Product Key

[Joe Murphy]

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.

I installed the SW 2 years ago on a barebones (Bare HD) system. I purchased
the XP SW
from the component supplier, therefore I got an OEM version. 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?

My REAL question is: SHOULD I CHANGE THE KEY SO THAT IT MATCHES THE KEY IN
THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION.

 

[CS]

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.

I installed the SW 2 years ago on a barebones (Bare HD) system. I purchased
the XP SW
from the component supplier, therefore I got an OEM version. 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?

My REAL question is: SHOULD I CHANGE THE KEY SO THAT IT MATCHES THE KEY IN
THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION.

Do not change the key. You said you tried other key display programs.
Do they all give the same incorrect key value? The only program that
I know doesn't work correctly is ViewKeyXP. The others should display
the Product Key correctly. If you put in the correct key values from
the label you received with the CD, then there is no way they could
have changed.

That's why I asked which key viewing programs you have tried. I use
Magic Jelly Bean Key Finder and it returns the correct key on three
systems: Retail XP Pro, Retail XP Home, OEM XP Home.

All three systems have been updated to SP2.

 

[Joe Murphy]

Your Right!!!
ViewKeyXP returns the wrong value. The Magicjellybean code returned the
expected value.

That's particularly wierd because I have used ViewKeyXP and it worked ok.

Thanks
joe

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

ViewKeyXP no longer works on SP2.

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

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

:

| Your Right!!!
| ViewKeyXP returns the wrong value. The Magicjellybean code returned the
| expected value.
|
| That's particularly wierd because I have used ViewKeyXP and it worked ok.
|
| Thanks
| joe

 

[Alex Nichol]

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.

I installed the SW 2 years ago on a barebones (Bare HD) system. I purchased
the XP SW
from the component supplier, therefore I got an OEM version. 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?

My REAL question is: SHOULD I CHANGE THE KEY SO THAT IT MATCHES THE KEY IN
THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION.

That is common enough where the original installation was from an image
made and applied to a whole batch of machines; the one the maker puts on
the label is the one specific for the machine and should be used in a
re-install. But that should not have arisen in your case. However if
the key works when you re-install, go on using it. It is licensed for
as many installations as you like *on that machine*.

You might like to cross check the ViewKey report against another tool:
eg get the free Everest Home edition from
http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1
which is an excellent general System Info tool, well worth having
around, and its Operating System - Operating System page will tell you
the one used