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Lost Product Key for Windows XP Professional
If your computer is still operational:
Retrieve your Windows XP CD key http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm [Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP] If your computer is not operational: How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246 OEM versions of Windows XP are not supported by Microsoft. Only "retail versions" of Windows XP are supported by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot issue you a replacement Product Key for an OEM version.... only if it were a "retail version". -- Carey Frisch Microsoft MVP Windows XP - Shell/User ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- "Jack" wrote in message: ... | Hi Friends, | | I had purchased the OEM version of Windows XP Professional from Fry's Electronics and had installed and activated the product about six months back. Now I want to re-configure my computer and would like to re-install XP but have misplaced the product key!! Fry's is refusing to provide me with the key. What do I do to get the product key for my Windows XP? | | Thanks a bunch for any pointers / replies. | | -Jack |
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Lost Product Key for Windows XP Professional
....and this is why OEM versions cost less than retail versions. You get
less. "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote in message ... snip OEM versions of Windows XP are not supported by Microsoft. Only "retail versions" of Windows XP are supported by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot issue you a replacement Product Key for an OEM version.... only if it were a "retail version". -- Carey Frisch Microsoft MVP Windows XP - Shell/User -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- -- "Jack" wrote in message: ... | Hi Friends, | | I had purchased the OEM version of Windows XP Professional from Fry's Electronics and had installed and activated the product about six months back. Now I want to re-configure my computer and would like to re-install XP but have misplaced the product key!! Fry's is refusing to provide me with the key. What do I do to get the product key for my Windows XP? | | Thanks a bunch for any pointers / replies. | | -Jack |
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Lost Product Key for Windows XP Professional
Greetings --
The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the installation) 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 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.) Since 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, and they're certainly not required to do your record-keeping for you, it's worth a try before you have to buy a new license. 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 "Jack" wrote in message ... Hi Friends, I had purchased the OEM version of Windows XP Professional from Fry's Electronics and had installed and activated the product about six months back. Now I want to re-configure my computer and would like to re-install XP but have misplaced the product key!! Fry's is refusing to provide me with the key. What do I do to get the product key for my Windows XP? Thanks a bunch for any pointers / replies. -Jack |
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