Microsoft has been focusing on Windows 8 for all of past year and the OS has definitely turned out to be great. Microsoft just released the Consumer preview of Windows 8 (Download Windows 8) to the public after the press conference at MWC 2012.

If you install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview using the installer provided by Microsoft, you will not require a product key. However, if you create a installation media and start your PC from media and then install Windows 8 consumer preview, you will require a product key.

The product key for installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview is:

NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8

OR

DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J

Once again, you will only require this if you are using the ISO file and creating a bootable installer and installing Windows 8 using a USB drive or DVD.

If you install Windows 8 Consumer Preview using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup program, you won’t need to enter a product key—the setup program automatically provides the product key. If you create installation media, start your PC from the media, and then install Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Also Read:

• Windows 8 Consumer Preview Has Universal Spellcheck, Microsoft Account ‘Roaming’
• Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview Wallpapers
• Windows Live Now Connects to Google Contacts: Google Talk Coming to Windows Phone and Windows 8?

Recently, one of our readers sent in this question to us that they have lost their Windows 7 CD and cannot find their product key, however they wanted to reinstall their system and could not do it without a product key.

First of all, Microsoft stores your Product Key or CD Key on your PC itself and it is not easy for a normal user to sift through the files and find it. However, there are software which do this job very well.

Just like our Office 2010 product key finder there is a tool which will allow you can also extract the product key of Windows 7 from your system. To do that, you have to install the Keyfinder tool from Jelly Bean (download link below).

Once you have download the Jelly Bean Keyfinder tool run it and it will display the CD Key to you along with the Product ID of your PC. You can then copy this information and use it to install Windows 7 on another OS.

Please make sure to store the Product/CD Key securely once you have extracted it from your OS. It will always come in handy later. If you have any questions like these, feel free to contact us and ask us about it.

Download Jelly Bean Keyfinder