CD Key

[Steve]

this is actually legit! i have an oem copy xp pro and i
had the little sticker with my cd key on it on the back of
my case and when i got a better case i neglected to
retrieve the little sticker from the back of the old one.
does any one know if i can send my oem disk with all of
its microsoft holograms on it to microsoft to get a new
cdkey?

 

[Jone Doe]

this is actually legit! i have an oem copy xp pro and i
had the little sticker with my cd key on it on the back of
my case and when i got a better case i neglected to
retrieve the little sticker from the back of the old one.
does any one know if i can send my oem disk with all of
its microsoft holograms on it to microsoft to get a new
cdkey?

Microsoft doesn't support OEM installations. See the vendor you bought it
from.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

this is actually legit! i have an oem copy xp pro and i
had the little sticker with my cd key on it on the back of
my case and when i got a better case i neglected to
retrieve the little sticker from the back of the old one.
does any one know if i can send my oem disk with all of
its microsoft holograms on it to microsoft to get a new
cdkey?

No, you can't do that. Microsoft will provide you with no help
for OEM versions.

However you can find the Product key with any of these:

ViewKeyXP www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe

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

 

[CS]

this is actually legit! i have an oem copy xp pro and i
had the little sticker with my cd key on it on the back of
my case and when i got a better case i neglected to
retrieve the little sticker from the back of the old one.
does any one know if i can send my oem disk with all of
its microsoft holograms on it to microsoft to get a new
cdkey?

Why do you need the MS hologram? All you need is the key as it's
your license. Besides, MS will not deal with you since your copy is
OEM.

To retrieve your CD Key from the system, use the following small
program: ViewKeyXP (Freeware)

Download from here: (first item on the page)

http://www.paulsxp.com/downloads.html

Use a magic marker and write the CD Key to the back or bottom of the
case. Also write it down somewhere else for safe keeping.

 

[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 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, and someone has removed/destroyed the
label, you should contact you 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
--
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[Alex Nichol]

this is actually legit! i have an oem copy xp pro and i
had the little sticker with my cd key on it on the back of
my case and when i got a better case i neglected to
retrieve the little sticker from the back of the old one.

Provided the system still runs, get the free Everest Home edition from
http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1
which is an excellent general System Info tool, and its Operating System
- Operating System page will tell you the one used