I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of WindowsXP Pro... HELP!

[ship]

Hi

I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows
XP Pro.

I am trying to rebuild my PC. I have booted off my (original/legit)
CD, and formatted the disk
I know the 20 character OEM registration code but it is demanding the
25 character
"Product Key"

Help!

What do I do next?
It has already taken 45 minutes to get this far.
And there is no abort option...
And it is too late in the day to call Microsoft here in the UK.

with thanks


Ship
Shiperton Henethe

 

[Lenny]

Re: I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows XP Pro... HELP!

are you sure the 25 character key isn't on the sleeve the disc was in or
somewhere on the side, front, top or back of the PC?

"ship" <shiphen@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:399c6fc2-9790-49d2-937d-7613d461e311@o10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi
>
> I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows
> XP Pro.
>
> I am trying to rebuild my PC. I have booted off my (original/legit)
> CD, and formatted the disk
> I know the 20 character OEM registration code but it is demanding the
> 25 character
> "Product Key"
>
> Help!
>
> What do I do next?
> It has already taken 45 minutes to get this far.
> And there is no abort option...
> And it is too late in the day to call Microsoft here in the UK.
>
> with thanks
>
>
> Ship
> Shiperton Henethe

 

[ship]

Re: I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version ofWindows XP Pro... HELP!

Damn you appear to be right - it seems to be on the back of the
machine
More shortly...

Ship


> are you sure the 25 character key isn't on the sleeve the disc was in or
> somewhere on the side, front, top or back of the PC?
>
> "ship" <ship...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:399c6fc2-9790-49d2-937d-7613d461e311@o10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Hi
>
> > I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows
> > XP Pro.
>
> > I am trying to rebuild my PC. I have booted off my (original/legit)
> > CD, and formatted the disk
> > I know the 20 character OEM registration code but it is demanding the
> > 25 character
> > "Product Key"
>
> > Help!
>
> > What do I do next?
> > It has already taken 45 minutes to get this far.
> > And there is no abort option...
> > And it is too late in the day to call Microsoft here in the UK.
>
> > with thanks
>
> > Ship
> > Shiperton Henethe- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Damn n

 

[Lenny]

Re: I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows XP Pro... HELP!

Sometimes the simplest thought actually work!
Good luck

"ship" <shiphen@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:06a286f4-887a-4f80-bde5-20a212d6fe72@60g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
> Damn you appear to be right - it seems to be on the back of the
> machine
> More shortly...
>
> Ship
>
>
>> are you sure the 25 character key isn't on the sleeve the disc was in or
>> somewhere on the side, front, top or back of the PC?
>>
>> "ship" <ship...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:399c6fc2-9790-49d2-937d-7613d461e311@o10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hi
>>
>> > I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows
>> > XP Pro.
>>
>> > I am trying to rebuild my PC. I have booted off my (original/legit)
>> > CD, and formatted the disk
>> > I know the 20 character OEM registration code but it is demanding the
>> > 25 character
>> > "Product Key"
>>
>> > Help!
>>
>> > What do I do next?
>> > It has already taken 45 minutes to get this far.
>> > And there is no abort option...
>> > And it is too late in the day to call Microsoft here in the UK.
>>
>> > with thanks
>>
>> > Ship
>> > Shiperton Henethe- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
> Damn n

 

[ship]

Re: I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version ofWindows XP Pro... HELP!

On Feb 20, 10:51 pm, ship <ship...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Damn you appear to be right - it seems to be on the back of the
> machine
> More shortly...
>
> Ship
>
>
>
>
>
> > are you sure the 25 character key isn't on the sleeve the disc was in or
> > somewhere on the side, front, top or back of the PC?
>
> > "ship" <ship...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >news:399c6fc2-9790-49d2-937d-7613d461e311@o10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
> > > Hi
>
> > > I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows
> > > XP Pro.
>
> > > I am trying to rebuild my PC. I have booted off my (original/legit)
> > > CD, and formatted the disk
> > > I know the 20 character OEM registration code but it is demanding the
> > > 25 character
> > > "Product Key"
>
> > > Help!
>
> > > What do I do next?
> > > It has already taken 45 minutes to get this far.
> > > And there is no abort option...
> > > And it is too late in the day to call Microsoft here in the UK.
>
> > > with thanks
>
> > > Ship
> > > Shiperton Henethe- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Damn n- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

OK I'm in. Thanks

Ship

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Re: I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version ofWindows XP Pro... HELP!

ship wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of Windows
> XP Pro.
>
> I am trying to rebuild my PC. I have booted off my (original/legit)
> CD, and formatted the disk
> I know the 20 character OEM registration code but it is demanding the
> 25 character
> "Product Key"
>
> Help!
>
> What do I do next?
> It has already taken 45 minutes to get this far.
> And there is no abort option...
> And it is too late in the day to call Microsoft here in the UK.
>
> with thanks
>
>
> Ship
> Shiperton Henethe


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=KBen-us326246

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://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[choka]

Re: I have lost my 25 character Product Key for my OEM version of WindowsXP Pro...

If your system still runs you can use special software to recover your Windows key. Most of them support some versions of Windows and some other Microsoft products. Also there is a products like "Recover Keys" ( Recover Lost Product Keys for Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Office, SQL, Exchange - CD-Key Retrieve - Overview ) that support all Windows versions and 300+ of other major software packages.