Retrieve Windows XP Serial from a stolen notebook?

[Guest]

I have a question:

My HP notebook was stolen recently. I bought it with a pre-installed version
of Windows XP Professional. The Serial key was only on a label at the bottom
of the notebook. I have seperate Windows XP Professional setup CDs, that came
along with the notebook.

Is there any way to retrieve the serial key (I have only the setup CDs)?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

No, there isn't. The Product Key is not on the setup disks in any fashion.
The setup disks are specific to that series of HP notebooks and likely will
not install on other hardware anyways. The license to use WinXP Pro was for
that machine only. When they stole your notebook, they stole your license as
well.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a question:

My HP notebook was stolen recently. I bought it with a pre-installed version
of Windows XP Professional. The Serial key was only on a label at the bottom
of the notebook. I have seperate Windows XP Professional setup CDs, that came
along with the notebook.

Is there any way to retrieve the serial key (I have only the setup CDs)?

As Rick says, there isn't. This is why it is a good idea to
record each and every software key in a file and on paper.
People have a lot of money invested in software, hence it
makes sense to protect this investment.

 

[John Jay Smith]

Tell MS and the police...
perhaps they can track down the computer theif when and if he
will reactivate the product via the internet!

 

[kurttrail]

Tell MS and the police...
perhaps they can track down the computer theif when and if he
will reactivate the product via the internet!

LOL! And perhaps Bush will get Bin Laden before he dies a natural
death!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[paul]

perhaps he will....

LOL! And perhaps Bush will get Bin Laden before he dies a natural death!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Vanguard]

I have a question:

My HP notebook was stolen recently. I bought it with a pre-installed
version
of Windows XP Professional. The Serial key was only on a label at the
bottom
of the notebook. I have seperate Windows XP Professional setup CDs, that
came
along with the notebook.

Is there any way to retrieve the serial key (I have only the setup CDs)?

Make sure when submitting a claim for your notebook to your insurance
company (you did add a rider on your policy to include computers, right?)
that you include all the software that was also stolen, like the operating
system.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a question:

My HP notebook was stolen recently. I bought it with a pre-installed version
of Windows XP Professional. The Serial key was only on a label at the bottom
of the notebook. I have seperate Windows XP Professional setup CDs, that came
along with the notebook.

Is there any way to retrieve the serial key (I have only the setup CDs)?

No, and it would do you no good, even if there were. Your license to
use the OS was stolen along with the laptop.

By your own admission, you have an OEM license for WinXP. An OEM
version must be sold with a non-peripheral piece of hardware (normally a
motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC) and is _permanently_
bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM license, once
installed, is not legitimately transferable to another computer under
_any_ circumstances.

Just make sure that you insurance claim reflects this, as well as the
material loss of the computer.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[Bruce Chambers]

LOL! And perhaps Bush will get Bin Laden before he dies a natural
death!

Bush doesn't want to catch Bin Laden. If he did, who would he use as a
bogey man to con people into letting him create the theocratic police
state he wants so desperately?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Tell MS and the police...

Reporting the theft to the police makes sense, but what makes you think
Microsoft has any law enforcement role?

perhaps they can track down the computer theif when and if he
will reactivate the product via the internet!

Who did you come up with that idea? Microsoft has no such capability.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[John Jay Smith]

No... however when and if they reactivate windows XP with that product key
they could trace the IP
if a report was made of theft...

It is theoretically electronically possible... but frankly I am sure MS does
not give a shit.