Mike said:
I upgraded my computer a little while back from Windows
ME to Windows XP Home. Since then the hard drive in that
computer died and I was going to reinstall Windows XP
Home on my new hard drive but I have lost my key for the
cd (Think I may have thrown away the box during some
recent cleaning). So is there any way to get a new cd key
or am I just going to have to buy another copy of Windows
XP Home.
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
