Guest Hondo Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her laptopfor this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily reinstall XP?
Guest Jerry Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Product Code "Hondo" <Hondo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:34ED30A9-DAA1-4C47-A978-8DA088C1F8CE@microsoft.com... >I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install > Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the > package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her > laptopfor > this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily > reinstall XP? Look on the bottom of the laptop, it should be there. You can also download magic jelly bean key finder to get the installed product key off the laptop.
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Product Code "Hondo" <Hondo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:34ED30A9-DAA1-4C47-A978-8DA088C1F8CE@microsoft.com... >I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install > Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the > package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her > laptopfor > this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily > reinstall XP? http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml Seeing that you've spent a lot of money in buying your various software products, it might be an idea to collect ALL product keys in a spreadsheet and keep a printed copy in a safe place. If she's lost it once she might lose it again and if the disk crashes then the Jellybean product won't get it back for you . . .
Guest Hondo Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Product Code Thank you for the help Jerry. I will download this and run the program. "Jerry" wrote: > "Hondo" <Hondo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:34ED30A9-DAA1-4C47-A978-8DA088C1F8CE@microsoft.com... > >I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install > > Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the > > package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her > > laptopfor > > this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily > > reinstall XP? > > Look on the bottom of the laptop, it should be there. You can also download > magic jelly bean key finder to get the installed product key off the laptop. > > >
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Product Code On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:16:01 -0700, Hondo <Hondo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install > Windows XP Professional. Why? How do you know that you have to do this? It's often done for poor reasons. > I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the > package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her laptopfor > this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily > reinstall XP? There is normally a label on the bottom of the laptop telling you what it is. There is also software available to tell you what product was used when it was installed, but if you bought it from an OEM vendor, that installation normally was done in bulk and doesn't match *your* product code. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Product Code Hondo wrote: > I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install > Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the > package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her laptopfor > this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily > reinstall XP? The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form. If it's a retail license, the Product Key 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=KB;en-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://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 ~~Alan~~ Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 Re: Product Code If the PC is a Dell and you have the OEM Dell install CD, you do not need the CD key. It is "built in" to the installation. ~alan "Hondo" <Hondo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:34ED30A9-DAA1-4C47-A978-8DA088C1F8CE@microsoft.com... >I have to format my wife's hard drive on her laptop and then re-install > Windows XP Professional. I have her OEM disk but she has miss placed the > package with the product code. Is there someplace I can look on her > laptopfor > this information before I re-format her hard drive so that I can easily > reinstall XP?
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