Re-installing XP without a Product Key

[Guest]

About 2 years ago we bought a computer for my son. Over time he upgraded the
video card and memory and replaced the case with a neon colored case. A few
months ago he gave it to his brother. He later got a virus and had to
re-install windows XP. He inserted the XP Professional CD and after about 30
minutes, it asked for the Product Key. Nobody can find it. It must have
been thrown out long ago. We are stuck on this screen. We can't start in
Safe Mode because it says that Windows setup can't run in Safe Mode. If we
take out the CD and power on the PC, we get a message to insert the XP
Professional CD in the CD Drive.

Does anyone know how we can get the product key? I heard that sometimes the
PC manufacuter will put the product key for the operating system on the case,
but we don't have the original case any more. Any suggestions?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

John;
If Windows XP came with the computer, contact the OEM.
If the OEM can not help contact Microsoft per the link below on the slim
chance they can help.

If Windows XP is retail contact Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=326246

I suspect your fix is to buy Windows XP.
In the future it is a good idea to keep the Product Key with the CD since
they depend on each other to do their job.

 

[Larry Samuels]

Hey Jupiter,

No can do--that is a good idea for retail or upgrade, but the oem is
required by his agreement to stick the cd key in an easily accessible
location on the case.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

I know Larry.
That is part of the reason for the last paragraph.
Although I did kind of forget the OP determined the PK should be on the
case.

I am pretty sure the fix will not be cheap if Windows XP is the desired
outcome.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org

 

[Larry Samuels]

Chances are they will probably have to purchase another copy of XP.

A number of us smaller OEMs keep records of copies sold and the
corresponding keys, but it is not required. Many do not keep any records at
all.


--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Larry;
I am sure there are others, but you are the only one I have met that keeps
such records.

 

[MHPNW STAFF]

John,

you can use this utility to recover your product key....
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

 

[Michael A. Covington]

you can use this utility to recover your product key....
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

That only gives the last three fifths of it. Very useful for determining
which of your disks a particular machine was installed from. Not useful for
recovering the entire key, unless you know something I don't.

 

[Brendon Amos]

Hi,
Going back a while ago I had similar problem.
What I did was:- 1. Got in touch with place I purchased computer from.
2. They gave me a Microsoft phone number and I called them.
Microsoft then asked me 101 questions about the install CD and
so on
Then Microsoft ratteled off a product key for me to use.
All up I was quite impressed with the service from Microsoft
Think this could be the way for you to go
Best of luck!
Regards Brendon Amos

 

[Guest]

U can Call : Win XP (Product Key) 800-936-5700 !!

HOWEVER, As far as I kno... u can reinstall XP by booting from the CD... and
in no case it will ask u for the Product key.
1) Boot From CD.
2) Wen it gives u Options... hit ENTER for "press enter to reinstall windows"
3) press F8 key agree to the licence. to STEP (4) or STEP (5)
4) u may get option like "(A) press R to repair. // (B) press ESCAPE to
Install a Fresh new Copy of windows XP without Repairin. .... SELECT option
(B)....to step(5)
5) U will see the Existing Partions on the HDD. Highlight the Partition with
the Maximum Free Space... hit "D" for Delete ... then for the POP up window
....which wud say "U r trying to delete a system partition ... Press "Enter"
... to Confirm .. Bla bla " ..... U need to Press ENTER here. Then it will ask
to Confirm the deletion ... press "L" to confirm. Then one by one U need to
delete all partitions... by pressin Jus "D" ... n then "L" to confirm. Once u
are left with "UNPARTITIONED SPACE" only... Hit ENTER on it.
6) Select "format using NTFS file system(without Quick)" and hit ENTER.
7) U will see a screen which says "Setup is now FORMATTING" ...
8) wait until it takes u to 100% ... then the System restart... Dont DO
ANYTHING with the System at all while its rebooting.
9) U will see the XP installation Falsh screen saying "AN EXCITING NEW LOOK !"
n the timer will count down from 39 minutes.
10) by the time it reaches 33 or 32 minutes remaining mark... it will ask u
basic Qs like "Language, Region ,Time Zone, Ur Name, Organisation's name,
..." ETC. Once u fill in these... it will install the rest of the Windows XP.
11) Once Completed... It will Restart.... DONT PRESS ANY KEYS WHILE ITS
RESTARTIN !!

BINGO ! U have reinstall the XP WITHOUT THE PRODUCT KEY ! n u are at the
Desktop ... now one by one Reinstall all the Drivers...n ur Software...
n u are good to GO !!

Mmwwaahh !!

 

[MHPNW STAFF]

They have indeed changed the tool, it used to give you the whole key...Sorry
for the miss info.

Dennis

 

[gs]

would you happen to know the toll free number to call for Canadian?

I tired to repair my windows XP, towards the end the repair it came back
saying successfully update windows XP professional. I was using a
slipstreamed CD with SP2 instead of the original.


the prompt for the product key rejected my valid key, ( I more than triple
checked my typing) called the number you gave me, they gave me a new product
key but that did not help.


does that mean I have to repair once more with the original CD, then apply
sp2,... etc?