HELP! Lost 25 digit key HELP!

[Guest]

I unwittingly left my new XP Pro package on my desk and had unwrapped it.
Having to go to the store to get a new CDRW, I left everything where I knew
it was safe. HA! WHile I was gone my lady took the wrapper with the 24 bit
key on it and tossed it. I returned to late to retreive it as the garbage men
had come and gone. I can't install XP without that key as you know and can't
seem to find MS help on line as the page won't work or the server is down....
I can't afford to pay another +$200 to buy another one and need to get my
computer up and running fast. How can I get the help I need? Please
HELP!!!!!!!!! (e-mail address removed)

 

[Guest]

Sorry to hear of your mishap. Only thing you can to is to be a man, accept
responsibilty, save your money, then purchase another copy of Windows XP.
If you had left two one hundred bills laying around, and they were
misplaced, stolen or thrown out with the trash, could you go to your bank and
get replacements? Nope!

 

[bud]

I unwittingly left my new XP Pro package on my desk and had unwrapped it.
Having to go to the store to get a new CDRW, I left everything where I knew
it was safe. HA! WHile I was gone my lady took the wrapper with the 24 bit
key on it and tossed it. I returned to late to retreive it as the garbage men
had come and gone. I can't install XP without that key as you know and can't
seem to find MS help on line as the page won't work or the server is down....
I can't afford to pay another +$200 to buy another one and need to get my
computer up and running fast. How can I get the help I need? Please
HELP!!!!!!!!! (e-mail address removed)

Well, if this is a retail version of XP the number isn't on the wrapper. It
is on a booklet that was in the box.

 

[Tom]

Well, if this is a retail version of XP the number isn't on the wrapper. It
is on a booklet that was in the box.

Yep, and I think this is a fish story myself.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I unwittingly left my new XP Pro package on my desk and had
unwrapped
it. Having to go to the store to get a new CDRW, I left everything
where I knew it was safe. HA! WHile I was gone my lady took the
wrapper with the 24 bit key on it and tossed it. I returned to late
to retreive it as the garbage men had come and gone. I can't install
XP without that key as you know and can't seem to find MS help on
line as the page won't work or the server is down.... I can't afford
to pay another +$200 to buy another one and need to get my computer
up and running fast. How can I get the help I need? Please
HELP!!!!!!!!! (e-mail address removed)

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, 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

 

[Dave Senior]

My 2p here:

If the software was pirated then get the serial from here:

http://www.serialarchive.com/

hth



Bruce Chambers wrote:

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.

--
I use non Microsoft products wherever possible which requires no activation.

I use Netscape 7.2 as my default browser which has everything I need for my work.

I believe in good Financial Management!! I do not believe in enriching rich jerks!

 

[Vanguardx]

My 2p here:

If the software was pirated then get the serial from here:

http://www.serialarchive.com/

Yeah, I'm really sure some FBI agent is posting through a UK college
(NNTP-Posting-Host: 193.61.19.45, which a RIPE WhoIs lookup says is
allocated to Birkbeck). And, of course, a site in the USA offering
serial numbers surely is outside the legal reach of Microsoft, uh huh.
And, of course, posting about it in a microsoft.public.* group would
never be seen by Microsoft, uh huh.

 

[Dave Senior]

What is your point? Are you amazed that all my software is pirated? Bill Gates makes rules to be broken and so I m not going to disppoint him.

Yeah, I'm really sure some FBI agent is posting through a UK college
(NNTP-Posting-Host: 193.61.19.45, which a RIPE WhoIs lookup says is
allocated to Birkbeck). And, of course, a site in the USA offering
serial numbers surely is outside the legal reach of Microsoft, uh huh.
And, of course, posting about it in a microsoft.public.* group would
never be seen by Microsoft, uh huh.

--
I use non Microsoft products wherever possible which requires no activation.

I use Netscape 7.2 as my default browser which has everything I need for my work.

I believe in good Financial Management!! I do not believe in enriching rich jerks!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Yeah, I'm really sure some FBI agent is posting through a UK college
(NNTP-Posting-Host: 193.61.19.45, which a RIPE WhoIs lookup says is
allocated to Birkbeck). And, of course, a site in the USA offering
serial numbers surely is outside the legal reach of Microsoft, uh
huh.
And, of course, posting about it in a microsoft.public.* group would
never be seen by Microsoft, uh huh.

You were expecting intelligent thieves? There are some, but
they're rare.


--

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