Help on product key

[Taro]

Hi,




I would like to reinstall windows XP.


And I assume that I would need the product key number


to activate XP again.




I have misplaced the key number somewhere and is not able
to find it.




Is there any way that I can retrieve the key number before


I reinstall XP.




I bought this from DELL.




Also, I went to %Systemroot%\System32\$winnt$.inf


but was not able to find it under "userdata."




Please help.




Thank you.

[Sir_George]

Taro,

The following site should provide the help you need.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

--
Sir_George
For better access to newsgroups;
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp


"Taro" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
>
>
>
> I would like to reinstall windows XP.
>
>
> And I assume that I would need the product key number
>
>
> to activate XP again.
>
>
>
>
> I have misplaced the key number somewhere and is not able
> to find it.
>
>
>
>
> Is there any way that I can retrieve the key number before
>
>
> I reinstall XP.
>
>
>
>
> I bought this from DELL.
>
>
>
>
> Also, I went to %Systemroot%\System32\$winnt$.inf
>
>
> but was not able to find it under "userdata."
>
>
>
>
> Please help.
>
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>

[D.Currie]

If it came with XP installed, there should be a sticker, usually on the side
of the case. The keyfinder software that's available is likely to return an
incorrect number on your system because of the way the manufacturers install
the software.

"Taro" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
>
>
>
> I would like to reinstall windows XP.
>
>
> And I assume that I would need the product key number
>
>
> to activate XP again.
>
>
>
>
> I have misplaced the key number somewhere and is not able
> to find it.
>
>
>
>
> Is there any way that I can retrieve the key number before
>
>
> I reinstall XP.
>
>
>
>
> I bought this from DELL.
>
>
>
>
> Also, I went to %Systemroot%\System32\$winnt$.inf
>
>
> but was not able to find it under "userdata."
>
>
>
>
> Please help.
>
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>

[Sir_George]

D.Currie,

Where did you find the information that Keyfinder will report incorrectly
because of the way manufacturers install their software? Could you please
cite a verifiable article or source, since I never heard this before.

--
Sir_George
For better access to newsgroups;
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp


"D.Currie" > wrote in message
...
> If it came with XP installed, there should be a sticker, usually on the
side
> of the case. The keyfinder software that's available is likely to return
an
> incorrect number on your system because of the way the manufacturers
install
> the software.
>
> "Taro" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I would like to reinstall windows XP.
> >
> >
> > And I assume that I would need the product key number
> >
> >
> > to activate XP again.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I have misplaced the key number somewhere and is not able
> > to find it.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Is there any way that I can retrieve the key number before
> >
> >
> > I reinstall XP.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I bought this from DELL.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Also, I went to %Systemroot%\System32\$winnt$.inf
> >
> >
> > but was not able to find it under "userdata."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Please help.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
>
>

[D.Currie]

Because of they way they use an image to do the install, the key is actually
that of the image, rather than the individual CD key that's entered later.

I don't have a written source but I've seen it in action. The keyfinder
returns the key from the image, which will come up with an error when you
try to activate.

There's an MVP here that usually posts this info when someone asks about CD
keys; he might have some documentation that you could read. I've never had a
need to look it up anywhere.


"Sir_George" > wrote in message
...
> D.Currie,
>
> Where did you find the information that Keyfinder will report incorrectly
> because of the way manufacturers install their software? Could you please
> cite a verifiable article or source, since I never heard this before.
>
> --
> Sir_George
> For better access to newsgroups;
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
>
>
> "D.Currie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > If it came with XP installed, there should be a sticker, usually on the
> side
> > of the case. The keyfinder software that's available is likely to return
> an
> > incorrect number on your system because of the way the manufacturers
> install
> > the software.
> >
> > "Taro" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I would like to reinstall windows XP.
> > >
> > >
> > > And I assume that I would need the product key number
> > >
> > >
> > > to activate XP again.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I have misplaced the key number somewhere and is not able
> > > to find it.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Is there any way that I can retrieve the key number before
> > >
> > >
> > > I reinstall XP.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I bought this from DELL.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Also, I went to %Systemroot%\System32\$winnt$.inf
> > >
> > >
> > > but was not able to find it under "userdata."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Please help.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you.
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Sir_George]

D.Currie,

Thanks for the reply.

--
Sir_George
For better access to newsgroups;
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp


"D.Currie" > wrote in message
...
> Because of they way they use an image to do the install, the key is
actually
> that of the image, rather than the individual CD key that's entered later.
>
> I don't have a written source but I've seen it in action. The keyfinder
> returns the key from the image, which will come up with an error when you
> try to activate.
>
> There's an MVP here that usually posts this info when someone asks about
CD
> keys; he might have some documentation that you could read. I've never had
a
> need to look it up anywhere.
>
>
> "Sir_George" > wrote in message
> ...
> > D.Currie,
> >
> > Where did you find the information that Keyfinder will report
incorrectly
> > because of the way manufacturers install their software? Could you
please
> > cite a verifiable article or source, since I never heard this before.
> >
> > --
> > Sir_George
> > For better access to newsgroups;
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
> >
> >
> > "D.Currie" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > If it came with XP installed, there should be a sticker, usually on
the
> > side
> > > of the case. The keyfinder software that's available is likely to
return
> > an
> > > incorrect number on your system because of the way the manufacturers
> > install
> > > the software.
> > >
> > > "Taro" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I would like to reinstall windows XP.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > And I assume that I would need the product key number
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > to activate XP again.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I have misplaced the key number somewhere and is not able
> > > > to find it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Is there any way that I can retrieve the key number before
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I reinstall XP.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I bought this from DELL.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Also, I went to %Systemroot%\System32\$winnt$.inf
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > but was not able to find it under "userdata."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Please help.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thank you.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is 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.

To recover a lost Product Key:

If your current Win2K installation is still functioning, you may
be able to use AIDA32 Enterprise 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 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 whomever sold you the
OS; 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. 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, including the replacement of lost Product
Keys and/or CDs.


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
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----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Taro" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
>
>
>
> I would like to reinstall windows XP.
>
>
> And I assume that I would need the product key number
>
>
> to activate XP again.
>
>
>
>
> I have misplaced the key number somewhere and is not able
> to find it.
>
>
>
>
> Is there any way that I can retrieve the key number before
>
>
> I reinstall XP.
>
>
>
>
> I bought this from DELL.
>
>
>
>
> Also, I went to %Systemroot%\System32\$winnt$.inf
>
>
> but was not able to find it under "userdata."
>
>
>
>
> Please help.
>
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>