Wanted: Windows XP Home Edition Product Key

[maxlords]

Hey guys,

I need a valid Windows XP Home Edition key.

I've got a legit Windows XP Home Edition disc, but no key. My mother-in-law's computer apparently had XP Pro on it, and when I went to reformat it, I used the XP Home Edition disc cause I couldn't find my XP Pro disc (and still can't find it). Now her XP Home Edition is expired and I need a key to get her PC running again. *sigh*

Can anyone help me out with one they're no longer using?

Thanks!

[Kitsune Sniper]

At the risk of getting yelled at by a mod, why not get an XP Pro CD from somewhere and use the key on the system? (Which I assume is stuck to the case.)

[b1aCkDeA7h]

PM'd.

[LaughingMAN.S9]

the key is on the disc, its a text file, i 4got the folder location, but google it and you'll get it

[maxlords]

Will check that out Laughingman! Thanks!

@ Kitsune: It's easier to get a Home key than to reformat the system again with XP now that it's completely set up If I can extract the key from the disc like Laughingman says...I'll be fine anyway, and a couple people are hooking me up as well. I just hate to reformat if I don't have to.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Wait what? There's no such thing as a key on the disc. What the hell?

[jb143]

There IS a key on the disc but it's not the one that you need. Using someone else's key may not work either. I don't remember all the details but I went through this a while back when I tried to install my old copy on a new computer. The online authentication is a big pain. I ended up having to buy a new copy. Since it is a legit copy you have, you probably need to contact Microsoft and have them give you a new key.

[buzz_n64]

I have a student edition that I got from a micro rep that has multi license.

[Kitsune Sniper]

There IS a key on the disc but it's not the one that you need. Using someone else's key may not work either. I don't remember all the details but I went through this a while back when I tried to install my old copy on a new computer. The online authentication is a big pain. I ended up having to buy a new copy. Since it is a legit copy you have, you probably need to contact Microsoft and have them give you a new key.

Microsoft no longer sells new copies of XP to anyone.

It's all Vista or newer now.

[megasdkirby]

Microsoft no longer sells new copies of XP to anyone.

It's all Vista or newer now.

I wonder...what will happen when XP is no longer being used at all?

Right now it's being used on Netbook and such, but there will be a moment in time in which it will no longer be used for anything. On top of that, Microsoft may cease activation procedures for XP completely.

When that happens, how will one want to activate their copy and prevent the 30 days "no license" period? I would hope Microsoft would offer some sort of program that can automatically "activate it" (without the need to be online or call), but I doubt they would do something like that.

[skaar]

the key is on the disc, its a text file, i 4got the folder location, but google it and you'll get it

There is no product key on a text file on any legit copy of XP.

It is totally legal for you to burn yourself a copy of someone else's media for any version of XP. Your sticker on your case is proof of license. You will need a copy of the XP Pro OEM CD. Any service pack level will work.

You can also upgrade the home version on there to XP Pro with an XP Pro OEM upgrade CD but those were only available in retail versions, which has a different product key - a sticker on the back.

Long and the short is - you'd be doing nothing illegal if you burn a copy of an XP Pro disk and install from that. You would be doing something illegal if you use someone else's XP Home key.

[megasdkirby]

It is totally legal for you to burn yourself a copy of someone else's media for any version of XP. Your sticker on your case is proof of license. You will need a copy of the XP Pro OEM CD. Any service pack level will work.

I remember when taking certain Microsoft certifications, like the MCDST, that the (Microsoft) hated that and forced the person being certified to purchase a new copy of XP when something like this occurred. For any little reason, Microsoft wanted to force a copy down people's throats. I bet it's still the same now.

[skaar]

I remember when taking certain Microsoft certifications, like the MCDST, that the (Microsoft) hated that and forced the person being certified to purchase a new copy of XP when something like this occurred. For any little reason, Microsoft wanted to force a copy down people's throats. I bet it's still the same now.

Er... it's never been that way. They've never cared about media. Hell, all downloads for almost all levels of licensing agreements are download only nowadays. And all the of other software is downloadable from MSDN.

They do care about keys/dead systems. On the same system, you can always re-use the license on THAT system.

[megasdkirby]

Er... it's never been that way. They've never cared about media. Hell, all downloads for almost all levels of licensing agreements are download only nowadays. And all the of other software is downloadable from MSDN.

Maybe now, but I recall back then they would force the person to buy another copy. It was even listed in their own certification books, for instance the "MCDST Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-271)". There was a section (which was also a question on the test), that gives that same scenario: what if I have a license but not the original CD. They said I had to purchase the CD once more because it's "part of the combo and licensing agreement". Of course, we all know this is bullshit and just ways for Microsoft to make extra cash. But remember that this was meant for the end user, and not OEM's and such.

Now it might be different, but I remember the BS Microsoft used to tell.

In fact, though not the same, Microsoft hates OEM discs being sold, because to them, if the end user purchases these (since they are cheaper than retail) and used it on their own systems, this would not be considered a "genuine" copy of Windows, since it was meant to install on a system and later resell that system, not to actually keep it. But then, how would the know if I sold the system or not? Silly Microsoft and their silly rules.

[jb143]

Microsoft no longer sells new copies of XP to anyone.

It's all Vista or newer now.

I never said I bought it from microsoft. I got a new copy off eBay.

As far as contacting Microsoft. They should be able to give a key if you explain the situation. I know sometime if you install new hardware, windows will think it's on a new PC and throw up red flags. In that case, a call to Microsoft supposedly straightens things out.

My problemwas that my original was an OEM copy that was tied to a particular brand of PC. My new PC was different so it wouldn't work for more than something like 30 days. Hence, why I got a new one.