Lost my Windows XP Home Edition Product Key. HELP!!!

[*HANNA*]

Hi,

I have the cd but I seem to have lost my windows product key, I think I
threw it away. I need to reformat my laptop since it was having problems and
now I can't since I don't have my product key. Pleaseeeee can anyone help
me??? I really need it because I need to use my laptop for school.

Thanks!

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

If you can still get into your computer, run the above Program to find your
Product Key.

Cheers.

 

[*HANNA*]

Sadly, I can't get into my laptop because it stops on the opening welcome
screen.


Any more ideas?

 

[R. McCarty]

If you have a Service Pack 3 level CD you can install XP without a
Product Key. If that's the case you could do a Side-by-Side install
of XP ( Two instances on the same volume ). You could use Regedit
to open the original XP hive(s) to retrieve your product key. Not at
all an easy setup but probably enough of a hassle to make you keep
up with important information from now on.

*If it's a laptop ( & OEM ) there should be a COA ( Certificate of
Authenticity ) on the bottom of the notebook with the Product Key.

 

[*HANNA*]

It's a service pack 2 version 2002, and the sticker on the bottom of my
laptop I'm guessing I've removed it...It was that long skinny sticker I
guess..... Ugh... I'm gonna cry now hahaha.... Can you suggest any more? I
have the cd and all but just lost the product key.

 

[R. McCarty]

Crying won't help. Did you try the Safe Mode option "Last Known
Working Configuration" ? You best option is to try and get the PC
to any type of bootable state and run one of the Key recovery tools.
You may have to turn to professional help because taking random
actions may end up causing data loss ( School Work ).

 

[John John (MVP)]

I don't really want to lecture you but you were a bit negligent when you
threw away all the license documents! I think you will have learned
your lesson!

If you cannot do a parallel Windows XP installation on the laptop then
you can use a Bart PE disk or an Ultimate Boot CD for Windows with a
registry editor plug-in or you will have to remove the hard disk from
the laptop and mount it in another Windows machine to retrieve the
information from the registry.

John

 

[M.I.5¾]

Hi,

I have the cd but I seem to have lost my windows product key, I think I
threw it away. I need to reformat my laptop since it was having problems
and
now I can't since I don't have my product key. Pleaseeeee can anyone help
me??? I really need it because I need to use my laptop for school.

Can you not do a repair install. AFAIK you don't need the product key to do
this.

It would have the advantage, that unlike a complete reformat and install, it
won't wipe out your data (presumably the stuff you need for school)..

 

[Doum]

Hi,

I have the cd but I seem to have lost my windows product key, I think
I threw it away. I need to reformat my laptop since it was having
problems and now I can't since I don't have my product key. Pleaseeeee
can anyone help me??? I really need it because I need to use my laptop
for school.

Thanks!

What brand of laptop is it? ...and what kind of CD do you have to
reinstall Windows?

Usually laptops comes with "Factory like" restoration CDs and those don't
need a key. I restored my Acer laptop a few times and it never asked for
a key.

Doum

 

[LVTravel]

Hi,

I have the cd but I seem to have lost my windows product key, I think I
threw it away. I need to reformat my laptop since it was having problems
and
now I can't since I don't have my product key. Pleaseeeee can anyone help
me??? I really need it because I need to use my laptop for school.

Thanks!

Have you turned over the laptop and looked on the bottom for a Microsoft
label with the 25 character key for your original installation? Most
computer manufacturers place the Microsoft supplied key label in that
location on a laptop and the back plate on a desktop computer.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I have the cd but I seem to have lost my windows product key, I think I
threw it away. I need to reformat my laptop since it was having problems and
now I can't since I don't have my product key. Pleaseeeee can anyone help
me??? I really need it because I need to use my laptop for school.

Thanks!

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form.
It 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:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[*HANNA*]

Well I actually reformat my laptop already that's why I'm having problems


So not sure what to do ahha..

 

[*HANNA*]

Hi Doum!

I have an Asus A9RP model and WinXP Ver 2002 SP2 OEM CD.
I already got the key from Microsoft since I called them....but my problem
is that I can't seem to find my D: drive at all...Even before I reformatted
my laptop it kept on disappearing for some reason I'm not sure if my hard
drive is corrupted or something. Do you suggest that I buy a new hard drive
or repair at best buy to geeksquad??

Now my problem is that I can't seem to activate my windows because it is not
showing in .. "start-accessories-sys tools etc.."


Why is this?

 

[*HANNA*]

Yes I did ahha...but you see I didn't know what the sticker was for and it
was bothering me because it kept peeling off so I took it out and I guess
threw it away..


But I already got the key since I called Microsoft and my problem now is
that I can't seem to activate my windows since it doesnt show or anything at
all...


Is this something to do with regarding my installation process since it kept
saying ..."i386 folder missing" or something like that? And I just ignored it
and canceled it and the cd still kept on running to install... What do you
think?

 

[*HANNA*]

Hi Bruce!

Thanks for helping out! I already phoned Microsoft Tech and got a key but
now I need to activate it and I can't find the activate now button its not
showing on my... "start-accessories-system tools- etc.."

I can't go on the internet because it's only blank blue screen.....When I
installed my cd and a pop up box kept saying...."i386 folder missing please
install the win xp cd sp2 blah blah... when the cd is already in there.. why
is that?

Is my hard drive corrupted or something? Since my D: drive kept on
disappearing even before I reformatted my laptop......and now its not showing
at all... Pleasseeee help?

Do you think I should buy a new hard drive or have it repaird at best buy?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi Bruce!

Thanks for helping out! I already phoned Microsoft Tech and got a key but
now I need to activate it and I can't find the activate now button its not
showing on my... "start-accessories-system tools- etc.."

OEM operating systems are typically either pre-activated at the
factory or are BIOS-locked and do not required activation as long as
they're installed on the same computer with which they're sold.

The OS will let you know, with frequent (several times a day)
reminders, if you do need to activate. To check for yourself, Start >
All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Activate Windows.
Alternatively, Start > Run > "C:\Windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A."
It will probably tell you that WinXP has already been activated.

I can't go on the internet because it's only blank blue screen.....When I
installed my cd and a pop up box kept saying...."i386 folder missing please
install the win xp cd sp2 blah blah... when the cd is already in there.. why
is that?

What happens when you install the most recent WinXP-specific video
drivers, as provided by your video adapter's manufacturer's web site?

Is my hard drive corrupted or something?

No way of knowing, based on what little detail you've provided. Are
you getting hard drive or file system related error messages? If in
doubt, download the free diagnostic tool from the hard drive
manufacturer's web site and test the drive.

Since my D: drive kept on
disappearing even before I reformatted my laptop......and now its not showing
at all... Pleasseeee help?

What, precisely, do you mean by "D: drive?" Is this a logical
partition on the hard drive, or is it an optical drive?

Do you think I should buy a new hard drive or have it repaird at best buy?

There's no indication, at this time, based on what you've said, that
there's anything wrong with your hard drive, so test it before thinking
about replacing it.

And, most importantly, *NEVER, EVER* take a computer to Best Buy for
repairs. Not if you actually want to use it afterwards. Best Buy's
Geek Squad are among the very last people in the world you want touching
your computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Xandros]

You need a few tools. First you need a copy of the Windows XP installation
CD - not a recovery disc but an actual Windows XP CD. It can be any flavor.
Borrow one if need be. You need a working computer with a CD Writer that has
software that can burn an .ISO file like Nero or Sonic or Roxio or the
freeware CDBurnerXP Pro. You need to download UBCD4Win and follow the
instructions for creating a bootable CD http://www.ubcd4win.com/ The
resulting disc will enable you to boot your laptop providing it has a DVD or
CD-rom drive.

Once you have the tool built start the laptop with the UBCD4Win disc. It
will eventually display a desktop similar to Windows XP. Click the Go button
on the bottom of the screen. You will find a tool called KeyfinderPe. You
will need to change the location to C:\Windows. Shortly the product key
should be displayed. Write it down. Now use your copy of XP to reinstall
using that Product Key.

 

[Xandros]

Can you not do a repair install. AFAIK you don't need the product key to
do this.

It would have the advantage, that unlike a complete reformat and install,
it won't wipe out your data (presumably the stuff you need for school)..

Yes you will need to supply the Product Key when prompted even when running
a Repair Install unless your XP installation CD has the Product Key
imbedded. I use nLite to create slipstreamed versions of XP with service
packs and hotfixes etc. I typically also use it to create an unattended
install and supply my Product Key when building the disc. However if using a
typical XP Install CD I must manually enter the Product Key when prompted
just as with a clean install.

 

[Plato]

I have the cd but I seem to have lost my windows product key, I think I

Next time write it on the cd or put the sticker in the same place as the
cd.

 

[ambo]

So, what if the COA on the bottom of the notebook doesn't contain the correct
product key?