Re-install XP w/SP2

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim L
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim L

Hi group,

First, I have lost my Product key for XP Pro with service pack 2. I see
there are others who have done the same but there are suggestions I will be
trying over the next few days. The reason I am looking for the key is
because the workstation I built two years ago needs a new hard drive. The
workstation works OK, it has a few issues, the main thing is that I need to
go from the current 200 gig drive to a 500 gig drive. Because of the ‘few
issues’ I want to start with a clean install.

My current workstation is registered with MicroSoft and I have the Auto
Update feature turned on. So the question is this: When I format and
install Windows onto the new hard drive will MicroSoft think I am trying to
install the license on two machines (the 200 gig drive is destined to become
a data only drive)? If so, can you point me to the ‘how to’ instructions for
what I am about to do?

I hope to get lots of replies to this. Threads are great for getting to the
appropriate information. For me trying to wade through the news groups and
Knowledge base is a little like trying to find a couple of specific pieces of
information at the Nation Archive. Any and all help will be greatly
appreciated.

BTW – I am going to try and use the link I found in this new group

Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

To try and retrieve the key, does anyone else have a suggestion?

Thank you
 
Magic Jeely Bean
Beleric Adviser

If online activation doesnt work, use phone activation

"Tim L" <TimL@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:117D6D65-82C9-45BC-B13F-DF1CECAF252C@microsoft.com...
> Hi group,
>
> First, I have lost my Product key for XP Pro with service pack 2. I see
> there are others who have done the same but there are suggestions I will
> be
> trying over the next few days. The reason I am looking for the key is
> because the workstation I built two years ago needs a new hard drive. The
> workstation works OK, it has a few issues, the main thing is that I need
> to
> go from the current 200 gig drive to a 500 gig drive. Because of the 'few
> issues' I want to start with a clean install.
>
> My current workstation is registered with MicroSoft and I have the Auto
> Update feature turned on. So the question is this: When I format and
> install Windows onto the new hard drive will MicroSoft think I am trying
> to
> install the license on two machines (the 200 gig drive is destined to
> become
> a data only drive)? If so, can you point me to the 'how to' instructions
> for
> what I am about to do?
>
> I hope to get lots of replies to this. Threads are great for getting to
> the
> appropriate information. For me trying to wade through the news groups
> and
> Knowledge base is a little like trying to find a couple of specific pieces
> of
> information at the Nation Archive. Any and all help will be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> BTW - I am going to try and use the link I found in this new group
>
> Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm
>
> To try and retrieve the key, does anyone else have a suggestion?
>
> Thank you
>
 
Tim L wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> First, I have lost my Product key for XP Pro with service pack 2. I
> see there are others who have done the same but there are suggestions
> I will be trying over the next few days. The reason I am looking for
> the key is because the workstation I built two years ago needs a new
> hard drive. The workstation works OK, it has a few issues, the main
> thing is that I need to go from the current 200 gig drive to a 500
> gig drive. Because of the 'few issues' I want to start with a clean
> install.
>
> My current workstation is registered with MicroSoft and I have the
> Auto Update feature turned on. So the question is this: When I
> format and install Windows onto the new hard drive will MicroSoft
> think I am trying to install the license on two machines (the 200 gig
> drive is destined to become a data only drive)? If so, can you point
> me to the 'how to' instructions for what I am about to do?
>
> I hope to get lots of replies to this. Threads are great for getting
> to the appropriate information. For me trying to wade through the
> news groups and Knowledge base is a little like trying to find a
> couple of specific pieces of information at the Nation Archive. Any
> and all help will be greatly appreciated.
>
> BTW - I am going to try and use the link I found in this new group
>
> Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm
>
> To try and retrieve the key, does anyone else have a suggestion?

The above should work in many, but not all, cases.

You need to describe your XP Pro, Is it Retail or OEM? If the latter, is
it branded OEM or generic OEM? Is it full or upgrade?

If you have retail or generic OEM, you should be fine using the tool
above or Magical Jellybean Finder or Belarc (mentioned elsewhere by DL):

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

However, this will give you a wrong key if you have either a volume
license key or a golden master key, which is why asked the questions
above.

P.S., I assume you have either a generic OEM or a retail version since
you said you built the PC. But it's always good to have all the
information!
 
Tim L wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> First, I have lost my Product key for XP Pro with service pack 2. I
> see there are others who have done the same but there are suggestions
> I will be trying over the next few days. The reason I am looking for
> the key is because the workstation I built two years ago needs a new
> hard drive. The workstation works OK, it has a few issues, the main
> thing is that I need to go from the current 200 gig drive to a 500
> gig drive. Because of the 'few issues' I want to start with a clean
> install.
>
> My current workstation is registered with MicroSoft and I have the
> Auto Update feature turned on. So the question is this: When I
> format and install Windows onto the new hard drive will MicroSoft
> think I am trying to install the license on two machines (the 200 gig
> drive is destined to become a data only drive)? If so, can you point
> me to the 'how to' instructions for what I am about to do?
>
> I hope to get lots of replies to this. Threads are great for getting
> to the appropriate information. For me trying to wade through the
> news groups and Knowledge base is a little like trying to find a
> couple of specific pieces of information at the Nation Archive. Any
> and all help will be greatly appreciated.
>
> BTW - I am going to try and use the link I found in this new group
>
> Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm
>
> To try and retrieve the key, does anyone else have a suggestion?

Don't format and re-install. Simply clone your exiting hard drive to the
larger one. Your disk manufacturer should have free software at his site to
do this.

The cloned drive should then boot with no problem.
 
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