Product Key

P

Patrick Whittle

Hi,

When I know I have not stolen my copy of Windows XP, and have no hard-copy of my EULA, where in the registry can I find my product key?
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Visit http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download the free
Belarc Advisor. After running the program, look under the section
titled "Software Licenses".

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

Hi,

When I know I have not stolen my copy of Windows XP, and have no hard-copy of my EULA, where in the registry can I find my product
key?
 
K

Ken Blake

In
Patrick Whittle said:
When I know I have not stolen my copy of Windows XP, and have
no
hard-copy of my EULA, where in the registry can I find my
product
key?
Click to expand...


You can't find it in the registry.

You can find the Product key with any of these:



ViewKeyXP www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe (for Retail
versions only, and for pre-SP2 versions only)



AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm



Everest http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1



Magical Jellybean www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml



Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com/free_download.html
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Patrick said:
Hi,

When I know I have not stolen my copy of Windows XP, and have no
hard-copy of my EULA, where in the registry can I find my product key*?*
Click to expand...


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." It is not on the installation CD
in any way, shape, or form. 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 Belarc
Advisor from http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html 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 the computer's
manufacturer; 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
 
J

John Latter

Visit http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download the free
Belarc Advisor. After running the program, look under the section
titled "Software Licenses".
Click to expand...

I've just done that Carey & the info given for Windows XP is the same
as that given for Internet Explorer & is different from my COA
sticker.

I'm about to replace my hard drive which had XP pre-installed on the
end. I'm gonna use a OEM XP disc and would like to know which of the
above numbers do I use to get the new system/HDD authenticated - or do
I use them at different times & at different places?

Hope you can help!

--

John Latter

Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect.
http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html

'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech
 
J

John Latter

Visit http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download the free
Belarc Advisor. After running the program, look under the section
titled "Software Licenses".
Click to expand...

I've just done that Carey & the info given for Windows XP is the same
as that given for Internet Explorer & is different from my COA
sticker.

I'm about to replace my hard drive which had XP pre-installed on the
end. I'm gonna use a OEM XP disc and would like to know which of the
above numbers do I use to get the new system/HDD authenticated - or do
I use them at different times & at different places?

Hope you can help!

--

John Latter

Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect.
http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html

'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech
 
D

David Candy

Preinstalled OSs usually are installed with the OEM's key not your key. You use your key.
 
M

Miss Perspicacia Tick

John said:
I've just done that Carey & the info given for Windows XP is the same
as that given for Internet Explorer & is different from my COA
sticker.

I'm about to replace my hard drive which had XP pre-installed on the
end. I'm gonna use a OEM XP disc and would like to know which of the
above numbers do I use to get the new system/HDD authenticated - or do
I use them at different times & at different places?

Hope you can help!
Click to expand...

Let me guess, you have a system from one of the large manufacturers (Dell,
HP, Gateway, etc)? If so, the answer is simple: - many of them (Dell does I
know) use a master disc which is installed on all systems built in that
batch. Then each system is supplied with its own individual set of discs and
then this what the key on the chassis applies to. This is why, when you use
something like the Belarc Adviser on a Dell, the key that's shown will *NOT*
be identical to the one on the box.

Does that make sense?
 
J

John Latter

Let me guess, you have a system from one of the large manufacturers (Dell,
HP, Gateway, etc)? If so, the answer is simple: - many of them (Dell does I
know) use a master disc which is installed on all systems built in that
batch. Then each system is supplied with its own individual set of discs and
then this what the key on the chassis applies to. This is why, when you use
something like the Belarc Adviser on a Dell, the key that's shown will *NOT*
be identical to the one on the box.

Does that make sense?
Click to expand...

I think it makes sense Miss Perspicacia Tick - so when I come to
register I use the one on my sticker & ignore what the Belarc Advisor
says?

--

John Latter

Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect.
http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html

'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech
 
K

Ken Blake

In
John Latter said:
I think it makes sense Miss Perspicacia Tick - so when I come
to
register I use the one on my sticker & ignore what the Belarc
Advisor
says?
Click to expand...


It's "activate," not "register," but other than that, yes, that's
correct. Registration is a completely optional procedure, and is
mostly used by Microsoft just for marketing purposes. It's
activation that you need to do.
 
M

Miss Perspicacia Tick

John said:
I think it makes sense Miss Perspicacia Tick - so when I come to
register I use the one on my sticker & ignore what the Belarc Advisor
says?
Click to expand...

Registration is entirely optional, you are referring to activation. I don't
understand how the two can possibly be confused.
 
J

John Latter

In


It's "activate," not "register," but other than that, yes, that's
correct. Registration is a completely optional procedure, and is
mostly used by Microsoft just for marketing purposes. It's
activation that you need to do.
Click to expand...

Oh right - got it now, thanks! :)

--

John Latter

Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect.
http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html

'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech
 
M

MAP

Holy key code Batman! I acually learned something from Sarah.
This is alittle hard but......Thanks.
Boy did that hurt! ouch!
 

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