Product Code

[Guest Hondo]

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]

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 \(MVP\)]

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]

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]

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]

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~~]

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?