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Windows XP Home Edition Product Key

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18 replies

by sami.zaryab

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I have original CD Home Edition, but unfortunatly i have lost my Product key anywhere. please tell me.
awaiting for your reply.
thanks.

sami

18 replies

by older mycroft

They will ask you to read the data from the central ring of the CD to prove it is an original disc.

by keneilweb

i have original cd and product key but when i entered it say invalid

by older mycroft

Burying your request inside an old thread.

A little more information than "[i]i don't know[/i]" might also help.

Or perhaps you were just making a comment?
Either way, I don't know. ;)

by boxfiddler Hot topic

though you posted the most relevant link last. Post it first, so that the OP doesn't have to wade through things s/he is not looking for. Post the others if you want to, but place them [i]after[/i] the actual answer.

by Former member

When you load on this operating system it will ask for the key(s), and since you do not have it, it will give you a phone number to contact. just phone up the number and ask the person on the other end, they will talk you through it.

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

by tintoman

You do not get the option to telephone for a product key during the installation of windows, you only get that when you try to activate the product, you will not be able to install the software without a product key.
However if you are able to boot to windows now there are several pieces of software which will tell you the key, magic jellybean for one. http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

by Former member

NT

by Former member

I have a big list of how to's on my server, but i will not do that on here. But the OP states of the key BEFORE install not after, where jelly bean would come into it plus a lot of others such as SPOTMAU of which does a hell of a lot more than your jelly bean. :)

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

by ic-it

Or can it now be done with a slipstreamed SP3 XP. ;-) I am not doubting you, just curious as to how.

by Former member

1) Insert Windows XP cd into a working computer.
2) Exit the Autorun introduction.
3) Open "My Computer"
4) Right Click on the Windows XP cd-rom drive and select explore.
5) Open the USWXP32P_ZX folder.
6) Open the sysprep folder.
7) Open unattend.txt

Your CD's product key is contained within the unattend.txt file.

Note: On some system disks, USWXP32P_ZX is a hidden folder. If you cannot locate the folder, you may also search for unattend.txt and mark "Search Hidden Files".

As best I am aware, this should work on Microsoft Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, and OEM versions of Windows XP from restore disks.

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

by ic-it

be on an OEM disks answer file. The Unattend.txt file on a Retail CD is a fake example. And technically that would still be an install With a product key. :-)
But I think you are still technically correct (haven't tested yet) because I believe the SP3 slipstream will allow a "test" drive without using the product key.
Dang, I was hoping for a new trick. :-( :-)

by sorchiaz

in window xp home edition you can open the cd from my computer, (turn off the autorun as suggested above) and get you reg key out of a folder called serial.

by older mycroft

You may be making a typing mistake.

Particularly confusing are 'CAPITAL O' and 'ZERO 0'.

by Former member

NT:

by Former member

Put the disk in another computer (load it fully manually) I:E: Not a install but copy..
Then go into the file as stated in my post you might be able to work out the rest.

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