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windows 7 - Find Serial Number of Gateway Without Case


Our Gateway PC crashed, and necessitated a re-install of Windows 7. We did not have an OEM version of Windows 7 lying around, so I grabbed an old (genuine) copy, and installed that.


Evidently, the product key for the old Windows is being blocked by Gateway. According to the Microsoft tech, this isn't a big deal, we just need Gateway to unblock that key. However, Gateway will not even get on the phone (or e-mail, or chat) with you, unless you have either your serial number or your SNID.


The problem is that the motherboard has been moved from the original Gateway case to a different case in order to accommodate a larger power supply. The only instructions I have to retrieve the SNID are to look on the case, and we no longer have the original case.


So, my question is, where (if anywhere) can I find the SNID for the machine, without looking on the case? I assume it's got to be on the motherboard, or hidden in the BIOS or something. I can't find the serial number via the OS, because the OS is not the OEM version.



Answer



Try running this from a Command Prompt:



H:\> wmic bios list /format



or



H:\> wmic csproduct list /format.



If the serial is kept in the BIOS it should list it with one of these.


Otherwise, it could be on the motherboard, but you would have to physically check.


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