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Windows Forum / Windows XP / New Users / July 2006lost activation key help!
Just bought Windows XP Pro from an internet seller. It was in unopened box, with unopened plastic wrap inside with sticker (holographic, looked just right) on it. Wife left wrapper inside box, husband burned the box after we took CD out but before installing, and the wrapper with the holographic label thingy was in the box! Is there any way to get the key without paying for another? The product was bought from someone over the internet, not from Microsoft or a big company. ie: if we go ahead and install it (since it is 'for use with new pc' we'd have to reformat right?), but once done can we use regedit or something I've heard y'all talk about to get the key? I realize this is probably a big NO, but trying to redeem a husbands relationship is kind of important :-)) Thanks for listening, anyway. Ann in PA Hi Try this program to retrieve the PK - if that's what you mean: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml  SignatureWill Denny MS-MVP Windows Shell/User Please reply to the News Groups > Just bought Windows XP Pro from an internet seller. It was in unopened > box, with unopened plastic wrap inside with sticker (holographic, [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Ann in PA HI Will, that would be great if we had already installed it with key, but we haven't installed it yet at all, it was BRAND new, just out of the box. Friend called me to ask my to help install (since we'd have to reformat her Win98 as XP is for new PC only), and then called to tell me hubby just put box in burn pile and lit it off! I think I've prevented a murder :-)), but still can't resolve the issue, and doubt it is even possible since no-one knows what the key was, unless it is somewhere on that CD. She's trying to contact seller on off-chance he kept track of it. TIA, Ann > Hi > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > > > Ann in PA Hi Ann I misread your posting.. Have a look at Bruce's reply to you. SignatureWill Denny MS-MVP Windows Shell/User Please reply to the News Groups > HI Will, that would be great if we had already installed it with key, > but we haven't installed it yet at all, it was BRAND new, just out of [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] >> > >> > Ann in PA > Just bought Windows XP Pro from an internet seller. It was in unopened > box, with unopened plastic wrap inside with sticker (holographic, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Is there any way to get the key without paying for another? Probably not, but contact the company from whom you purchased the OS. Also it wouldn't hurt to contact Microsoft, if it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase: How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246 > The product > was bought from someone over the internet, not from Microsoft or a big > company. > > ie: if we go ahead and install it (since it is 'for use with new pc' > we'd have to reformat right?), ..... (This implies an OEM license, so you'll have to contact the manufacturer of the computer with which the license was purchased, or the seller. Microsoft cannot and will not help, if such is the case.) > .... but once done can we use regedit or > something I've heard y'all talk about to get the key? No. It's not possible to install it without the key. SignatureBruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell I guess my confusion is how to know if the software is activatable before you buy it. If I want a copy for use on a new PC (PC I own, and am willing to remove all software from), I buy one with OEM key, yet I have found often these copies still are unable to be activated even if they are real, unopened and have a key. How can I find out ahead of time, before buying, that the activation will go through when buying from an individual, not a big company like MS or Staples etc. I got stung myself once buying Office from the amazon website, which switched me to a 'storefront' and I bought Office for a reasonable $300 or so, I thought. Couldn't activate as the OEM had already done it, and apparently guy thought he could resell it since he didn't 'install' it personally. He didn't know any better either. Lots of people (especially us old folks) don't know enough to know what's installed and what isn't on a new PC. This time, my friend is just stuck unless the person she bought it from knows the key, right? I thought I remembered a place on MS to buy a key for an existing CD (already in my hands) when you've not yet registered the original key for that CD yet. Any idea where? It was like $99 or something? Thanks, guess this is my last try at saving her some $$ Ann > > Just bought Windows XP Pro from an internet seller. It was in unopened > > box, with unopened plastic wrap inside with sticker (holographic, [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell > I guess my confusion is how to know if the software is activatable > before you buy it. If I want a copy for use on a new PC (PC I own, and [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > time, before buying, that the activation will go through when buying > from an individual, not a big company like MS or Staples etc. By buying only from someone that you personally know and trust to sell only legitimate licenses. > I got > stung myself once buying Office from the amazon website, which switched [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > This time, my friend is just stuck unless the person she bought it from > knows the key, right? Pretty much, yes. And, even then, there's no guarantee that your friend had purchased a legitimate license, anyway. Was it purchased via eBay or other on-line auction site? Getting a legitimate license of any kind from eBay is something of a crap shoot. One should be very careful buying any software on eBay, as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure that such sales are legitimate. The problems stem from two completely different sources, but have the same results: the buyer gets ripped off. A great many people don't fully understand the terms of the license they own, and don't understand that they cannot legitimately resell it, and - worse still - there are a great many sellers who do know that they're selling bogus licenses. eBay reacts only when someone files a complaint, and then all that really happens, especially in the case of the many deliberate fraudsters, is the seller of the pirated software returns using a different alias, to continue selling illegitimate licenses. > I thought I remembered a place on MS to buy a > key for an existing CD (already in my hands) when you've not yet > registered the original key for that CD yet. Any idea where? If it was a retail license, yes. I've already provided the link. If it was an OEM license, no. > It was > like $99 or something? No, it should be free. SignatureBruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you would: If we buy a Windows XP Upgrade (from a brick and mortar store this time!), can that be installed over the existing installed XP that has an invalid (illegal?) Product Key, or would we have to buy a full retail version and remove everything and install it on a blank hard drive, and reinstall applications etc. Or perhaps if we buy the new upgrade version, can the new (valid) key just be 'inserted' into the version she currently has installed that has an invalid product key (not activatable)? If the latter, how do we change the key to the new usable one. Ann > > I guess my confusion is how to know if the software is activatable > > before you buy it. If I want a copy for use on a new PC (PC I own, and [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell bell-lady wrote:> Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you would: If we buy a Windows XP Upgrade (from a brick and mortar store this time!), can that be installed over the existing installed OEM XP that has an invalid (illegal?) Product Key, or would we have to buy a full retail version and remove everything and install it on a blank hard drive, and reinstall applications etc. Ann > > > I guess my confusion is how to know if the software is activatable > > > before you buy it. If I want a copy for use on a new PC (PC I own, and [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you would: re: can we buy an upgrade and not full retail? If we buy a Windows XP Home Edition UPGRADE package (from a brick and mortar store this time!), can that be installed over the existing installed OEM XP that has an invalid (illegal) Product Key, or would we have to buy a FULL retail version and remove everything and install the Home Edition full retail on a blank hard drive, and reinstall applications etc. (Can we save a little $ and alot of work?) > bell-lady wrote:> Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you > would: [quoted text clipped - 70 lines] > > > > > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell > Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you would: You're welcome. I see three questions, though. ;-} > If we buy a Windows XP Upgrade (from a brick and mortar store this > time!), can that be installed over the existing installed XP that has > an invalid (illegal?) Product Key, or would we have to buy a full > retail version and remove everything and install it on a blank hard > drive, and reinstall applications etc. If the Upgrade CD is for the same WinXP Edition (Home vs. Pro) as the illegitimate installation, and if you have the installation CD for an earlier, qualifying operating system (Win98, WinMe, Win2K, etc), yes, an Upgrade CD could be used to perform a repair installation. A full retail version (or even a legitimate OEM copy) of the same WinXP Edition could also be used perform a repair installation, allowing you to enter the new Product Key, without having to wipe everything out and start afresh, and would provide the added benefit of being able to perform a clean installation if there's ever a future need. A retail license would have the additional benefit of being transferable to any future computers. > Or perhaps if we buy the new upgrade version, can the new (valid) key > just be 'inserted' into the version she currently has installed that > has an invalid product key (not activatable)? If the latter, how do we > change the key to the new usable one. No, that would not be possible. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed & matched. SignatureBruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell THanks so very much, Bruce. We're off to buy the full retail and get them up and running again! BTW, she didn't throttle the husband (who burned the wrappers of her new OEM version), but considered it. Just serious tongue-lashing! Much appreciate service you provide, on a Sunday too! Ann > > Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you would: > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell > THanks so very much, Bruce. We're off to buy the full retail and get > them up and running again! BTW, she didn't throttle the husband (who > burned the wrappers of her new OEM version), but considered it. Just > serious tongue-lashing! Husband's just can't win. ;-} This one cleans up, does his "chores," as it were, without prompting, and inadvertently causes a problem. It's too bad someone left the Product Key in a place where it was mixed up with the trash. ;-} > Much appreciate service you provide, on a Sunday too! You're very welcome. SignatureBruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell > Husband's just can't win. ;-} This one cleans up, does his "chores," > as it were, without prompting, and inadvertently causes a problem. It's > too bad someone left the Product Key in a place where it was > mixed up with the trash. ;-} <lol> Touché Bruce <g> Joan Download Belarc Adviser http://www.belarc.com/ I believe that will give you the key of installed software. Regards. Bill Ridgeway >> Husband's just can't win. ;-} This one cleans up, does his "chores," >> as it were, without prompting, and inadvertently causes a problem. It's [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > <lol> Touché Bruce <g> > Joan > Download Belarc Adviser http://www.belarc.com/ > I believe that will give you the key of installed software. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> <lol> Touché Bruce <g> >> Joan You have to have it installed, before you can get the key... SignatureStar Fleet Admiral Q @ your service! Google is your Friend! http://www.google.com |
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