Reinstalling XP without a CD KEY

[Guest]

I have had to reinstall XP back onto my pc after a system crash. I have
started to install it and need to put in the cd key which has been thrown out
in a move. Now every time it starts it restarts the installation as it didn't
complete. Without the product key how do I break the cycle. I have spoken to
the microsoft call centre but it is hard to prove that I am not trying to
install a pirate copy and get a new key.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Guest]

You will not get far without your original product key, only way around the
problem would be to repurchase Windows XP.

Andy W

 

[Mike Gasson]

You will not get far without your original product key, only way around the
problem would be to repurchase Windows XP.

Apropos the original question, a variation on that. I've just bought a
new laptop which came with a legal OEM copy of XPHome on a recovery
disk. That's fine. I now need to dispose of my old desktop, with a
separate purchased copy of XPHome. I have formatted the disk and
re-installed XP. I'm being asked to register within 30 days. What
happens if I haven't disposed of it within that period? I could register
it again now, although it was already registered when I first installed
it (2 years ago) and it is still on the same machine.

 

[Richard in AZ]

I does not have to be registered, it has to be activated. You don't need any personal information
is the activation. So go ahead and activate it again so that next owner does not have a hassle with
MS. I worked on a corporate installation where the supplier built the units and installed the
software, but 30 days had elapsed before we were able to setup the PCs in the office. I had to
call MS on each machine and after explaining the problem, they did give me activation keys, but it
was extra work.

: In message <[email protected]>, Andy W
: >You will not get far without your original product key, only way around the
: >problem would be to repurchase Windows XP.
: >
: Apropos the original question, a variation on that. I've just bought a
: new laptop which came with a legal OEM copy of XPHome on a recovery
: disk. That's fine. I now need to dispose of my old desktop, with a
: separate purchased copy of XPHome. I have formatted the disk and
: re-installed XP. I'm being asked to register within 30 days. What
: happens if I haven't disposed of it within that period? I could register
: it again now, although it was already registered when I first installed
: it (2 years ago) and it is still on the same machine.
: --
: bertie

 

[Mike Gasson]

I does not have to be registered, it has to be activated. You don't
need any personal information
is the activation. So go ahead and activate it again so that next
owner does not have a hassle with
MS. I worked on a corporate installation where the supplier built the
units and installed the
software, but 30 days had elapsed before we were able to setup the PCs
in the office. I had to
call MS on each machine and after explaining the problem, they did give
me activation keys, but it
was extra work.

Thanks for that Richard, now all done.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have had to reinstall XP back onto my pc after a system crash. I
have started to install it and need to put in the cd key which has
been thrown out in a move. Now every time it starts it restarts the
installation as it didn't complete. Without the product key how do
I break the cycle. I have spoken to the microsoft call centre but
it is hard to prove that I am not trying to install a pirate copy
and get a new key.

I'm afraid what got "thrown out in a move" was the really important part of
the equation and technically - what you actually paid for. Without that or
a receipt showing you purchased the Windows XP you have.. It will be
difficult to impossible to install (legitimately - in any terms) that copy
of Windows XP.