product key???

Kevin wrote:

> I have a brand new Dell PC. I don't know much about
> reinstalling windows XP onto it, but I do know I need the
> product key which is nowhere to be found _ now what??
> Please help

Kevin,
Go to this site for a tool which will find the XP key for you:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/. Then save it to a folder in My
Documents, and print a copy and save that file also. That way when you need
it, you have it.
Gene K

If not on the case, you likely don't need one. XP is probably BIOS locked
and can't be installed on any other machine. Call Dell tech support, they
will give you the proper procedure and product key if necessary.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend

"Kevin" <kevin@ihammond.com> wrote in message
news:088b01c350c6$cb119660$a101280a@phx.gbl...

> I have a brand new Dell PC. I don't know much about
> reinstalling windows XP onto it, but I do know I need the
> product key which is nowhere to be found _ now what??
> Please help

Greetings --

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker
that says "Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory
installed) license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer
affixed to the exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.

To recover a lost Product Key:

If your system still runs, you should be able to use AIDA32
Enterprise from http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php or ViewKeyXP from
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm to find the Product Key.
(If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
image used at the factory and not _your_ specific Product Key;
therefore, it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be --
used for a re-installation.)

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...B;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact whomever sold you the
OS; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of the
Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.


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


"Kevin" <kevin@ihammond.com> wrote in message
news:088b01c350c6$cb119660$a101280a@phx.gbl...

> I have a brand new Dell PC. I don't know much about
> reinstalling windows XP onto it, but I do know I need the
> product key which is nowhere to be found _ now what??
> Please help

Michael Solomon (MS-MVP-Windows Shell/User) wrote:

>If not on the case, you likely don't need one. XP is probably BIOS locked
>and can't be installed on any other machine. Call Dell tech support, they
>will give you the proper procedure and product key if necessary.

A BIOS locked one should *still* have the key (25 characters in groups
of five) on a label on the case; often combined with the Cert of
Authenticity. THough it may not be needed for activation as long as the
BIOS is unchanged, it will still be needed for a reinstall


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. Alexn@mvps.org

hello users....

can anyone tel me wat a product key is for when you are
installing windows xp please.

i bought a download disk and a product key was on the
front of the package but when I entered it, it didn't work
this is the key i entered

S/n: YTMFCQPX-HRV4T-22MXH-MYVQM

can you hep please.......?

bye reply soon

The key for windows xp is similar to what you have
posted. I is usualy in this format xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-
xxxxx-xxxxx.
Looks like the s/n you showing is the product key. you
may have copied wrong. In any case if you know you have
entered the key correctly and it does not take, please
contact Microsoft for help. They may give advise.
aj

>-----Original Message-----
>hello users....
>
>can anyone tel me wat a product key is for when you are
>installing windows xp please.
>
>i bought a download disk and a product key was on the
>front of the package but when I entered it, it didn't

work

>this is the key i entered
>
>S/n: YTMFCQPX-HRV4T-22MXH-MYVQM
>
>can you hep please.......?
>
>bye reply soon
>.
>

Hi Kerri,

It didn't work as you are two characters short. You must have miscopied it,
hope you didn't throw the packaging away. You need to enter this number in
order to begin installing, if you have lost the retail key, call MS Support
at 800-936-5700. If this is an OEM version, you need to contact whomever you
got it from.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"kerri ireson" <bubble_kerri@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:04a901c36f9d$8f3c53f0$a501280a@phx.gbl...

> hello users....
>
> can anyone tel me wat a product key is for when you are
> installing windows xp please.
>
> i bought a download disk and a product key was on the
> front of the package but when I entered it, it didn't work
> this is the key i entered
>
> S/n: YTMFCQPX-HRV4T-22MXH-MYVQM
>
> can you hep please.......?
>
> bye reply soon

kerri ireson wrote:

> hello users....
>
> can anyone tel me wat a product key is for when you are
> installing windows xp please.
>
> i bought a download disk and a product key was on the
> front of the package but when I entered it, it didn't work
> this is the key i entered
>
> S/n: YTMFCQPX-HRV4T-22MXH-MYVQM
>
> can you hep please.......?
>
> bye reply soon

The product key that you show is clearly wrong, it should be 5 groups of 5
alphanumeric characters.

Thus said, It is just as well that you did post the wrong product-key here,
as it should be kept 'secret'.

kerri ireson wrote:

>can anyone tel me wat a product key is for when you are
>installing windows xp please.
>
>i bought a download disk and a product key was on the
>front of the package but when I entered it, it didn't work
>this is the key i entered
>
>S/n: YTMFCQPX-HRV4T-22MXH-MYVQM

A proper Product Key would normally be on a yellow sticky label on a
card *inside* the box, and is 25 characters in five groups of five, so
more like

YTMF8-CQ7PX-HRV4T-22MXH-MYVQM

It is a unique number, to identify your particular copy (though not you)
and is checked by the setup program on the CD to be a valid combination
of characters. It (or rather a number - the Product ID - derived from
it) is then recorded as part of the 'activation' of windows, along with
another that will be unique to your hardware, so that it can be noticed
if someone tries to install on a second machine

Note that the typeface used makes it very easy to confuse G with 6; S
with5 and B with 8



--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. Alexn@mvps.org