Glad to see you back, Pop. We've been worrying about you.
As mixture says...
They've heard them all before. I lost the key for my laptop and had to reinstall Windows from the DVD when the hard drive died. The key was, of course, on the dead HD.
I phoned Microsoft, explained what had happened, and the nice lady told me what the key was. Whether it was my honest voice, or that all that stuff is on file at MS, I dunno.
It's now written in an Excel file that's on laptop, desktop, iPhone, iPad, and the printout hanging by the desk.
If I had a spare Win7 DVD and codes, they'd be yours and the problem would be solved. I thought I was going to have to retire said laptop last month when it refused to boot up, but stern words and reseating the memory chips has returned it to duty in the radio shack.
Give 'em a call.