What XP home key did I use?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shaun
  • Start date Start date
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Shaun

Hello group,

I want to install Windows XP Home edition on a used computer I refurbished,
but I don't remember what key I used On my parents computer, was it the key
on the sticker on the back of there computer or my XP disk?
Is there a way to find out?

thanks,

Shaun
 
Shaun said:
Hello group,

I want to install Windows XP Home edition on a used computer I refurbished,
but I don't remember what key I used On my parents computer, was it the key
on the sticker on the back of there computer or my XP disk?
Is there a way to find out?

thanks,

Shaun
Click to expand...

Hello Shaun:

The product key can be revealed with:

<http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/>

HTH
 
Shaun said:
Hello group,

I want to install Windows XP Home edition on a used computer I
refurbished, but I don't remember what key I used On my parents computer,
was it the key on the sticker on the back of there computer or my XP disk?
Is there a way to find out?

thanks,

Shaun
Click to expand...

Here are four utilities, all of which will display your product keys:
Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
(It does a good job of providing a wealth of information.)

Also: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml
and: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
and RockXP: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4138.html which has additional
features
 
I want to install Windows XP Home edition on a used computer I refurbished,
but I don't remember what key I used On my parents computer,
Click to expand...


Your license permits you to install it on a single computer, not on
multiple computers. If it's still on your parents computer, what you
are proposing to do is software piracy.

was it the key
on the sticker on the back of there computer
Click to expand...


If there is a sticker with a key on the back of their computer, theirs
is an OEM license. An OEM license is good only for the first computer
it's installed on, and it may never be moved to another. So in this
case, you may not install it even if you uninstall it from your
parents computer.

or my XP disk?
Click to expand...


There are *never* keys on the CDs themselves.
 
Ken Blake said:
Your license permits you to install it on a single computer, not on
multiple computers. If it's still on your parents computer, what you
are proposing to do is software piracy.
Click to expand...

I'm not proposing to pirate Windows XP.

If I used my key on there computer, then I use there old key on the
refurbished, second hand computer.

Shaun
 
I'm not proposing to pirate Windows XP.

If I used my key on there computer, then I use there old key on the
refurbished, second hand computer.
Click to expand...



As I said, if their key is on a label on the back of their computer,
they have an OEM computer with an OEM copy of Windows. An OEM license
is good only for the first computer it's installed on, and it may
never be moved to another. So in this case, you may not install it
even if you uninstall it from your parents computer.

So although you probably didn't realize it, what you are proposing
*is* a licensing violation, and that's what the word "piracy" is
usually used to mean.


 
The label on the computer does not mean that key
is the currently in use on the computer.

If he for instance did a fresh install on the PC and used
another (retail) version, the key will not match the sticker
and then his retail copy can be removed from the PC and used
on another PC.

So what's the harm in verifying what key is in use, that still not illegal
yet!

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com



Ken Blake said:
I'm not proposing to pirate Windows XP.

If I used my key on there computer, then I use there old key on the
refurbished, second hand computer.
Click to expand...



As I said, if their key is on a label on the back of their computer,
they have an OEM computer with an OEM copy of Windows. An OEM license
is good only for the first computer it's installed on, and it may
never be moved to another. So in this case, you may not install it
even if you uninstall it from your parents computer.

So although you probably didn't realize it, what you are proposing
*is* a licensing violation, and that's what the word "piracy" is
usually used to mean.
Click to expand...
 
The label on the computer does not mean that key
is the currently in use on the computer.
Click to expand...


Right. In fact with OEM copies of Windows, the OEM almost always
installs with a different key tat the one of the label.


If he for instance did a fresh install on the PC and used
another (retail) version, the key will not match the sticker
and then his retail copy can be removed from the PC and used
on another PC.

So what's the harm in verifying what key is in use, that still not illegal
yet!
Click to expand...


Because regardless of what key it was installed with, if the label is
present, that signifies that Windows came with the computer, that it's
an OEM copy, and the license for an OEM copy does not permit it to be
moved to another computer.

As far as I'm concerned, that's the single biggest disadvantage of an
OEM copy and the reason I almost always recommend that a retail
upgrade copy of Windows XP be bought instead of an OEM one.



 
You're correct, the OEM key must be used only on
the original PC it came with.

So it can still be reinstalled on the computer it came with
or possibly the keycode changer tool may work
(never used it with an OEM version).

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com



Ken Blake said:
The label on the computer does not mean that key
is the currently in use on the computer.
Click to expand...


Right. In fact with OEM copies of Windows, the OEM almost always
installs with a different key tat the one of the label.


If he for instance did a fresh install on the PC and used
another (retail) version, the key will not match the sticker
and then his retail copy can be removed from the PC and used
on another PC.

So what's the harm in verifying what key is in use, that still not
illegal
yet!
Click to expand...


Because regardless of what key it was installed with, if the label is
present, that signifies that Windows came with the computer, that it's
an OEM copy, and the license for an OEM copy does not permit it to be
moved to another computer.

As far as I'm concerned, that's the single biggest disadvantage of an
OEM copy and the reason I almost always recommend that a retail
upgrade copy of Windows XP be bought instead of an OEM one.
Click to expand...
 
Ken Blake said:
Right. In fact with OEM copies of Windows, the OEM almost always
installs with a different key tat the one of the label.





Because regardless of what key it was installed with, if the label is
present, that signifies that Windows came with the computer, that it's
an OEM copy, and the license for an OEM copy does not permit it to be
moved to another computer.

As far as I'm concerned, that's the single biggest disadvantage of an
OEM copy and the reason I almost always recommend that a retail
upgrade copy of Windows XP be bought instead of an OEM one.
Click to expand...

I didn't know of that limitation. I'll check that computer with Rock XP and
if it is my key that I used, I can change it with Rock XP to the key on the
sticker of my parents computer. Hopefully that will make things legal.

Thanks for everyones help,

Shaun

 
Shaun said:
I didn't know of that limitation. I'll check that computer with Rock XP
and if it is my key that I used, I can change it with Rock XP to the key
on the sticker of my parents computer. Hopefully that will make things
legal.

Thanks for everyones help,

Shaun
Click to expand...

Well, I did use my key on my parents computer and Rock XP will not let me
change it back to the OEM key.

Does anyone know what registry key the Windows XP key is in, so I can change
it manually??

thanks,

Shaun



 
Shaun

Did you read all the posts in this thread properly? You are not able to do what you
want to do

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

Shaun said:
Shaun said:
I didn't know of that limitation. I'll check that computer with Rock XP and if
it is my key that I used, I can change it with Rock XP to the key on the sticker
of my parents computer. Hopefully that will make things legal.

Thanks for everyones help,

Shaun
Click to expand...

Well, I did use my key on my parents computer and Rock XP will not let me change
it back to the OEM key.

Does anyone know what registry key the Windows XP key is in, so I can change it
manually??

thanks,

Shaun
Click to expand...
 
Shaun said:
Well, I did use my key on my parents computer and Rock XP will not let me
change it back to the OEM key.

Does anyone know what registry key the Windows XP key is in, so I can
change it manually??

thanks,

Shaun
Click to expand...
< Snipped?

Windows Product Key Update Tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/PKUInstructions.aspx
Use the Windows Product Key Update Tool to change your product key.

Note: "After updating your product key you will be required to activate
Windows. Once Windows is activated, you can verify that your copy of Windows
is genuine by going to http://www.Microsoft.com/genuine and clicking
Validate Windows"

Step by Step Guide:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...indows-product-key-update-tool-free-download/

I have not tried this on an OEM but it did work for a retail version.
 
JS said:
< Snipped?

Windows Product Key Update Tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/PKUInstructions.aspx
Use the Windows Product Key Update Tool to change your product key.

Note: "After updating your product key you will be required to activate
Windows. Once Windows is activated, you can verify that your copy of
Windows is genuine by going to http://www.Microsoft.com/genuine and
clicking Validate Windows"

Step by Step Guide:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...indows-product-key-update-tool-free-download/

I have not tried this on an OEM but it did work for a retail version.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, that program worked!

all the best,

Shaun
 
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