Re-install XP w/SP2

[Tim L]

Hi group,

First, I have lost my Product key for XP Pro with service pack 2. I see
there are others who have done the same but there are suggestions I will be
trying over the next few days. The reason I am looking for the key is
because the workstation I built two years ago needs a new hard drive. The
workstation works OK, it has a few issues, the main thing is that I need to
go from the current 200 gig drive to a 500 gig drive. Because of the ‘few
issues’ I want to start with a clean install.

My current workstation is registered with MicroSoft and I have the Auto
Update feature turned on. So the question is this: When I format and
install Windows onto the new hard drive will MicroSoft think I am trying to
install the license on two machines (the 200 gig drive is destined to become
a data only drive)? If so, can you point me to the ‘how to’ instructions for
what I am about to do?

I hope to get lots of replies to this. Threads are great for getting to the
appropriate information. For me trying to wade through the news groups and
Knowledge base is a little like trying to find a couple of specific pieces of
information at the Nation Archive. Any and all help will be greatly
appreciated.

BTW – I am going to try and use the link I found in this new group

Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

To try and retrieve the key, does anyone else have a suggestion?

Thank you

 

[DL]

Magic Jeely Bean
Beleric Adviser

If online activation doesnt work, use phone activation

 

[Daave]

Hi group,

First, I have lost my Product key for XP Pro with service pack 2. I
see there are others who have done the same but there are suggestions
I will be trying over the next few days. The reason I am looking for
the key is because the workstation I built two years ago needs a new
hard drive. The workstation works OK, it has a few issues, the main
thing is that I need to go from the current 200 gig drive to a 500
gig drive. Because of the 'few issues' I want to start with a clean
install.

My current workstation is registered with MicroSoft and I have the
Auto Update feature turned on. So the question is this: When I
format and install Windows onto the new hard drive will MicroSoft
think I am trying to install the license on two machines (the 200 gig
drive is destined to become a data only drive)? If so, can you point
me to the 'how to' instructions for what I am about to do?

I hope to get lots of replies to this. Threads are great for getting
to the appropriate information. For me trying to wade through the
news groups and Knowledge base is a little like trying to find a
couple of specific pieces of information at the Nation Archive. Any
and all help will be greatly appreciated.

BTW - I am going to try and use the link I found in this new group

Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

To try and retrieve the key, does anyone else have a suggestion?

The above should work in many, but not all, cases.

You need to describe your XP Pro, Is it Retail or OEM? If the latter, is
it branded OEM or generic OEM? Is it full or upgrade?

If you have retail or generic OEM, you should be fine using the tool
above or Magical Jellybean Finder or Belarc (mentioned elsewhere by DL):

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

However, this will give you a wrong key if you have either a volume
license key or a golden master key, which is why asked the questions
above.

P.S., I assume you have either a generic OEM or a retail version since
you said you built the PC. But it's always good to have all the
information!

 

[HeyBub]

Hi group,

First, I have lost my Product key for XP Pro with service pack 2. I
see there are others who have done the same but there are suggestions
I will be trying over the next few days. The reason I am looking for
the key is because the workstation I built two years ago needs a new
hard drive. The workstation works OK, it has a few issues, the main
thing is that I need to go from the current 200 gig drive to a 500
gig drive. Because of the 'few issues' I want to start with a clean
install.

My current workstation is registered with MicroSoft and I have the
Auto Update feature turned on. So the question is this: When I
format and install Windows onto the new hard drive will MicroSoft
think I am trying to install the license on two machines (the 200 gig
drive is destined to become a data only drive)? If so, can you point
me to the 'how to' instructions for what I am about to do?

I hope to get lots of replies to this. Threads are great for getting
to the appropriate information. For me trying to wade through the
news groups and Knowledge base is a little like trying to find a
couple of specific pieces of information at the Nation Archive. Any
and all help will be greatly appreciated.

BTW - I am going to try and use the link I found in this new group

Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

To try and retrieve the key, does anyone else have a suggestion?

Don't format and re-install. Simply clone your exiting hard drive to the
larger one. Your disk manufacturer should have free software at his site to
do this.

The cloned drive should then boot with no problem.