Windows

u need the magic jellybean key finder.

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

That's a tough one. Since the CD you purchased was apparently part of an OEM or bulk license you cannot legally install and run it.

You might try Keyfinder or RockXP. I believe they are both available from MajorGeeks.com but I have never tried getting a key from the CD.

However if you are able to get a key back you may still get an error during the install telling you that the current key has been used too many times or something like that and you will need to call Microsoft to get a new key.

I think your best bet would be to try to get the problem resolved through the vendor, ebay, or PayPal and see if you can either get a valid key or your money back. I would think that a reputable vendor would take care of it for you. (Of course a reputable vendor would not have sold you an OEM version in the first place.)

Good luck.

If it isn't the SP2 version you could always ring MS and tell them that after installing SP2 you can not validate XP with the Windows Update Service and need a new product key. If it is a genuine copy of XP there will be a series of numbers on the center ring of the CD which you will need to read to MS and they will then e-mail you a replacement key.

I've had to do this a lot with Volume License stuff but never with an OEM copy so I'm not sure how you'll go but it's worth a try.

As the Install Cd doesn't actually have a product key on it only a range of keys that will work there is no actual key on the CD so you can not lift any key from the CD as they do not exist. This is the only good thing with XP as you can use the same CD to install on different units with different Product Keys so you no longer need to keep the Install CD with the computer like you had to do with NT and 98.

Col

First of all no windows product cd is supposed to be sold without the coa with it. They are in violation of Microsoft?s license agreement by doing so.
As it has been said the cd's do not contain the product key. Also different forms of install media have different product keys. For example the windows home and pro versions have different keys and cannot be interchanged also the OEM and volume license keys are not interchangeable.
Here is a link For Generic Windows product keys for different versions, you can use it to install but not activate the software.They May Give you 14 days before they pop up needing activated.
They are mainly used for building multiple systems and then changing the key to the authorized one later. Keys are at the bottom of the page
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/wpadepl.mspx

My suggestion would be get you money back & let them know they
are in violation of the license agreement.

Here is the link to Microsoft?s How to tell page.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/default.mspx
Also a link to report piracy on that page.

Microsoft is cracking down hard on piracy and taking several company?s and individuals to court every year.