Guest JohnD Posted September 6, 2008 Posted September 6, 2008 I need to re-format my C: drive and reinstall all the software, inclusing XP. Problem is I have a number of copies of XP Pro and I have no idea which one was used on this machine. Where on the drive does the product key get stored? Having identified the correct disc and having done the re-install, will I have to go through activation again?
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted September 6, 2008 Posted September 6, 2008 Re: Re-Installing XP JohnD wrote: > I need to re-format my C: drive and reinstall all the software, inclusing XP. > Problem is I have a number of copies of XP Pro and I have no idea which one > was used on this machine. Where on the drive does the product key get stored? > 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.) > Having identified the correct disc and having done the re-install, will I > have to go through activation again? Unless you've a BIOS-locked OEM installation CD, certainly. -- 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
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted September 7, 2008 Posted September 7, 2008 Re: Re-Installing XP "JohnD" <JohnD@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:344822EE-D35D-49DB-A51D-A8D44602B18A@microsoft.com... >I need to re-format my C: drive and reinstall all the software, inclusing >XP. > Problem is I have a number of copies of XP Pro and I have no idea which > one > was used on this machine. Where on the drive does the product key get > stored? > > Having identified the correct disc and having done the re-install, will I > have to go through activation again? There are various utilities, like Belarc Advisor and Magical Jellybean, which will show you the install key for Windows (and Office and a few other things). This is a read from the Registry. None of these keys are anywhere on the install CD itself. It may be on the *sleeve or case* for the CD. CDs are interchangeable as long as they are the same type - OEM, Retail, VL, etc. You will know fairly quickly if you have the wrong disk for the key when the key is requested, and either accepted or rejected. HTH -pk
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