HELP Lost Product ID STICKER at installation :(

[Ron G.]

Just as I took a break from installing my new Windows XP
Home full version, our housecleaners chose to throw away
the wrapper that had the product ID number sticker on it.
I went to the trash bin to try to find it but no luck.
What, if any, is the procedure to locate that number
again? I certainly have the CD. Do I go back to the
computer store that sold it to me. Do they keep a record?

Help please!

Ron

 

[Norm]

Ron, like Manda said, it's on the trifold cardboard package that also
contains a place to store the cd. To find your installed product key number
try this: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml and don't forget
to write it down.

 

[xe77]

If your sticker was on the wrapper then the computer store
sold you an OEM version, which, if you just bought the
copy of XP and not acomputer from them, They are violating
the vendors licensing agreement.
Selling OEM copies of Windows XP as a retail product
violates this. You should only posess in this case the
Retail version of Windows XP, where the Product Key lies
on the box it came in.
You can contact Microsoft for replacements if needed,
although it may be difficult to prove you own the copy.
Try the computer store first, and no, most stores don't
keep records of your product key.

 

[rickm]

Keep looking in the trash. I have never seen a retail version of XP Home.
But I don't think the PID is on the wrapper. I have an upgrade version and
the PID is pasted on a trifold folder that has all the manuals.

It's on an orange sticker on the inside of the trifold, should be the center
section. If you've already installed it and need the SN, there are utilities
that can pull the SN for you.

The store who sold it probably wouldn't keep a copy. Time to learn the art
of Dumpster Diving!

 

[Michael Stevens]

If your sticker was on the wrapper then the computer store
sold you an OEM version, which, if you just bought the
copy of XP and not acomputer from them, They are violating
the vendors licensing agreement.
Selling OEM copies of Windows XP as a retail product
violates this. You should only posess in this case the
Retail version of Windows XP, where the Product Key lies
on the box it came in.
You can contact Microsoft for replacements if needed,
although it may be difficult to prove you own the copy.
Try the computer store first, and no, most stores don't
keep records of your product key.

OEM XP versions can be sold with qualifying hardware. The qualifying
hardware has been relaxed and can be anything from a mother board, hard
drive, or a power cable[although I think the power cable is no longer
accepted].
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
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[Donald Link]

let the house cleaner pay for another purchase.\\

 

[Alex Nichol]

Just as I took a break from installing my new Windows XP
Home full version, our housecleaners chose to throw away
the wrapper that had the product ID number sticker on it.
I went to the trash bin to try to find it but no luck.
What, if any, is the procedure to locate that number
again?

get the free Aida 32, enterprise edition from
http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32
which is an excellent general System Info tool, and its Software -
Licenses page will tell you the one used for Windows and ones for
several other items.

 

[Ken Blake]

If your sticker was on the wrapper then the computer store
sold you an OEM version, which, if you just bought the
copy of XP and not acomputer from them, They are violating
the vendors licensing agreement.

No, this isn't true. The requirement to buy an OEM version was
never that you had to buy a computer with it.

The old rule, several years ago, was that you had to buy it with
a new computer, new motherboard, or new hard drive. Today, with
Windows XP, that rule has been greatly relaxed. It's now that you
just have to buy it with some hardware. Any hardware, even a
power cord apparently qualifies, and it's very easy to buy a
legitimate OEM copy.