can't find product key

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Guest

I have 2(two) desk tops. Both with windows xp home. I need to know if anyone
can tell me how to find my product key that i activated windows with. I have
lost it somewhere. Can you get to it in windows?
HELP ME PLEASE !!!
 
Try the following:

Visit http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download the free
Belarc Advisor. After running the program, look under the section
titled "Software Licenses".

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have 2(two) desk tops. Both with windows xp home. I need to know if anyone
| can tell me how to find my product key that i activated windows with. I have
| lost it somewhere. Can you get to it in windows?
| HELP ME PLEASE !!!
 
dangdantheman said:
I have 2(two) desk tops. Both with windows xp home. I need to know if anyone
can tell me how to find my product key that i activated windows with. I have
lost it somewhere. Can you get to it in windows?
HELP ME PLEASE !!!
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:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Ahhh well I have a lovely COA sticker on the underside of my laptop and the
installation key has worn off it. So thanks to those who have offered a
solution. I have always wondered why the only place to find the key is on a
sticker on the computer. This is not the second computer I have had this
problem with.

Dee
 
<snip>
Ahhh well I have a lovely COA sticker on the underside of my laptop
and the installation key has worn off it. So thanks to those who
have offered a solution. I have always wondered why the only place
to find the key is on a sticker on the computer. This is not the
second computer I have had this problem with.
Click to expand...

The product key is like any other key - you should have backups of it.
 
<snip>
Ahhh well I have a lovely COA sticker on the underside of my
laptop and the installation key has worn off it. So thanks to
those who have offered a solution. I have always wondered why
the only place to find the key is on a sticker on the computer.
This is not the second computer I have had this problem with.
Click to expand...

Shenan said:
The product key is like any other key - you should have backups of
it.
Click to expand...

Jake said:
THAT was really helpful!
Click to expand...

Please understand what you are responding to before responding. ;-)
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...nd_support/browse_frm/thread/533b8cd5b6b3b451

They already have a solution - after all they say, "thanks to those who have
offered a solution"...
See "Belarc, Magic JellyBean, How to replace lost/broken software..." from
the previous quotes.

I am just telling them that now that they know their product key - put it
someplace they won't lose it in addition to someplace else. Common Sense.
 
I have always wondered why the only place to find the key is on a
sticker on the computer. This is not the second computer I have had this
problem with.
Click to expand...

Now remember this for the future how computer industry works. It is cheaper to stick it on the computer base or laptop bottom so that people can find it quickly!. You didn't know this but now you know it so keep this in mind. When you buy a new computer, make a copy of the number and put it somewhere in a safe place - perhaps with your passport or with your cash in the house where you are not likely to lose!!.

Hope this helped!!!
 
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