OEM XP with no product key

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aaron Gray
  • Start date Start date
A

Aaron Gray

Hi,

I have got a lap top that was bought from eBay with no product key and the
firm it was bought from no longer exists.

Is there any way that I can get the product key ?

And is here any possiblity of getting a Windows XP OEM Disk for
reinstillation ?

Many thanks in advance,

Aaron
 
Aaron Gray said this on 12/18/2008 5:44 PM:
Hi,

I have got a lap top that was bought from eBay with no product key and the
firm it was bought from no longer exists.

Is there any way that I can get the product key ?

And is here any possiblity of getting a Windows XP OEM Disk for
reinstillation ?

Many thanks in advance,

Aaron
Click to expand...
First off there are usually decals on the bottom with the license on it.
2nd if you have the OS running, there are programs you can download that
will show you the licenses on the PC.

SIW http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html
CD key reader http://www.skaro.net/cd-keyreader/index.html
Belarc http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Product Key http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
Keyfinder http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

There are a ton of them. Keep looking.
 
Aaron said:
I have got a lap top that was bought from eBay with no product key
and the firm it was bought from no longer exists.

Is there any way that I can get the product key ?

And is here any possiblity of getting a Windows XP OEM Disk for
reinstillation ?

Many thanks in advance,
Click to expand...

Laptop - check the laptop for a sticker with the product key on it.

You could run Belarc Advisor on the machine *if*it works - that would give
you the product key that the current installation was done with - but that
could be unreliable at best.

As for getting media - friend, neighbor, etc. A generic OEM CD is what you
need - matching the version of Windows XP the product key sticker on the
laptop says you get.

Someone could even get a retail/MSDN/Technet version of the CD and edit
SETUPP.INI and burn a new copy that accepts OEM keys.
 
Caroline (shadoe) said this on 12/19/2008 7:09 PM:
google "magic jelly bean keyfinder" it will give you the key that is
embedded in your registry....works great and it's free and easy to use.



Shenan Stanley said:
Laptop - check the laptop for a sticker with the product key on it.

You could run Belarc Advisor on the machine *if*it works - that would give
you the product key that the current installation was done with - but that
could be unreliable at best.

As for getting media - friend, neighbor, etc. A generic OEM CD is what
you need - matching the version of Windows XP the product key sticker on
the laptop says you get.

Someone could even get a retail/MSDN/Technet version of the CD and edit
SETUPP.INI and burn a new copy that accepts OEM keys.
Click to expand...

Not sure where you are in the World, but your message is showing Dec 19
7:09 pm. Looks a day off. Not sure if that's your ISP or your PC.

And the OP can get jelly beans keyfinder link from my reply earlier today.
Click to expand...
 
Caroline (shadoe) said:
google "magic jelly bean keyfinder" it will give you the key that is
embedded in your registry....works great and it's free and easy to use.
Click to expand...

You probably know already how this turns out given that you are posting from
the future.
 
Not necessarily..
An OEM machines registry may have the factory key, not the key provided on the sticker with the machine. If the o/s was later
reinstalled with the key on the sticker then the registry will have the sticker key. The factory key may likely(usually does) fail
if used for a reinstallation.



--
...winston
ms-mvp mail


Caroline (shadoe) said:
google "magic jelly bean keyfinder" it will give you the key that is embedded in your registry....works great and it's free and
easy to use.
Click to expand...
 
Big_Al said:
Aaron Gray said this on 12/18/2008 5:44 PM:
First off there are usually decals on the bottom with the license on it.
Click to expand...

No there was no sticker.
2nd if you have the OS running, there are programs you can download that
will show you the licenses on the PC.

SIW http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html
CD key reader http://www.skaro.net/cd-keyreader/index.html
Belarc http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Product Key http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
Keyfinder http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

There are a ton of them. Keep looking.
Click to expand...

System/Properties gives the same :)

Aaron
 
Shenan Stanley said:
Laptop - check the laptop for a sticker with the product key on it.

You could run Belarc Advisor on the machine *if*it works - that would give
you the product key that the current installation was done with - but that
could be unreliable at best.

As for getting media - friend, neighbor, etc. A generic OEM CD is what
you need - matching the version of Windows XP the product key sticker on
the laptop says you get.

Someone could even get a retail/MSDN/Technet version of the CD and edit
SETUPP.INI and burn a new copy that accepts OEM keys.
Click to expand...

Okay, great, got a copy, how do I go about modifing SETUPP.INI ?

Aaron
 
....winston said:
Not necessarily..
An OEM machines registry may have the factory key, not the key provided
on the sticker with the machine. If the o/s was later reinstalled with
the key on the sticker then the registry will have the sticker key. The
factory key may likely(usually does) fail if used for a reinstallation.
Click to expand...
Might want to remove the battery and see if the sticker is under it.

Jim
 
google "magic jelly bean keyfinder" it will give you the key that is
embedded in your registry....works great and it's free and easy to use.
 
Hi!
No there was no sticker.
Click to expand...

This is a common problem, especially with laptops where the sticker melts or
gets rubbed off by moving around.

I don't know about the legality of doing so (as I've never done it myself)
but you can find a lot of OEM (Dell, Compaq, HP, IBM, etc...) Windows XP
install media on eBay. Just make sure you know what you're buying, and that
you're dealing with a reputable seller if you go that route. Some OEMs
customize their setup routines so that Windows XP is pre-activated with a
built-in product key as long as it is being installed on the correct
hardware.

Whenever I build a computer for someone, I typically put the COA in a
protected location so the likelihood of its being damaged is very low. To
try and stay within the spirit of placing it where it is clearly visible, I
make sure the customer knows where to find it. And I've been known to write
it in permanent marker inside the PC as well.

William
 
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