Stolen Legitimate XP pro disk.

[Guest]

My disk was unfortunately nicked. Is there a way to make a recovery disk,
find the product key from my computer? As time progresses and you upgrade
your components on the computer, it is better to re-format your hard drive
(so i have been told), how can this be done without having to buy another
disk?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My disk was unfortunately nicked. Is there a way to make a recovery
disk, find the product key from my computer? As time progresses and
you upgrade your components on the computer, it is better to
re-format your hard drive (so i have been told), how can this be
done without having to buy another disk?

First off - who ever told you that ("better to re-format your hard drive") -
I can tell you it's better not to listen to them anymore.

Secondly - use Belarc Advisor or Magic JellyBean KeyFinder to get the
Windows XP product key off the currently functioning machine.

 

[Malke]

My disk was unfortunately nicked. Is there a way to make a recovery disk,
find the product key from my computer? As time progresses and you upgrade
your components on the computer, it is better to re-format your hard drive
(so i have been told), how can this be done without having to buy another
disk?

You can find the Product Key using one of these free utilities:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml - Key Finder
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html - Nirsoft Key Finder

Please note that if you have an OEM machine (Dell, Sony, etc.) the
Product Key you find on the hard drive will not be the correct one for
reinstallation; you need to use the one on the sticker on the back (or
bottom if a laptop) of your machine.

As for replacing the installation CD:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If this is an OEM machine, contact the OEM for replacement. In a pinch,
you can always install with a CD that matches the version you have on
the machine; i.e., XP Home/Pro/MCE retail/retail upgrade/OEM. The CD
itself isn't your license; the Product Key is.


Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My disk was unfortunately nicked. Is there a way to make a recovery disk, ....

Not unless you've an OEM installation and the computer manufacturer
provided a utility for that purpose. However:

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.

... find the product key from my computer?

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.)

As time progresses and you upgrade
your components on the computer, it is better to re-format your hard drive
(so i have been told),....

Don't listen to such poor advice; the only time it's truly necessary to
re-install the OS is if the hard drive fails.

... how can this be done without having to buy another
disk?

As above.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:21:01 -0700, nucklebone

My disk was unfortunately nicked. Is there a way to make a recovery disk

For some OEM installations, maybe - tho it will typically be a more
destructive installation tool than a real generic OS disk.

Else, prolly no. Look for an \i386 file set.

find the product key from my computer?

I use Nirsoft's ProduKey tool from www.nirsoft.net, i.e.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

As time progresses and you upgrade your components on the
computer, it is better to re-format your hard drive

False, though it is debatable (and often debated).

If you have the usual useless duhfault out-the-box installed state,
you have nothing to lose but your patches. The more work you put into
improving your install, the less keen you will be on "just" formatting
and starting over. A new motherboard may require a "repair install",
which needs a bootable OS disk (dunno if a raw \i386 can be enough);
any other hardware change should not require even that.

Even so, you should always have an installation disk, and a
custom-installable one at that (so that you can do things like
Recovery Console boot, repair install, etc.). Large OEMs deny users
these tools, yet MS still considers their crippled OS "recovery" disk
(or lack of any disks at all) as "Genuine Advantage".

Makes you drink, doesn't it?

(so i have been told), how can this be done without having to buy another
disk?

Find an exact matching disk and clone it, or order a replacement disk
(no license, just the disk, should be cheap) from MS or your OEM.

By "matching", I mean:
- same edition, i.e. Starter / Home / Media Center / Pro
- same code base, i.e. 32-bit / 64-bit
- same license, i.e. retail / upgrade / royalty-OEM / OEM / etc.
- (same SP level)

Actually, "same SP level" isn't a biggie, as there won't be a product
key issue across SP versions AFAIK (as there will be across editions
and license types). But if HD > 137G, the SP level must be at least
SP1, ideally SP2; "Gold" (SP0) is unsafe for installation or use over
137G, and SP1 is not 100% safe to use > 137G (OK to install).

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