XP Product Key

[[email protected]]

Because of various glitches that have appeared over time
I want to do a reinstall of Win XP after I reformat the hard drive.

I still have the original OEM Win XP (Home edition) CD that came with
the computer, but not the product key.

Can I recover the product key from my computer before I start
reformating the hard drive?

Thanks.

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:01:15 -0700, wrote:

> Because of various glitches that have appeared over time
> I want to do a reinstall of Win XP after I reformat the hard drive.
>
> I still have the original OEM Win XP (Home edition) CD that came with
> the computer, but not the product key.
>
> Can I recover the product key from my computer before I start
> reformating the hard drive?



You can find the Product key with any of these:

ViewKeyXP www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe (for Retail versions
only, and for pre-SP2 versions only)

ProduKey http://nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

Everest http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1

Magical Jellybean www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com/free_download.html

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Don Schmidt]

Yes. Get BelArc Advisor and it will report the Windows ProductKey and many
other registration numbers, software, updates, and a a bunch of other
interesting information.

www.belarc.com



--
Don
Vancouver, USA


> wrote in message
...
> Because of various glitches that have appeared over time
> I want to do a reinstall of Win XP after I reformat the hard drive.
>
> I still have the original OEM Win XP (Home edition) CD that came with
> the computer, but not the product key.
>
> Can I recover the product key from my computer before I start
> reformating the hard drive?
>
> Thanks.

[Ian D]

> wrote in message
...
> Because of various glitches that have appeared over time
> I want to do a reinstall of Win XP after I reformat the hard drive.
>
> I still have the original OEM Win XP (Home edition) CD that came with
> the computer, but not the product key.
>
> Can I recover the product key from my computer before I start
> reformating the hard drive?
>
> Thanks.

You can get keyfinder from magicaljellybean.com. There is one caveat.
If your OEM XP disk is a generic version that came with a store built PC
you are probably okay. However if it is an OEM specific version from
Dell, HP, etc., you may be out of luck. OEMs use the same mass
installation product keys for all their machines, and these cannot be
activated, but if, for instance, you have an HP XP disk BIOS locked to
an HP machine, either a product key will not be needed if you boot from
the CD to start the installation, or it will be pre-activated.

[Bruce Chambers]

wrote:
> Because of various glitches that have appeared over time
> I want to do a reinstall of Win XP after I reformat the hard drive.
>
> I still have the original OEM Win XP (Home edition) CD that came with
> the computer, but not the product key.
>
> Can I recover the product key from my computer before I start
> reformating the hard drive?
>
> Thanks.


The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form.
It is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker that says
"Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory installed)
license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer affixed to the
exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.

To recover a lost Product Key:

If your system still runs, you should be able to use Belarc Advisor
from http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html to find the Product Key.
(If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key; therefore,
it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
re-installation.)

If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
manufacturer; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of
the Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

[Daave]

> wrote in message
...
> Because of various glitches that have appeared over time
> I want to do a reinstall of Win XP after I reformat the hard drive.
>
> I still have the original OEM Win XP (Home edition) CD that came with
> the computer, but not the product key.
>
> Can I recover the product key from my computer before I start
> reformating the hard drive?

If this is a *generic* OEM Windows XP installation (did someone build
you this PC?), then, yes, you may obtain your key using any of the
utilities mentioned by Ken. Be sure to write it down and attach it to
your case!

If this is a branded OEM (e.g., Dell) Windows XP installation, then
there is the equivalent of a volume license key (usually referred to as
a "golden master" key) in the winnt.sif file on the OEM's installation
disk. That is the key that will be used during the installation, and it
is done automatically since it is locked to you PC's BIOS and is already
pre-activated. Then again, if this is a branded OEM license, you should
already have a Certificate of Authenticity stiker attached to your PC
that contains the Product Key. Note that *that* product key is to be
used only if you are using a generic OEM installation disk!

[[email protected]]

On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:11:36 -0700, "Don Schmidt" <Don
> wrote:

>Yes. Get BelArc Advisor and it will report the Windows ProductKey and many
>other registration numbers, software, updates, and a a bunch of other

It worked.

Thanks.

>interesting information.
>
>www.belarc.com

[michelle mccoy]

hello i have been trying to obtain an product key to activate windows xp i
have the disc but i do not have product key to continue please help michelle
mccoy

"Daave" wrote:

> > wrote in message
> ...
> > Because of various glitches that have appeared over time
> > I want to do a reinstall of Win XP after I reformat the hard drive.
> >
> > I still have the original OEM Win XP (Home edition) CD that came with
> > the computer, but not the product key.
> >
> > Can I recover the product key from my computer before I start
> > reformating the hard drive?
>
> If this is a *generic* OEM Windows XP installation (did someone build
> you this PC?), then, yes, you may obtain your key using any of the
> utilities mentioned by Ken. Be sure to write it down and attach it to
> your case!
>
> If this is a branded OEM (e.g., Dell) Windows XP installation, then
> there is the equivalent of a volume license key (usually referred to as
> a "golden master" key) in the winnt.sif file on the OEM's installation
> disk. That is the key that will be used during the installation, and it
> is done automatically since it is locked to you PC's BIOS and is already
> pre-activated. Then again, if this is a branded OEM license, you should
> already have a Certificate of Authenticity stiker attached to your PC
> that contains the Product Key. Note that *that* product key is to be
> used only if you are using a generic OEM installation disk!
>
>
>

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 16:37:01 -0700, michelle mccoy <michelle
> wrote:

> hello i have been trying to obtain an product key to activate windows xp i
> have the disc but i do not have product key to continue please help




If you don't have a product key, you don't have a legal version of
Windows XP. Where did you get this CD?

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Bruce Chambers]

michelle mccoy wrote:
> hello i have been trying to obtain an product key to activate windows xp i
> have the disc but i do not have product key to continue please help michelle
> mccoy
>
>>


The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form.
It is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker that says
"Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory installed)
license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer affixed to the
exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.

To recover a lost Product Key:

If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
manufacturer; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of
the Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot