The system isn't changing, apart from the case. The only thing that I can think of is to use a Dremel to cut off the part of the case with the sticker and then mount it is a removable fashion to the new case.

Is there a better way? Can I get a replacement from Microsoft? A case upgrade doesn't justify buying a new copy of Windows.

ihrsetrdr · Jul 21, 2013

Can you get a hold of a hot air gun? The heat would soften the adhesive(not too much heat!) and allow removal.

I would not try any kind of solvents to loosen the sticker- might get damaged in the process.

petteyg359 · Jul 21, 2013

ihrsetrdr said:
Can you get a hold of a hot air gun? The heat would soften the adhesive(not too much heat!) and allow removal.

Apply some heat and a razor blade, then glue the thing to one of those thin refrigerator magnets, and you can have a Windows license for your toaster

MarkS · Jul 21, 2013

I figured it was tamper resistant.

petteyg359 · Jul 21, 2013

MarkS said:
I figured it was tamper resistant.

They're a very thin paper on top of the adhesive, so just be careful not to pull on it if at all possible. I've managed to save a couple from the bottom of laptops with just a razor blade. If you happen to have a heat gun, that should make it a lot easier.

Conumdrum · Jul 21, 2013

No one will ever ask to see the sticker. It's for OEM use. I ALWAYS left mine on the CD case.

All you need is the number. Write it down. And check it 17 times. Make a digital pic. Make a word doc with it. Print it. Put it in a box, bury one in the yard.

Check it 17 times before committing it to memory.

Dunno what the issue is, and why in the heck did you take it off the CD box?

MarkS · Jul 21, 2013

Conumdrum said:
Dunno what the issue is, and why in the heck did you take it off the CD box?

I'm very forgetful and wanted it somewhere that I would remember and somewhere that I could plainly see. It is on the top of the case, right at the front. I look at it every day.

ihrsetrdr · Jul 22, 2013

Conumdrum said:
No one will ever ask to see the sticker. It's for OEM use. I ALWAYS left mine on the CD case.

+1

Also, the way I used to digitize a Windows product key is to use a product key viewer, save to text file, zip it & bcrypt it and email it to my gmail account.

petteyg359 · Jul 22, 2013

ihrsetrdr said:
+1

Also, the way I used to digitize a Windows product key is to use a product key viewer, save to text file, zip it & bcrypt it and email it to my gmail account.

As long as you don't tell us the key you used for bcrypt, you might as well send it to everybody's gmail. Better backups that way

ihrsetrdr · Jul 22, 2013

petteyg359 said:
As long as you don't tell us the key you used for bcrypt, you might as well send it to everybody's gmail. Better backups that way

Yes, hence the gzip & crypt routine. If gmail's not snooping through your mail, they're trying to share everything you've got. Not too long ago I found a spreadsheet that someone emailed long ago,in my Google Drive. I hadn't put it there, and had never used Google Drive until recently. :shrug:

SteveLord · Jul 22, 2013

Am I reading this right or is the heat getting to me? Dremel? Razor blade? Heatgun?

Besides the more practical responses given already, you could even write it on a post it and tape it to your new case! I would have said snap a pic and print it, but I feared backlash for cost of ink being somehow worse than time spent using the aforementioned tools that can potentially injure you.

petteyg359 · Jul 22, 2013

SteveLord said:
the aforementioned tools that can potentially injure you.

I've sliced the bloody hell out of myself several times on the edges of PCBs and cheap cases, dropped a tower heatsink on my thumb, and burned myself on a passive north-bridge heatsink. Injured myself with a razor blade, Dremel, or heat gun? Nope. :shrug:

scoutcamper · Jul 22, 2013

I have several battle scars from cheap pc's and their cheaper unrolled/sharpened sheet metal edges (IT Employee) but the right tool for the job has never injured me(in this case razor blade, dremel, heat gun).

MarkS · Jul 22, 2013

SteveLord said:
Am I reading this right or is the heat getting to me? Dremel? Razor blade? Heatgun?

Besides the more practical responses given already, you could even write it on a post it and tape it to your new case! I would have said snap a pic and print it, but I feared backlash for cost of ink being somehow worse than time spent using the aforementioned tools that can potentially injure you.

They are answering a question as I asked it. I am aware of the alternatives and I have my reasons for asking the question. Out of all of the things that I have built and all of the different power tools I've used, nothing mentioned so far in this thread concerns me in the least.

SteveLord · Jul 23, 2013

I know. I am only messing with you because it is after all....just a sticker.

MarkS · Jul 23, 2013

My reply came out a little wrong. I've had a particularly stressful day.

Moving a Windows product key sticker to a new case?

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