Windows XP Licience

[Guest]

I have a legitimate Windows XP Pro CD but i have lost the licence key for it

up until now it hasn’t been a problem but now i need to reinstall windows
and i cannot because i cant find the key , of course I have already formatted
the pc so any record of it in the registry is gone

is there a way I can get the key off a disk , I have another computer i can
do it from if there is a way


any help peeps

 

[Daave]

I have a legitimate Windows XP Pro CD but i have lost the licence key
for it

up until now it hasn't been a problem but now i need to reinstall
windows and i cannot because i cant find the key , of course I have
already formatted the pc so any record of it in the registry is gone

is there a way I can get the key off a disk , I have another computer
i can do it from if there is a way

Sounds to me like you're out of luck.

I suppose it's possible to spend hundreds, if not, more, dollars getting
a data recovery specialist to attempt to retrieve the key from your
formatted drive, but purchasing a new license would be less expensive,
of course.

There are other ways to obtain keys, but none are legitimate. However,
an ethics professor could probably put forth a convincing argument in
favor of this method, provided your license is legit, the OS is not
being used on any other system, and your license is for a retail, not
OEM, version of XP.

 

[Rock]

I have a legitimate Windows XP Pro CD but i have lost the licence key for
it

up until now it hasn’t been a problem but now i need to reinstall windows
and i cannot because i cant find the key , of course I have already
formatted
the pc so any record of it in the registry is gone

is there a way I can get the key off a disk , I have another computer i
can
do it from if there is a way

There are ways to retrieve the product key from a running installation and
even from on that won't boot, but now that you've reformatted, there isn't
much chance, at least not for a price less than the costs of a new copy of
XP.

If this is a retail copy of XP and you have proof of purchase see this link:
How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326246

For an OEM version contact the vendor from which you purchased it to see if
they can help.

 

[Daave]

If this is a retail copy of XP and you have proof of purchase see
this link: How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software
or Hardware http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326246

For an OEM version contact the vendor from which you purchased it to
see if they can help.

I stand corrected; I had thought Martyn was out of luck. Then again,
he'll need Proof of Purchase.

 

[KB]

Look on your tower for the Microsoft sticker (which will also have barcodes)
that should include the Product Key. It's a 25 digit key (not counting
the -'s) that should allow you to re-install.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a legitimate Windows XP Pro CD but i have lost the licence key for it

up until now it hasn’t been a problem but now i need to reinstall windows
and i cannot because i cant find the key , of course I have already formatted
the pc so any record of it in the registry is gone

is there a way I can get the key off a disk , I have another computer i can
do it from if there is a way


any help peeps

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form.
It is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker that says
"Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory installed)
license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer affixed to the
exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.

To recover a lost Product Key:

If your system still runs, you should be able to use Belarc Advisor
from http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html to find the Product Key.
(If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key; therefore,
it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
re-installation.)

If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
manufacturer; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of
the Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.


--

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Rock]

I stand corrected; I had thought Martyn was out of luck. Then again,
he'll need Proof of Purchase.

Also in some cases, such as when the OEM has gone out of business, MS will
help with replacement.

 

[Poprivet]

I have a legitimate Windows XP Pro CD but i have lost the licence key
for it

up until now it hasn't been a problem but now i need to reinstall
windows and i cannot because i cant find the key , of course I have
already formatted the pc so any record of it in the registry is gone

is there a way I can get the key off a disk , I have another computer
i can do it from if there is a way


any help peeps

Talk to Dell Support and explain it to them; I think you'll find there is an
inexpensive solution.

Pop`