activation serial key in the registry

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New Orleans Novice

activation serial key in the registry

Windows XP home. My buddy lost his activation serial key. He has a Dell
Laptop. XP home. Looked through regedit but not found.

Is it possible to find? XP home needs to be reinstalled. But it is still
running. The laptop boots up and runs. If there is a software utility that
will locate it, the laptop is running OK.

What do you suggest?

Thanks from New Orleans where there is no murders.
 
New Orleans Novice said:
activation serial key in the registry

Windows XP home. My buddy lost his activation serial key. He has a Dell Laptop.
XP home. Looked through regedit but not found.

Is it possible to find? XP home needs to be reinstalled. But it is still running.
The laptop boots up and runs. If there is a software utility that will locate it,
the laptop is running OK.

What do you suggest?

Thanks from New Orleans where there is no murders.
Click to expand...

http://magicaljellybean.com/

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
New Orleans Novice said:
activation serial key in the registry

Windows XP home. My buddy lost his activation serial key. He has a Dell
Laptop. XP home. Looked through regedit but not found.

Is it possible to find? XP home needs to be reinstalled. But it is still
running. The laptop boots up and runs. If there is a software utility
that will locate it, the laptop is running OK.

What do you suggest?

Thanks from New Orleans where there is no murders.
Click to expand...


Did you look for it on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop?
 
New said:
activation serial key in the registry

Windows XP home. My buddy lost his activation serial key. He has a Dell
Laptop. XP home. Looked through regedit but not found.

Is it possible to find? XP home needs to be reinstalled. But it is still
running. The laptop boots up and runs. If there is a software utility that
will locate it, the laptop is running OK.

What do you suggest?

Thanks from New Orleans where there is no murders.
Click to expand...


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/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:



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
 
Thanks. I tried Jelly Bean and Belarc. They found a serial key that was in
the install image but not the current key that Dell installed in the OEM
notebook PC with XP home
 
Thanks Bill

Thanks. I tried Jelly Bean and Belarc. They found a serial key that was in
the install image but not the current key that Dell installed in the OEM
notebook PC with XP home
 
Thanks Merlin

Thanks. I tried Jelly Bean and Belarc. They found a serial key that was in
the install image but not the current key that Dell installed in the OEM
notebook PC with XP home
 
Thanks Bruce

Thanks. I tried Jelly Bean and Belarc. They found a serial key that was in
the install image but not the current key that Dell installed in the OEM
notebook PC with XP home
 
New Orleans Novice said:
Thanks. I tried Jelly Bean and Belarc. They found a serial key that was in the
install image but not the current key that Dell installed in the OEM notebook PC
with XP home
Click to expand...


How do you know it's not the current key if you don't know the current key? Have
you tried contacting Dell support?

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
New said:
Thanks Bruce

Thanks. I tried Jelly Bean and Belarc. They found a serial key that was in
the install image but not the current key that Dell installed in the OEM
notebook PC with XP home
Click to expand...

Yes, this is correct. The Product Key that you see with Jelly Bean, et
al. is the key used by Dell when imaging the system and is not the
correct Product Key for reinstallation. The correct key is on a sticker
on the bottom of the Dell laptop. If your friend somehow removed that
sticker, s/he is S.O.L. They can contact Dell tech support and see if
Dell will send them a restore disk or sell them a new copy of XP at a
reduced price. However, your friend (or someone) had to physically
removed the sticker so s/he should be prepared to pay for the mistake.
One of Life's lessons learned.


Malke
 
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