Windows question

[Capn Sunshine]

I like XP. so much that I bought a XP disc from Microsoft, to install on all my systems, because I have a LOT of them.

So, big memory meltdown takes the big mama Dell out , and to recover it I give it to the tech, with the disc, which has the product code written on the inside of the label in the disc box.

When I get the puter back , everything is hunky dory, EXCEPT The Windows disc is in a new holder, and the product code is NOWHERE to be found. To make matters worse, the store goes belly up that day and the tech , whose name I did not know is gone with the wind.

is there any way to recover my lost product code or otherwise use my Windows disc?

[RoyGBiv]

1. Magic Jelly Bean

http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

[Capn Sunshine]

2. NO WAY! One question though

I never envisioned this in a million years

Is this key the one from the current OS on my Puter? Can I do this with the disc itself?

[RoyGBiv]

3. Your disc doesn't have a key ...

The keys are generated by the manufacturer and then run through an algorithm at the time of installation to check validity. You could theoretically use any valid key, which is where the activation and registration schemes come in. Requiring activation, as MS does, prevents the keys from being used on more computers than the license allows.

All the program does is retrieve the key you used. Since it was on a jewel case you legally purchased, you can use it again, within MS's restrictions.

Of course, I should note that if the tech took this on purpose, he may have used it for his own purposes and created problems for you.

[david13]

4. It may be a license? Anyway, try to call Microsoft. I just called

QuickBooks and they recognized the company etc and got me going.
dc

[Statistical]

5. Couple options

1) recovery tool to extra license code from a machine where it was installed. Jelly bean was mentioned above and is easy to use.
2) Steal a new license from usenet or torrents. The algorithm on xp was broken a long time ago and their are tools to make license codes
3) Buy a new copy: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=xp++home+license&hl=en&cid=11969216369837725015&sa=title#p Looks like XP home license runs about $85.

[hobbit709]

6. Look around for a Dell XP recovery disk.

Will install XP on any Dell and ONLY on Dells. I found one for $12 a few years back. It's been a lifesaver for fixing Dell computers. Needs no key or authentication.

[Duer 157099]

7. My advice is use that Magic Jelly Bean thing on ALL of your systems

Now, before any more of them die. Get the keys and write them down. Note whether they all use the same key (if they were all installed from the same disc, the one you purchased)

Compare that with the product key you find on the Dell. It's somewhat possible that whoever reinstalled your OS on the Dell maybe used a Dell disc? It's worth finding out by comparing the keys on the various machines you have.

The tricky thing is that there are many versions of an XP disc and the keys are not interchangeable.

It's just good practice to write them down in a safe place (other than the CD case) so that if you lose the... oh well, you know the rest.

As pointed out above, your main concern is whether the "new" owner of the disc key abuses the key and thus renders it un-activatable by M$ (this only applies to future installs/activations).