lopst cd key

  • Thread starter Thread starter jig@jig.com
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J

jig@jig.com

can any body help??
i have a windows xp pc but have lost the disc to reset it, i have a windows
xp disc but no key, can i get the key from my machine using any programes??

many thanks
 
<jig@jig.com> wrote in message
news:-tKdnVo3triaDxvbnZ2dnUVZ8v-dnZ2d@giganews.com...
> can any body help??
> i have a windows xp pc but have lost the disc to reset it, i have a
> windows
> xp disc but no key, can i get the key from my machine using any
> programes??
>
> many thanks

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

In view of the large amount of money you paid for your
software licences, it would be a good idea to to record
all product keys on a sheet of paper which you store in
a safe place.
 
Sure, we can get the key using Belarc Advisor.

Download, install and run a free system inventory program, Belarc Advisor.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor

In the installed programs section to the right of Windows XP, you'll see the
25 digit license key (not including the -'s) and you should be all set.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!


<jig@jig.com> wrote in message
news:-tKdnVo3triaDxvbnZ2dnUVZ8v-dnZ2d@giganews.com...
> can any body help??
> i have a windows xp pc but have lost the disc to reset it, i have a
> windows
> xp disc but no key, can i get the key from my machine using any
> programes??
>
> many thanks
 
Surely, BeWare of that other and
use the one here with Surety:

http://www.gtopala.com/

--

db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.
><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>


..


<jig@jig.com> wrote in message
news:-tKdnVo3triaDxvbnZ2dnUVZ8v-dnZ2d@giganews.com...
> can any body help??
> i have a windows xp pc but have lost the disc to reset it, i have a
> windows
> xp disc but no key, can i get the key from my machine using any
> programes??
>
> many thanks
 
The Product Key on your system is not likely to work with the CD you have.
Maybe, but not likely.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

<jig@jig.com> wrote in message
news:-tKdnVo3triaDxvbnZ2dnUVZ8v-dnZ2d@giganews.com...
> can any body help??
> i have a windows xp pc but have lost the disc to reset it, i have a
> windows
> xp disc but no key, can i get the key from my machine using any
> programes??
>
> many thanks
 
Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>
> In view of the large amount of money you paid for your
> software licences, it would be a good idea to to record
> all product keys on a sheet of paper which you store in
> a safe place.

I use these steno pads from the local store to keep all my
serials/usernames/passwords on. I make a copy of all the pages and store
it in a different location. Been working for me for quite some time.
Comes in very handy when you really need it. As you said, you really
need a hard copy on paper to exist in this modern world of PC based
data. Heck, I still use books written/published a hundred years ago for
certain thinngs in my life. Hard drives have a very short "half life".
:)

Real paper seems to last much longer.


--
http://www.bootdisk.com/
 
yeh, with so many
cd's and so many product
keys, i finally gave up and
labeled each cd with their
darn key.

didn't really find it anymore
secure with having the cd
inside it's prelabeled envelope
marked with the key anyways.

fortunately, since the invention of the
cd marker pen, i don't need
paper labels anymore.

--

db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.
><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>


..


"Plato" <|@|.|> wrote in message
news:4686b66d$3$255$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>>
>> In view of the large amount of money you paid for your
>> software licences, it would be a good idea to to record
>> all product keys on a sheet of paper which you store in
>> a safe place.
>
> I use these steno pads from the local store to keep all my
> serials/usernames/passwords on. I make a copy of all the pages and
> store
> it in a different location. Been working for me for quite some time.
> Comes in very handy when you really need it. As you said, you really
> need a hard copy on paper to exist in this modern world of PC based
> data. Heck, I still use books written/published a hundred years ago
> for
> certain thinngs in my life. Hard drives have a very short "half life".
> :)
>
> Real paper seems to last much longer.
>
>
> --
> http://www.bootdisk.com/
>
>
 
<snip>

> Hard drives have a very short "half life".

This is really off the subject by my experience is that
the reliability of data recorded on hard disks is far
better than on floppy disks, tapes, CDs or DVDs.
I have used backup disks in USB cases for years and
have yet to encounter any failures. On the other hand
I have seen many failures with all the other media.
 
Gary's post is the best in that it points out one critical flaw in your
recovery.

Should you have an OEM system (e.g. HP, Dell, Gateway), using a 'generic' XP
CD to re-install XP will fall flat on it's face as it doesn't contain the
critical information needed to restore an OEM box.

Now, having said that, you can get the Product Key using my earlier
information but it's best that you contact the OEM to request an
installation disc, which will come at a cost.

You may also have a recovery partition (common to many OEM systems) that
could restore yours to an OOBE (Out Of the Box Experience) position. Bear
in mind that should you choose this option you will lose all Hotfixes (aka
Windows Updates) and must allocate time for yourself to update Windows via
Windows Updates, then return to get the updates to your updates until no
updates are offered.

Should your restoration leave you 'Pre-SP2', IMHO it's best to order the CD
from Microsoft =>
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx ,
pay the shipping and handling and keep the box offline until it's installed.

Good Luck!
"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message
news:uiNoCi0uHHA.3796@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> The Product Key on your system is not likely to work with the CD you have.
> Maybe, but not likely.
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS-MVP Shell/User
> www.grystmill.com
>
> <jig@jig.com> wrote in message
> news:-tKdnVo3triaDxvbnZ2dnUVZ8v-dnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> can any body help??
>> i have a windows xp pc but have lost the disc to reset it, i have a
>> windows
>> xp disc but no key, can i get the key from my machine using any
>> programes??
>>
>> many thanks
>
>
 
<jig@jig.com> wrote
> can any body help??
> i have a windows xp pc but have lost the disc to reset it, i have a
> windows
> xp disc but no key, can i get the key from my machine using any
> programes??

Your post is unclear. First you say you "have lost the disc to reset it".
Then you say you have a windows XP disk but no key. So what exactly is the
issue? Have you lost the restore CD that came with the computer? Do you
have a different XP installation CD but no key for it? Is there a product
key on a sticker attached to the case? Is this a computer from one of the
major OEMs like HP or Dell, that came with the OS preinstalled?

Here are some utilities that will retrieve the product key from a running
installation:
ViewXP http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe

AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Magical Jellybean http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

If XP was pre-installed by the OEM, the product key retrieved by these
utilities will likely be the same product key used by the OEM for all
systems created with that same image. That key won't work with another XP
installation CD. Normally, if the OEM supplied recovery or installation CD
is used, it's BIOS locked to the motherboard, and no product key is needed.
If this is your situation, contact the computer manufacturer to get a
replacement recovery CD.

A product key on a sticker attached to the case will usually work with a
generic OEM XP installation CD of the same type - Home or Pro, and same
language version. You could borrow one from someone who has the same thing
and copy their CD.

If the version of XP is retail, either full or upgrade, or generic OEM, then
the product key retrieved by these utilities should work with any CD of the
same type. The product key and CD have to match as to:

Home vs. Pro
Full retail vs. upgrade vs. generic OEM, vs. branded OEM, vs. Volume license
Language version

If the version of XP is retail and you have proof of purchase see this link
for info on getting a replacement:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326246

MS will also help if the OEM from whom you got XP has gone out of business.
The info is in the above link.

Otherwise contact the OEM from whom you got XP to see if they can help.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
 
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