CD KEY

O

ovaraud

Hi

That sinking feeling....
I have lost the CD KEY of the windows 2000 professional
that I have purchased 3 years ago.
I however have the box with the certificate of
authenticity sticker.
Can I get the CD key from microsoft with the certificate
of authenticity?

Thanks
 
L

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

If you have a retail copy and proof of purchase, you can call Microsoft and
they should be able to help you out.

Note - posting your valid e-mail address in a newsgroup post, or in your
news account settings, is a surefire way to get spam and SWEN and other
viruses sent to you....see http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm for help
in the future, but note that now that your address is out there, there's not
much you can do other than changing your address.
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

.. . . and after you've retrieved your CD Key, plan ahead and
store ALL licence number in a file that you have backed up
elsewhere. You have a lot of money invested in your software -
protect your investment while you can!
 
B

Bruce Chambers

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.)

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.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 

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