where is my Win XP product code?

I have a Windows XP Pro CD (or is it a DVD?) and I am trying to install it on a new machine. However, I can't find the product key/code. Since Microsoft requires activation (after 60 days), I'm not sure why the product code is a big secret. If it turns out that I can't activate this version of XP (for example, if this CD has already been activated), then that's fine, but I can't even get to that point because I can't install without a product code.

I thought I had the product code written down, but it doesn't work (I get an error saying that it's invalid). Is there a legitimate reason why Microsoft needs me to provide a product code? (no flames please!)

Is there any way to extract the product code from the CD? It's not printed on the front of the CD.

By the way, this is a real copy of Windows, complete with hologram and everything.
Thanks...

-- jeff

Sticker is probably on the side of your old machine. CD Install Disk covers a range of Keys; recently Uncle Bill Released a new CD so that the old keys will not work (at least according to my boss) which means repairs can be challenging (we use OEM Disks a lot to do repairs; Product key on side of machine. Will not work with eMachines and a few other venders though unfortunately; need to use their disk only).

Note; if you have access to your old system, and it does not have a product key sticker on the side, there are a plethora of keyfinders to choose from. A popular one is Magical Jellybean ( http://www.magicaljellybean.com/ ).

--

It's not on the side of the machine.

I tried a key finder on my existing XP machine but the key didn't work, so I assume that the CD I've got is not the one that I used to install on my existing XP machine.

Any other ideas?

Thanks...

-- jeff

Do a search on cracks. I never used them (or trust them; may have virus), but lots of crack programs do exist. I will conclude that this really is not a legitimate method nor do a condone the use of them.

May also try to contact Uncle Bill and they may resale you a key at a reduced price if you give them your sob story.

--

Did you purchase a retail copy? If you did, the product key is inside the trifold orange and blue folder the cd came in.

I can't find the original packing. The CD was in my notebook of CDs with no packaging or label. I thought I knew where the CD came from but I'm no longer sure. To put this in perspective, we just counted the computers at home and came up with 4 desktop machines and 5 laptops (there are only four of us; I'm not good at getting rid of old computers ;-).

-- jeff

Have you tried Belarc Advisor (free utility)? I just ran it on mine, and it gave me my Win XP license / key, along with the serial numbers of all my other software.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Stanee Rae said:

Have you tried Belarc Advisor (free utility)? I just ran it on mine,
and it gave me my Win XP license / key, along with the serial numbers
of all my other software.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Click to expand...

The problem is that I have a Windows XP CD but I don't know which, if any, of my machines it was installed on. I thought I knew, and I ran a keyfinder program, but the key wouldn't work with my CD.

-- jeff

jdjdjd said:

Stanee Rae said:

Have you tried Belarc Advisor (free utility)? I just ran it on mine,
and it gave me my Win XP license / key, along with the serial numbers
of all my other software.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Click to expand...

The problem is that I have a Windows XP CD but I don't know which, if
any, of my machines it was installed on. I thought I knew, and I ran
a keyfinder program, but the key wouldn't work with my CD.

-- jeff

Click to expand...

jeff -

I just don't understand why you are not simply using one of the Keyfinder progs
I've just now d/loaded the Winkeyfinder prog - only a few bytes..
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/WinKeyFinder-Download-17673.html

.. You don't even have to 'install' it - just unzip to get the exe file .. and run it from where you unzip it.

It gave mine nstantly - and if you do it on all your machines, jot down ALL the keys you get , then run your new install and just enter the keys one by one until one is accepted..then KEEP A NOTE of what has worked.
Surely it's that simple ??

--
eric-UK

jdjdjd said:

Stanee Rae said:

Have you tried Belarc Advisor (free utility)? I just ran it on mine,
and it gave me my Win XP license / key, along with the serial numbers
of all my other software.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Click to expand...

The problem is that I have a Windows XP CD but I don't know which, if
any, of my machines it was installed on. I thought I knew, and I ran
a keyfinder program, but the key wouldn't work with my CD.

-- jeff

Click to expand...

There is no such thing as a unique XP-CD/XP-license combination, thus the key is usually not on the CD, unless it's a custom type, meant for unattended installations. The product key can be found in the windows registry with a keyfinder program.

However, there are different versions of XP, (distributed on different CD's, like home/pro/mce, oem, retail, corporate, language versions) that work with different keys.

As far as I know, you cannot install a oem XP version with a retail or a corporate key.

I also have reason to believe that certain oem CD's (dell?) can only be installed on the corresponding hardware.

Perhaps there lies your problem.

JohnnyWB
--

--
pleeze ignore ze typo's

jdjdjd wrote:
Is there a legitimate reason

jdjdjd said:

why Microsoft needs me to provide a product code? (no flames please!)

Click to expand...

To prevent casual piracy.

richiebee said:

richiebee said:

why Microsoft needs me to provide a product code? (no flames please!)

Click to expand...

To prevent casual piracy.

Click to expand...

Never thought of that! LOL
--
pleeze ignore ze typo's

ericN2 said:

I just don't understand why you are not simply using one of the
Keyfinder progs
...
Surely it's that simple ??

Click to expand...

That's assuming that the CD was used to install XP on one of the machines that I still have ;-)

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I now understand that there's no way to extract the product key from the CD. If I can find a machine which has XP installed from this particular CD, then I can use one of the many "key finder" programs to locate the key. If I can't find the machine, then there's no way to reuse that CD.

I've also done some research and found that a Windows XP OEM CD cannot be installed on more than one machine. I believe this CD is an OEM CD (it doesn't say "OEM" but it says "For a new PC"). Assuming that I have used this CD before and activated Windows (a reasonable assumption, even if I can't find the machine ;-), it appears I wouldn't be able to activate another installation even if I did have the product key.

I suppose the anti-piracy theory is meant to deter "non-crackers" (like me) from installing and then later finding that I can't activate Windows.

Off to buy another copy of Windows XP...

-- jeff

jdjdjd said:

ericN2 said:

I just don't understand why you are not simply using one of the
Keyfinder progs
...
Surely it's that simple ??

Click to expand...

That's assuming that the CD was used to install XP on one of the
machines that I still have ;-)

Click to expand...

The CDs are mass produced and are all the same. The only difference is the product key. You can install XP from 1 CD on all your machines if you have enough keys.

--
Philip

Another thing to remember - there is a lmited number of times you can re-use the same product key even for repairs on the smae machine without getting another code from MS. I have 2 installs that were moved several times and repaired as I upgraded hardware. So I've called Microsoft 3 different times for manual activiation. A little tediuos but it worked.

Paul Stricklin

--
Club, Event Photographer to pay for the equipment
Nature, Landscape for the joy of life

LPS

Flashlight said:

The CDs are mass produced and are all the same. The only difference
is the product key. You can install XP from 1 CD on all your machines
if you have enough keys.

Click to expand...

It is important to note that while all the CDs from a specific type of licence are identical, there are different licences in play (retail, OEM, volume licence, etc.) and the media and product keys for each type aren't always interoperable. A retail product key will work with all retail install CDs, however it won't work for a volume licence disc. Further, some larger OEMs (such as Dell) often use customized CDs that will only work with product keys for their machines (and, conversely, those product keys will only work on CDs from them).

jdjdjd said:

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I now understand that there's no way to extract the product key from
the CD. If I can find a machine which has XP installed from this
particular CD, then I can use one of the many "key finder" programs
to locate the key. If I can't find the machine, then there's no way
to reuse that CD.

Click to expand...

You don't need to find that specific machine, however you do have to find a machine that has the same type of licence as the media was intended for. With that said, to remain legal you will at the very least have to remove Windows from the machine that you are taking the product key from (as a single licence can only be used on one computer at any given time).

jdjdjd said:

I've also done some research and found that a Windows XP OEM CD
cannot be installed on more than one machine. I believe this CD is
an OEM CD (it doesn't say "OEM" but it says "For a new PC").
Assuming that I have used this CD before and activated Windows (a
reasonable assumption, even if I can't find the machine ;-), it
appears I wouldn't be able to activate another installation even if I
did have the product key.

Click to expand...

The OEM copies of Windows can only be installed on a single machine. While you can upgrade that machine as you'd like (while big enough changes may trigger activation issues, the licence does allow this so it's generally just a matter of explaining the situation), it can't be moved to an entirely different computer. This is because OEM copies of Windows are intended to be sold by vendors as part of a new computer - you aren't directly buying a copy of Windows, you are buying a machine with Windows on it. Retail copies of Windows, on the other hand, can be moved to a new computer, but they must be removed from the old computer before you do this (as it is still only one copy of the product). This is largely why there is such a significant price difference between the two types of Windows licence

jdjdjd said:

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I now understand that there's no way to extract the product key from
the CD. If I can find a machine which has XP installed from this
particular CD, then I can use one of the many "key finder" programs
to locate the key. If I can't find the machine, then there's no way
to reuse that CD.

I've also done some research and found that a Windows XP OEM CD
cannot be installed on more than one machine. I believe this CD is
an OEM CD (it doesn't say "OEM" but it says "For a new PC").
Assuming that I have used this CD before and activated Windows (a
reasonable assumption, even if I can't find the machine ;-), it
appears I wouldn't be able to activate another installation even if I
did have the product key.

I suppose the anti-piracy theory is meant to deter "non-crackers"
(like me) from installing and then later finding that I can't
activate Windows.

Off to buy another copy of Windows XP...

-- jeff

Click to expand...

No-one seems to have mentioned as yet , so I'll relate it here ..

I've just read in a page via a Google on the topic that if you contact MS and state the number that is imprinted on the CD , not a Product Key but the CD number that is found in the space near to the center hole - they presumably can tell if it is a genuine or a restricted CD and if all is well they them give you a new Product Key to use in a new installation.
Worth a try maybe ??

--
eric-UK

There is some room though. This is my Vista story:

I build two systems with identical hardware, one with Vista 32 Home Premium NL OEM (Dutch) and one with Vista 64 Ultimate UK OEM (English). It turned out that using the 64 bit OS I could not step through my code in Visual Basic. No doubt I should have known, but I didn't and then again, who would expect such an issue?

Anyway I was stuck with the 64 bit OS and could not officially 'upgrade' to XP pro because Vista Ultimate was already considered 'higher' and one cannot 'downgrade'.

I then used the Vista 32 bit NL installation DVD with the product key from the 64 bit UK package to install Vista on my machine. It installed a Dutch version of Vista Ultimate 32 and I could activate it without problems.

As I want all my PCs to be as legal as possible I phoned Microsoft about it. They were surprised it worked, said it was basically not allowed, but since it activated they would understand if I kept on using it . Note that I bought two licenses and use two licenses, only both licenses were installed using the files from one CD, so I'm not stealing anything.

Downside is that I have now, yet again, a Dutch OS :-(. I try to use only English software for it's way easier to discuss it on international forums (fora?) like DPReview.

--
Philip