Lost the cd key, now what!?

[Yvo]

I have a problem. This past February I attended the
VS .NET campus launch and got a complimentary copy of
Windows XP Professional (if anyone else attended this
event throughout the US you know what I am talking
about). I was attending the event at the UW. To make a
long story short the copy of Windows XP was provided in a
cd slip with the activation key sticker on the back. Last
month I lost this slip. Now I think I might have
accidentaly thrown this slip away in the garbage (we all
sometimes lose our minds) but I still have the CD with
all the nifty pretty holograms on it. Now having an
advantage that I love close to Microsoft is their a
possible way that they will replace the key or is it
simply a lost cause? I am not asking for anyone's key. I
am asking for advice on what I can do to get the key
back. I wish to re-install Windows XP for Service Pack 1.

Yvo van Doorn

 

[Doh!]

Download a cd-key viewer from the net & find out what it is.

 

[farmercal]

You don't need the key to install SP1. The update just checks your key to ensure it is legit. Once you have installed WIN XP your good to go. You only need the key if you reinstall XP which you should not have to do for SP1.

 

[bozo1]

farmercal is right. No need for the key to install SP1. However, for future installs, if you ever have the need, Microsoft normally does not reissue keys for 'promotional' copies of products.

 

[SKORPI0]

How do I find out what my Windows XP CD-Key is?

 

[AnMig]

Since you where legally given a copy of XP
you might be morally justified in using a keygenerator (blue file)
or even easier use a cd-key viewer like "Doh!" suggested

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: SKORPI0
How do I find out what my Windows XP CD-Key is?

Do a Google Search for "VewKeyXP.exe" - and download it. It will read your system and give the key.

 

[Yvo]

Forgot to mention that I am writing this on a different computer then the one in question.

All my pcs have legal & separate versions of XP (surprisingly, Windows 95 was a copy that was shared with a lot of people). Activation prevents me from using cd key number of Computer A for Computer B.

Just thought I would mention it

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: Yvo
Forgot to mention that I am writing this on a different computer then the one in question.

Just thought I would mention it

No big deal. Just wait until you are using the computer in question and run the "ViewKeyXP.exe" program on it. Then you'll know what your key is. Write it down and put it in a safe place this time.

BTW - As others have stated, you don't need to know your CD-key to install sp1.

 

[anandfan]

I use a permanent marker to write the CD keys on the front of each CD that requires it. So far, this hasn't hurt the readability of any CD. (I, too, am bad at losing keys!).