retrieve the license key from the Windows XP CD

Archived from groups: comp.windows.misc,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

jrefactors@hotmail.com wrote:
> I have Windows XP CD, but I couldn't find the license key and the key
> is not printed on the CD. Are there any ways to retrieve the license
> key from the Windows XP CD?
>
> Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
> http://www.petri.co.il/quickly_ret [...] cd_key.htm is not an
> appropriate tool in my case, because I am not retrieving the key from
> the machine, but from a CD.
>
> Please advise. thanks!!
>

The CD key is not embedded in the CD. The CD is not unique. It will
work with any CD key of that class, ie a retail XP Home key will work
with any retail XP Home CD.

If it's OEM then you'll need to contact the vendor you got it from for a
key. If it's retail see this:

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

--
Rock
MS MVP Windows - Shell/User

Archived from groups: comp.windows.misc,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

jrefactors@hotmail.com wrote:
> I have Windows XP CD, but I couldn't find the license key and the key
> is not printed on the CD. Are there any ways to retrieve the license
> key from the Windows XP CD?
>
> Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
> http://www.petri.co.il/quickly_ret [...] cd_key.htm is not an
> appropriate tool in my case, because I am not retrieving the key from
> the machine, but from a CD.
>
> Please advise. thanks!!
>


The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker
that says "Do not lose this number." It is not on the installation CD
in any way, shape, or form. 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/defau [...] -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:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

>"jrefactors@hotmail.com" wrote:

>> I have Windows XP CD, but I couldn't find the license key and the key
>> is not printed on the CD. Are there any ways to retrieve the license
>> key from the Windows XP CD?

Not from the CD, no, because CDs are mass-produced and thus do not
contain unique product keys. What they have is an algorithm to verify
whether a putative key is appropriate or not, and that can vary
between different CD production runs. So a "retail upgrade" CD may
reject an "OEM" key, an SP2 CD may reject an SP1 key, etc.

You can however retrieve the key from the installation on hard drive,
assuming that installation still lives. Several tools will do that,
such as NirSoft's key ProduKey lister, AIDA32system info, etc.



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