Lost Product Key for Windows XP Professional

[Guest]

Hi Friends,

I had purchased the OEM version of Windows XP Professional from Fry's Electronics and had installed and activated the product about six months back. Now I want to re-configure my computer and would like to re-install XP but have misplaced the product key!! Fry's is refusing to provide me with the key. What do I do to get the product key for my Windows XP?

Thanks a bunch for any pointers / replies.

-Jack

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If your computer is still operational:

Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]


If your computer is not operational:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246

OEM versions of Windows XP are not supported by
Microsoft. Only "retail versions" of Windows XP are
supported by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot issue you
a replacement Product Key for an OEM version.... only
if it were a "retail version".


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--


| Hi Friends,
|
| I had purchased the OEM version of Windows XP Professional from Fry's Electronics and had installed and activated the
product about six months back. Now I want to re-configure my computer and would like to re-install XP but have misplaced
the product key!! Fry's is refusing to provide me with the key. What do I do to get the product key for my Windows XP?
|
| Thanks a bunch for any pointers / replies.
|
| -Jack

 

[Papa]

....and this is why OEM versions cost less than retail versions. You get
less.

OEM versions of Windows XP are not supported by
Microsoft. Only "retail versions" of Windows XP are
supported by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot issue you
a replacement Product Key for an OEM version.... only
if it were a "retail version".


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
--


| Hi Friends,
|
| I had purchased the OEM version of Windows XP Professional from Fry's

Electronics and had installed and activated the

product about six months back. Now I want to re-configure my computer and

would like to re-install XP but have misplaced

the product key!! Fry's is refusing to provide me with the key. What do I

do to get the product key for my Windows XP?

 

[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 AIDA32
Enterprise from http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php 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.)

Since it was an OEM license, you should contact whomever sold you
the OS; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of the
Product Keys they've sold, and they're certainly not required to do
your record-keeping for you, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.


Bruce Chambers

--
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Hi Friends,

I had purchased the OEM version of Windows XP Professional from

Fry's Electronics and had installed and activated the product about
six months back. Now I want to re-configure my computer and would like
to re-install XP but have misplaced the product key!! Fry's is
refusing to provide me with the key. What do I do to get the product
key for my Windows XP?