HELP!!!! Lost the Package with the PRODUCT KEY

[Vanessa Hicks]

Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
$WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.

Vanessa Hicks

[Thorsten Matzner]

"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote:

>Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
>old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
>I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
>obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
>$WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
>COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.

If you can start Windows XP at least in the Safe Mode you can use
ViewKeyXP (http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tips_fixes.htm) to read out
the code. Else contact the Microsoft Customer Service (in the US or
Canada call 800-426-9400 or visit
http://www.microsoft.com/support/contact_us/) for help.

--
(tm)

[Thorsten Matzner]

"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote:

>Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
>old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
>I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
>obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
>$WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
>COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.

If you can start Windows XP at least in the Safe Mode you can use
ViewKeyXP (http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tips_fixes.htm) to read out
the code. Else contact the Microsoft Customer Service (in the US or
Canada call 800-426-9400 or visit
http://www.microsoft.com/support/contact_us/) for help.

--
(tm)

[Joli Ballew]

You can install it and when you get to the activation window, call the phone
number and tell the nice folks what happened. They'll be able to help you.

--
Joli Ballew
Author of Windows XP Professional - The Ultimate Users Guide
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932111131/qid=1032102475/sr=1
-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8870441-8688732?v=glance&s=books

Purchase my XP E-books at www.expert-guides.com



"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote in message
...
> Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
> old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
> I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
> obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
> $WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
> COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.
>
> Vanessa Hicks

[Joli Ballew]

You can install it and when you get to the activation window, call the phone
number and tell the nice folks what happened. They'll be able to help you.

--
Joli Ballew
Author of Windows XP Professional - The Ultimate Users Guide
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932111131/qid=1032102475/sr=1
-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8870441-8688732?v=glance&s=books

Purchase my XP E-books at www.expert-guides.com



"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote in message
...
> Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
> old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
> I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
> obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
> $WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
> COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.
>
> Vanessa Hicks

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Call (800) 426-9400, and explain the situation. If you registered your
copy, they should be able to give you a working CD Key.


--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote in message
...
> Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
> old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
> I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
> obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
> $WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
> COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.
>
> Vanessa Hicks

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Call (800) 426-9400, and explain the situation. If you registered your
copy, they should be able to give you a working CD Key.


--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote in message
...
> Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
> old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
> I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
> obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
> $WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
> COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.
>
> Vanessa Hicks

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) isn't stored on the installation CD. If it was a retail
license, it's stored somewhere 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.

If your current Windows installation is still functioning, you
should be able to use ViewKeyXP from
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm or AIDA32 from
http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php 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 that of the drive image used at the
factory and not _your_ specific Product Key; therefore, it cannot be
used for a re-installation.)

To recover a lost CD or 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 whomever sold you the
OS; although few keep records of Product Keys sold, it's worth a try
before you have to buy a new license. Also, if you did originally
register the OEM installation with Microsoft they might be able to
help, although they're under no obligation to do so; All support is
the sole responsibility of the OEM.


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote in message
...
> Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
> old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
> I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
> obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
> $WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
> COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.
>
> Vanessa Hicks

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) isn't stored on the installation CD. If it was a retail
license, it's stored somewhere 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.

If your current Windows installation is still functioning, you
should be able to use ViewKeyXP from
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm or AIDA32 from
http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php 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 that of the drive image used at the
factory and not _your_ specific Product Key; therefore, it cannot be
used for a re-installation.)

To recover a lost CD or 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 whomever sold you the
OS; although few keep records of Product Keys sold, it's worth a try
before you have to buy a new license. Also, if you did originally
register the OEM installation with Microsoft they might be able to
help, although they're under no obligation to do so; All support is
the sole responsibility of the OEM.


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Vanessa Hicks" > wrote in message
...
> Hard drive crashed and had to get a new HD. I have the
> old Win98 installed and have my original WIN XP PRO CD but
> I have lost the container with the PRODUCT ID. How do I
> obtain the original or get a new one? I checked in
> $WINNIT$.inf where I have my former HD mirrored as "OLD
> COMPUTER" but the "PRODUCT ID" is empty.
>
> Vanessa Hicks