Activate Windows/CD-Key

Matthew;
If Windows XP is still installed:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
Near the bottom "View Product Key XP"

You can not use your friends key.
If by chance you were successful, your friend may have problems
installing in the future.

If Windows XP is retail, contact Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=326246

If Windows XP is OEM, contact the seller, Microsoft can not help.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...oups/setup.asp
http://dts-l.org/index.html


"Matthew" <strandbergm@wit.edu> wrote in message
news:016101c36358$d199df20$a401280a@phx.gbl...

> Hello,
> First of all, I have a legal copy of Windows XP Pro
> that I purchased. I installed it and it works fine. My
> computer has been getting bogged down with a lot of extra
> crap and i decided it was about time to reformat. I, of
> course, dont have the original CD-Key that came with my
> copy of Windows. Also, I was not asked to "activate" the
> OS the first time I installed. So question one is if
> there is anyway I can prove I have a legal copy of
> Windows to Microsoft, short of showing them the shiny
> silver disc, so I can get a valid CD-Key?
> Also, if I were to "acquire" another CD-Key say from
> a friend, would that break the EULA, considering I do
> have a valid copy of Windows, just not a 25 digit
> number? If this were the case, would product activation
> reveal my as a software pirater?
> I dont know if anyone even pays attention to these
> anyway but if anyone cares, please email me.

Greetings --

If you weren't prompted to activate WinXP the first time you
installed it, odds are that you do _not_ have a legitimate license.
You're probably using one of the leaked Volume Licensed versions.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q326904

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Matthew" <strandbergm@wit.edu> wrote in message
news:016101c36358$d199df20$a401280a@phx.gbl...

> Hello,
> First of all, I have a legal copy of Windows XP Pro
> that I purchased. I installed it and it works fine. My
> computer has been getting bogged down with a lot of extra
> crap and i decided it was about time to reformat. I, of
> course, dont have the original CD-Key that came with my
> copy of Windows. Also, I was not asked to "activate" the
> OS the first time I installed. So question one is if
> there is anyway I can prove I have a legal copy of
> Windows to Microsoft, short of showing them the shiny
> silver disc, so I can get a valid CD-Key?
> Also, if I were to "acquire" another CD-Key say from
> a friend, would that break the EULA, considering I do
> have a valid copy of Windows, just not a 25 digit
> number? If this were the case, would product activation
> reveal my as a software pirater?
> I dont know if anyone even pays attention to these
> anyway but if anyone cares, please email me.