product/CD/activation key

[jonnyair]

Is there a difference with "Product Key", "CD Key" and "Activation
Key"? I'm seeing these three terms used interchangeably and it's got
me confused as to what is what.

I've been assigned the task to get our Licensing straight and I have a
bunch of XP retail boxes that I have no clue as to what machines are
installed with what. I found the utility "keyfinder.exe" from
searching this newsgroup and it works great but I'm a little confused
on the licensing terminology hence my question above.

 

[Richard Urban]

You don't need an activation key. Activation uses the CD key that you input
during the install process.

Product key? No such animal. There IS a product I.D., which for the most
part, is not useful to the end user.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Malke]

Is there a difference with "Product Key", "CD Key" and "Activation
Key"? I'm seeing these three terms used interchangeably and it's got
me confused as to what is what.

I've been assigned the task to get our Licensing straight and I have a
bunch of XP retail boxes that I have no clue as to what machines are
installed with what. I found the utility "keyfinder.exe" from
searching this newsgroup and it works great but I'm a little confused
on the licensing terminology hence my question above.

The Product Key is the number which you need to install a Microsoft
operating system. I suppose this could be called the "CD Key" although
that is misleading since the Product Key is independent of an actual
disk. It is the key that is used for activation. There is no
"Activation Key" that I know of.

If you buy a retail copy of XP, the Product Key will be on the CD sleeve
on a bright orange (usually) sticker that says "DO NOT LOSE THIS". If
you buy an OEM machine or disk, the Product Key is on a sticker on the
side of the machine or on the bottom of the machine if a laptop.

Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is there a difference with "Product Key", "CD Key" and "Activation
Key"? I'm seeing these three terms used interchangeably and it's got
me confused as to what is what.

I've been assigned the task to get our Licensing straight and I have a
bunch of XP retail boxes that I have no clue as to what machines are
installed with what. I found the utility "keyfinder.exe" from
searching this newsgroup and it works great but I'm a little confused
on the licensing terminology hence my question above.

Assuming that all these boxes are the same type (Professional vs Home,
Retail vs. OEM, Full vs. Upgrade) it doesn't matter which box was used to
install each computer. The Product key (the correct term) is not on the CD
and the CDs are all interchangeable.

 

[Richard Urban]

Sorry. A correction.

The key that is on the cardboard sleeve of a retail package is called the
Product key. This is sometimes referred to (improperly) as the CD key,
because this is the key you use when installing the operating system from
the CD.

There is also a product I.D. which is generated by the Windows Installer.
This is the number you see when you go to My Computer | Properties. It is on
the General Page under "Registered to".

If you activate your product by phone you may be asked for the Product Key.
--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Is there a difference with "Product Key", "CD Key" and "Activation
Key"? I'm seeing these three terms used interchangeably and it's got
me confused as to what is what.

Yes, there is.

The Product *Key* is a 25-character alphanumeric string used to
"prove" ownership of a legitimate license and is required to perform the
installation, and is either stored on the CD packaging on a bright
orange sticker that says "Do not lose this number," or is on a label
affixed to an OEM computer. This term would be most synonymous to the
less formal and unofficial term "CD Key," as it's used in conjunction
with the installation CD

To my knowledge, there is officially no such thing as an "Activation
Key," per se, although, when activating via telephone, one does have to
enter a one-time, 42-character numeric Activation code.

To add a little confusion, the Product *ID* is a 20-character numeric
(for retail and volume licenses) or alphanumeric (for OEM licenses)
string created during the installation process and is prominently
displayed on the General Properties tab of the My Computer icon. It is
used to obtain/qualify for technical support (limited though that may
be) from Microsoft.

I've been assigned the task to get our Licensing straight and I have a
bunch of XP retail boxes that I have no clue as to what machines are
installed with what. I found the utility "keyfinder.exe" from
searching this newsgroup and it works great but I'm a little confused
on the licensing terminology hence my question above.

Another thing to keep in mind: Product Keys are bound to the specific
type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade)
with which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key
won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of
WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with
a full version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to
install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an
English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed &
matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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

 

[jonnyair]

Thank you all for the insight. All of our boxes are retail XP Pro with
those nice but space hogging blue boxes with the folder and install
disc / *Product Key* inside. The boxes are going the recycler, the
folders I'll be saving (with the disc and Product Key).

Now I'm worried about if a previous employee activates one of our XP
licenses, what effect this will have on a machine currently using that
license. Some of the boxes didn't have the Product Key sticker that is
to be placed on the installed computer. (It wasn't managed very well
before my time and it p*sses me off at times.)

 

[Guest]

hello guys,

is there any way that i can retrieve back my Product Key since i've lost
it.. to make things worse i'm stuck reformatting my computer so when i tried
magical jelly bean to find out my Product Key, they require me my IP
address... previously i've used that CD already for my XP Home... I bought it
off the shelf not together with the computer..

any idea guys?

thanks!

 

[Railroader]

Microsoft solution: Buy another Copy.
hello guys,

is there any way that i can retrieve back my Product Key since i've lost
it.. to make things worse i'm stuck reformatting my computer so when i tried
magical jelly bean to find out my Product Key, they require me my IP
address... previously i've used that CD already for my XP Home... I bought
it
off the shelf not together with the computer..

any idea guys?

thanks!

 

[frodo]

is there any way that i can retrieve back my Product Key since i've lost
it.. to make things worse i'm stuck reformatting my computer so when i tried
magical jelly bean to find out my Product Key, they require me my IP
address... previously i've used that CD already for my XP Home... I bought it
off the shelf not together with the computer..

Hum, MJB shouldn't "require" you to do anything special, double check.
Belarc Advisor can also tell you the installed key.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

hello guys,

is there any way that i can retrieve back my Product Key since i've lost
it.. to make things worse i'm stuck reformatting my computer so when i tried
magical jelly bean to find out my Product Key, they require me my IP
address... previously i've used that CD already for my XP Home... I bought it
off the shelf not together with the computer..

any idea guys?

thanks!

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is stored on the CD packaging on a brightly colored
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.
The Product Key is not stored on the installation CD in any way, shape,
or form.

To recover a lost Product Key:

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:



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

 

[Frank]

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is stored on the CD packaging on a brightly colored
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. The Product Key is not stored on the installation CD in
any way, shape, or form.

To recover a lost Product Key:

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.

And just how will this help the OP with Magical Jelly Bean????
Kurt has you pegged to a tee....

 

[Bruce Chambers]

And just how will this help the OP with Magical Jelly Bean????

It won't, naturally. The OP didn't ask how to use Magical Jelly Bean.
He asked how to retrieve his Product Key, and then added the remark
that he's already formatted the hard drive, so Magic Jelly Bean was
useless. (The extraneous bit about the IP address is irrelevant to the
issue at hand.)

Kurt has you pegged to a tee....

If you're refering to the "Kurt" I think you are, being bad-mouthed by
him is something of a badge of honor. He always resorts to personal
attackes whenever someone proves him wrong.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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