I was recently given a PC from a family member. I do not beleive I
have the Product Key from his original purchase. I did not hook up
the PC for months, now that I'm trying I'm getting the Active Windows
XP message. Is it safe to assume here that if I do not have the
product key I'm out of luck? Any thoughts.

Rock wrote:
> I was recently given a PC from a family member. I do not beleive I
> have the Product Key from his original purchase. I did not hook up
> the PC for months, now that I'm trying I'm getting the Active Windows
> XP message. Is it safe to assume here that if I do not have the
> product key I'm out of luck? Any thoughts.
>

I don't know what the "Active Windows XP message" means. Do you mean
"activate Windows XP"? If you need to activate, then just go through the
activation. If this is a legal copy of XP you won't have any problem
activating. However, in any case the family member should have given you
the Product Key and the installation media. If he didn't, ask for them.
If you have a working install of XP, you can find out what Product Key
was used with one of these free utilities:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml - Key Finder
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html - Nirsoft Key Finder

If you have an illegal copy of XP installed, you'll need to purchase a
retail version and get legal.

Since I'm not sure from your post exactly what the issue is, if you need
more help then come back with more details.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

The product key would have been entered during the install of XP. If you
have an Internet connection, click the choice to activate over the
Internet. It should be OK. However, it might be useful to have the
product number on hand in case problems develop in the future and you
have to re-install the operating system. I would check with the family
member and get the number or some form of proof of purchase you could use
to get a product number.

Tom
MSMVP 1998-2007


"Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I was recently given a PC from a family member. I do not beleive I
> have the Product Key from his original purchase. I did not hook up
> the PC for months, now that I'm trying I'm getting the Active Windows
> XP message. Is it safe to assume here that if I do not have the
> product key I'm out of luck? Any thoughts.
>

On Oct 30, 11:35 am, Malke <notrea...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Rock wrote:
> > I was recently given a PC from a family member. I do not beleive I
> > have the Product Key from his original purchase. I did not hook up
> > the PC for months, now that I'm trying I'm getting the Active Windows
> > XP message. Is it safe to assume here that if I do not have the
> > product key I'm out of luck? Any thoughts.
>
> I don't know what the "Active Windows XP message" means. Do you mean
> "activate Windows XP"? If you need to activate, then just go through the
> activation. If this is a legal copy of XP you won't have any problem
> activating. However, in any case the family member should have given you
> the Product Key and the installation media. If he didn't, ask for them.
> If you have a working install of XP, you can find out what Product Key
> was used with one of these free utilities:
>
> http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml- Key Finderhttp://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html- Nirsoft Key Finder
>
> If you have an illegal copy of XP installed, you'll need to purchase a
> retail version and get legal.
>
> Since I'm not sure from your post exactly what the issue is, if you need
> more help then come back with more details.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computerswww.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks....I'm certain the version is legal. I would need to get the
product key...thanks.

Look for a sticker on the side of the PC case or if it's a laptop then check
the bottom of the laptop for the product key sticker.
If you find a sticker then you have an OEM version of Windows installed by
the manufacturer (note: the sticker key code and what a keyfinder utility
reports will not be the same) and the PC may not have come with a CD but
instead has a restore partition located on the hard drive.

JS

"Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I was recently given a PC from a family member. I do not beleive I
> have the Product Key from his original purchase. I did not hook up
> the PC for months, now that I'm trying I'm getting the Active Windows
> XP message. Is it safe to assume here that if I do not have the
> product key I'm out of luck? Any thoughts.
>

On Oct 30, 12:14 pm, "JS" <@> wrote:
> Look for a sticker on the side of the PC case or if it's a laptop then check
> the bottom of the laptop for the product key sticker.
> If you find a sticker then you have an OEM version of Windows installed by
> the manufacturer (note: the sticker key code and what a keyfinder utility
> reports will not be the same) and the PC may not have come with a CD but
> instead has a restore partition located on the hard drive.
>
> JS
>
> "Rock" <jeff.wh...@amcore.com> wrote in message
>
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> >I was recently given a PC from a family member. I do not beleive I
> > have the Product Key from his original purchase. I did not hook up
> > the PC for months, now that I'm trying I'm getting the Active Windows
> > XP message. Is it safe to assume here that if I do not have the
> > product key I'm out of luck? Any thoughts.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks to all that responded...it would be my guess that the PC was
originally purchased ( by my familly ) with Windows XP Pre-loaded.
I'll check for the 'sticker'...hopfully it's there, if not I'll work
with my bro inlaw...thanks again!

"Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> Thanks to all that responded...it would be my guess that the PC was
> originally purchased ( by my familly ) with Windows XP Pre-loaded.
> I'll check for the 'sticker'...hopfully it's there, if not I'll work
> with my bro inlaw...thanks again!

See http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=124653 and scroll
down about two thirds of the way. You will see what the stickers look
like.

Do you have XP Home, Professional, or Media Center?

What is the make and model of your PC?