Reformating using AeroOpen Recovery CD, yet no XP key..

[Rich901]

I am looking to reformat my computer, but when it was bought back in 2005 it
apparently was not sent with the Windows XP key, only a recovery disc that
states it is a recovery CD-ROM for Windows XP Home Edition W/SP2. Is it safe
to use this disc without any Windows XP key or am I just up stream without a
paddle?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

I am looking to reformat my computer, but when it was bought back in 2005
it
apparently was not sent with the Windows XP key, only a recovery disc that
states it is a recovery CD-ROM for Windows XP Home Edition W/SP2. Is it
safe
to use this disc without any Windows XP key or am I just up stream without
a
paddle?

No, it is not safe. Use a product such as Jellybean
(http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml) to extract all your
product keys, then record them on a printed sheet of paper. You paid a lot
of money for your software - protect your investment by keeping an
up-to-date register!

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

There should be a Key stuck somewhere on the computer tower, Rich. Look
everywhere, even on the bottom.

 

[db]

you probably should
look up the exact
instructions from the
computers home site
on how to use those
disks or how to perform
a factory restore.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[LVTravel]

I am looking to reformat my computer, but when it was bought back in 2005
it
apparently was not sent with the Windows XP key, only a recovery disc that
states it is a recovery CD-ROM for Windows XP Home Edition W/SP2. Is it
safe
to use this disc without any Windows XP key or am I just up stream without
a
paddle?

If you can't find the key label on the computer you should obtain it using a
key recovery software such as what Pegasus posted. Depending on the
computer manufacturer it may not need a key as some manufacturers recovery
CDs are bios locked to the model they were originally installed onto and do
not need to be activated. I have had one Dell such as this. Might want to
contact the manufacturer's help desk to see about the installation of XP and
to see if this is the case if nothing else is found.