product key

[gragedas]

my comp crashed and i had to restore comp to factory
settings not realizing that my windows xp upgrade would be
needed to be reinstalled. but i dont have the case for the
cd anymore and with it is the product key. any help with
it. im desperate.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) 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 AIDA32
Enterprise from http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php 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 whomever sold you the
PC; 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

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[Rob]

If your system still runs, you should be able to use AIDA32
Enterprise from http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php 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.)

Actually this is the correct product key to use (and probably the only one
that will work). If an OEM ships a customer a machine with an SLP BIOS
locked version of XP, the customer doesn't receive a unique CD key (nor
should they never have a need to enter one because the OEM will include a
restore CD that will restore the system back to its factory shipped state).
The OEM key used to ship these machines is specifically an SLP only key and
as long as the OEM SLP check passes, the install will never ask for a key or
product activation. Anyway, this probably helps the original poster not at
all.