XP disc serial/authentication number

[Guest]

I'm doing a restore for a lady in the village. She has kept her XP disc but
not her label with the 'vital' number on it.
I'm half way through the Windows Restore and it's sitting at the enter
number page... what can I do, how can I find the number - from the disc?
I tried the number that comes up on the system tab from control panel, but
it's not long enough...

urgent help PLEASE!

 

[Guest]

There are two distant possibilities. One, she 'registered' her copy with
Microsoft, (not 'activated', but 'registered') Then she could call MS for it
or a replacement. Two, she must be able to restart windows some way without
that number, then download a utility that will read the "Product Key" from
the registry.

ViewKeyXP.htm: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm doing a restore for a lady in the village. She has kept her XP disc but
not her label with the 'vital' number on it.
I'm half way through the Windows Restore and it's sitting at the enter
number page... what can I do, how can I find the number - from the disc?
I tried the number that comes up on the system tab from control panel, but
it's not long enough...

urgent help PLEASE!

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

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[Shenan Stanley]

There are two distant possibilities. One, she 'registered' her copy
with Microsoft, (not 'activated', but 'registered') Then she could
call MS for it or a replacement.

<snip>

I have never heard of this.

Even if she registered her copy when she purchased it - I don't think
Microsoft will replace the product code for her without proof of purchase.
If this is so - and you can point me to some documentation for it - then I
will quit telling people they get *nothing* out of registration.