need help

[Kate R]

how will i get my product key from windows xp? I had a "friend" who wanted to
have new xp installed on his computer and now he wants computer back but has
noo money to buy it from me. Do I have to give up my xp for him or loose all
his data while formating his disk? thanks.

 

[sgopus]

Don't give him a copy of XP, if he can't afford to buy his own copy, don't
give him a working pc with your xp license on it, I suggest you save his data
to a CD or some external device, and wipe the drive.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Reformat the hard drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows System & Performance

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

how will i get my product key from windows xp? I had a "friend" who wanted to
have new xp installed on his computer and now he wants computer back but has
noo money to buy it from me. Do I have to give up my xp for him or loose all
his data while formating his disk? thanks.

 

[Kate R]

thanks, that's probably only way to give him his box back but not give up xp.
I was thinking I will find other way, but for him I will be the one who
screwed up his pc. thank you for your opinion, it helped. Kate R

 

[Kate R]

thank you for reply, I thought that's probably my only solution, but it helps
to hear from others.
Kate R

 

[Shenan Stanley]

how will i get my product key from windows xp? I had a "friend" who
wanted to have new xp installed on his computer and now he wants
computer back but has noo money to buy it from me. Do I have to
give up my xp for him or loose all his data while formating his
disk?

Your product key was never lost - although you did not state whether this
was a retail or OEM license of Windows XP...

I am guessing you formatted the drive when you installed Windows XP
originally (you mention NOTHING about performing an upgrade installation) so
you simply revert back to whatever OS was on the machine prior to you
formatting it using whatever method originally shipped with your friends
computer. That is if you don't plan on just giving a license freely.
Then - since you would have backed up the data before you formatted it
before - you copy that back.

If you upgraded from Windows 98/98 SE/ME - you may be able to roll-back.

How to uninstall Windows XP and revert to a previous operating system
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303661