lost xp pro cd key

A

auriga1000

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Hi guys. Is there any way to retrieve my cd key from the cd to reinstall windows onto system with crashed hdd? ie installing new hdd only. unfortunately i lost the cd key that was stuck onto the cd sleeve.
thanks
 
Lost it hey? Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more ;) You could use a generic key and bypass the activation - but that would be illegal. PM and I will tell you how - how illegal it is of course.... ;)
 
auriga1000 said:
Hi guys. Is there any way to retrieve my cd key from the cd to reinstall windows onto system with crashed hdd? ie installing new hdd only. unfortunately i lost the cd key that was stuck onto the cd sleeve.
thanks
Click to expand...

no, unfortunately not. The CDs are pressed as generic, the only identifying code is the key that is on the label. If you are able to access the hard drive there is a way to retrieve it (but even that is not always reliable - oem codes, bulk codes, etc.).

If you have lost it then it is gone. Best to use one of the generic codes that we can give you, but they will give you WGA problems down the line (in other words you will have to avoid installing WGA as far as you can). There is a way to avoid Windows Genuine Advantage - by using AutoPatcher to keep your system up to date.
 
Conradl said:
Lost it hey? Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more ;) You could use a generic key and bypass the activation - but that would be illegal. PM and I will tell you how - how illegal it is of course.... ;)
Click to expand...

no seriously, the glue on sticker dried up and fell off. i have the genuine hologram cd.
hdd is thrashed or else i could have used rock xp to retrieve key.
 
auriga1000 said:
no seriously, the glue on sticker dried up and fell off. i have the genuine hologram cd.
hdd is thrashed or else i could have used rock xp to retrieve key.
Click to expand...

Have you phoned Microsoft?

Maybe you can take them the original CD and they will make a plan for you? I've found them to be quite helpful....
 
maybe take the hard drive, case and CD with you to their head office in the North there. See what they say.
 
contacted microsoft, no luck i'm afraid. oh well , have to look at other options. nudge, nudge.
 
auriga1000 said:
contacted microsoft, no luck i'm afraid. oh well , have to look at other options. nudge, nudge.
Click to expand...

That grates my ass. You own the original media, they should help you out instead of trying to assrape you without vaseline. Making a pirate out of a legit user :confused:

Edit: In future be sure to send all your license keys to your own email address where the mail stays on the server ala google mail. Very hard to loose them this way.
 
ponder said:
That grates my ass. You own the original media, they should help you out instead of trying to assrape you without vaseline. Making a pirate out of a legit user :confused:

Edit: In future be sure to send all your license keys to your own email address where the mail stays on the server ala google mail. Very hard to loose them this way.
Click to expand...

I believe you can buy the original discs for ~R100 from Microsoft...
 
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