When You Install-Over Does it Know the Installation Key?

[jim evans]

About a year ago I made a SP2 installation disk from my original XP
disk. I must have thrown the original XP disk away so I would not get
confused and try to use it, but I had written the installation key on
it and no longer can find the key.

Will the SP2 disk recognize the key from the current installation when
I try to refresh the installation by doing what I call install-over?

jim

 

[Patrick Keenan]

About a year ago I made a SP2 installation disk from my original XP
disk. I must have thrown the original XP disk away so I would not get
confused and try to use it, but I had written the installation key on
it and no longer can find the key.

Will the SP2 disk recognize the key from the current installation when
I try to refresh the installation by doing what I call install-over?

jim

No. Except in the case of some OEM versions where the key is embedded,
you will *always* be asked for the key in any install type, including repair
installs.

Get the key while the system is still running, with Belarc Advisor or the
Magical Jellybean key finder.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Write the key down on the PC itself.

HTH
-pk

 

[Rich Barry]

Jim, go here and get this Utility.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml Once you retrieve your
key write it
down and put it in a safe place. You will need it if you reinstall XP.

 

[jim evans]

Jellybean worked perfect

Thanks.

jim

 

[Lil' Dave]

Odd, Trend Antispyware 3.5 considers keyfinder.exe a security threat.
(EXPL_JBean)
Dave

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Odd, Trend Antispyware 3.5 considers keyfinder.exe a security threat.
(EXPL_JBean)
Dave

It's not really odd, as the JB code does extract some key system
information. It's in the same class as email password readers.

HTH
-pk