Product Key

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe Murphy
  • Start date Start date
J

Joe Murphy

My System is XP Home OEM Version w/SP2

When I invoke Viewkey (or other key display programs) the Key displayed
doesn't match the product key that came with the software. How can this
happen? Everything works fine.
 
Joe said:
My System is XP Home OEM Version w/SP2

When I invoke Viewkey (or other key display programs) the Key displayed
doesn't match the product key that came with the software. How can this
happen? Everything works fine.
Click to expand...

It's NOT a perfected science just yet...
 
If your system came pre-installed with XP, the Key that ViewKeyXP
retrieves may be the Key the OEM uses to install and not the Key you
need to reinstall. If you reinstalled XP since the initial setup, the Product
Key will be the valid key supplied with the computer.

Ref: http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

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

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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

:

| My System is XP Home OEM Version w/SP2
|
| When I invoke Viewkey (or other key display programs) the Key displayed
| doesn't match the product key that came with the software. How can this
| happen? Everything works fine.
 
Manufacturers often load their systems with a generic key that is different
from the one on the discs that they provide you. Unless you've had to do a
re-install you will have different keys.
 
I installed the SW 2 years ago on a barebones system. I purchased the XP SW
from the component supplier. When I installed the SW I used the key that
came with the XP SW. I took the key label off the XP package and pasted on
the System case. I have reinstalled the SW twice, always using the supplied
key. Is this key now invalid?
 
Joe Murphy said:
I installed the SW 2 years ago on a barebones system. I purchased the
XP SW from the component supplier. When I installed the SW I used the
key that came with the XP SW. I took the key label off the XP package
and pasted on the System case. I have reinstalled the SW twice,
always using the supplied key. Is this key now invalid?
Click to expand...

You sure you aren't looking at the product *code* (and not the product
*key*)? The product key is what you use to install the software. The
product code is generated by the install and represents the product that
got installed, and will NOT be the same as the product key. If you use
Belarc Advisor, you will see both the product code and the product key
listed.
 
Joe said:
My System is XP Home OEM Version w/SP2

When I invoke Viewkey (or other key display programs) the
Key displayed doesn't match the product key that came
with the software. How can this happen? Everything works
fine.
Click to expand...


If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key will be that of the drive
image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key.

--

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
 
Please see my previous response.
Bruce Chambers said:
If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key will be that of the drive
image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key.

--

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
Click to expand...
 
On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 17:06:29 -0700, "Joe Murphy"

Joe:

ViewKeyXP does not always work correctly when SP2 is installed.
Instead use the Magic Jelly Bean Key Finder or the Everest Home
Edition to view your key. Both are free and are available from
several popular download sites.

Your key is still valid, it's just that ViewKeyXP no longer reliably
retrieves the key values..
 
Back
Top