Product Code

[Hondo]

I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install
Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the
package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her laptopfor
this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily
reinstall XP?

 

[Jerry]

I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install
Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the
package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her
laptopfor
this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily
reinstall XP?

Look on the bottom of the laptop, it should be there. You can also download
magic jelly bean key finder to get the installed product key off the laptop.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install
Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the
package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her
laptopfor
this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily
reinstall XP?

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Seeing that you've spent a lot of money in buying your various software
products, it might be an idea to collect ALL product keys in a spreadsheet
and keep a printed copy in a safe place. If she's lost it once she might
lose it again and if the disk crashes then the Jellybean product won't get
it back for you . . .

 

[Hondo]

Thank you for the help Jerry. I will download this and run the program.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install
Windows XP Professional.

Why? How do you know that you have to do this?

It's often done for poor reasons.

I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the
package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her laptopfor
this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily
reinstall XP?

There is normally a label on the bottom of the laptop telling you what
it is. There is also software available to tell you what product was
used when it was installed, but if you bought it from an OEM vendor,
that installation normally was done in bulk and doesn't match *your*
product code.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install
Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the
package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her laptopfor
this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily
reinstall XP?

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form.
If it's a retail license, the Product Key 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

 

[~~Alan~~]

If the PC is a Dell and you have the OEM Dell install CD, you do not need
the CD key. It is "built in" to the installation.

~alan