Comments for How do I find the Windows CD Key from the CD?

Comment from jesse on 2009-10-11

2009-10-12T05:20:27Z

With KeyFinder you can find any key from your computer. Try it out

http://rapidshare.com/files/291860103/Free_KeyFinder.zip.html

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Comment from Tom195 on 2009-09-29

2009-09-30T01:29:00Z

Ummm.......This article is wrong wrong wrong. The product key IS ON THE CD. It is in a folder name I386 and the name of the file is UNATTEND.txt.
Posted by: Sean at April 10, 2009 3:44 PM

Sorry SEAN,
If you have a copy of a CD with a product key, then you already know that you are holding an ILLEGAL, PIRATED copy of Windows.

Windows CDs are NOT individual products with their own product key, which is why the certified label is included with them.

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Comment from charles on 2009-09-24

2009-09-25T02:06:22Z

Leo i have to beg to differ with you about any xp cd will do it will not. i have tow legal copies of windows xp and you can't switch the numbers it says it's incorrect. i have a copy of xp that doesn't require a key or activation to work. when i reformat my computer is offline and therefore has no connection to the outside world so there is no way to see if it is a good key. it all has to do with looking for you to put in the correct string of letters and numbers and compare to whats on the DISK. i have Microsoft office 2003 that like xp requires a string of letters and numbers to continue installation. guess what the product key is on the disk there for comparison.
i have a program that compares two cd's and and shows the difference and there you have it the product keys for both xp cd's.

Till next time

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Comment from Greg on 2009-09-08

2009-09-08T22:30:39Z

Just wanted to offer a correction. The file unattend.txt is a sample configuration file for setting up an unattended installation. It contains sample data, including the product key. The XP installer would not accept this as a valid product key (Whistler version).

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Comment from Pookey on 2009-07-28

2009-07-29T06:06:47Z

All XP Professional RETAIL Disks are the Same. All XP Home RETAIL Disks are the same. The OEM Disks (the ones you get when you buy a pc with Windows on in) are different for each manufacturer. The way OEM works is that the PC maker loads a special file with their OEM "Code" inside. If the "code" matches with your motherboards serial, RAM, Graphics Card, First HDD, First CD Drive, First Floppy (If Present), Memory Controller, Sound Card, Ethernet Card, then windows will install WITHOUT activation. However, if you change a single piece of your pc, windows will need to be activated as it is no longer an "original pre-built" pc.

Retail and VLK keys are also interchangeable and usable on the same CD. You people saying that the key inside UNATEND.txt is real are WRONG. Microsoft add the key so that businesses and PC manufacturers can perform mass installs with the same product key without having to activate. HOWEVER, the key becomes invalid 30 days after the OS was installed so a legitimate key then needs to be entered. The key is never on the disk; instead there is a non-reversable algorithm which checks if the key can be used. When you activate, Windows checks that it hasn't been used to many times.

In the case of Windows Vista, EVERY SINGLE DISK is EXACTLY the same, except, once again, for OEM Disks. All VLK and RETAIL disks are the same and contain EVERY version of Windows Vista.

Some people need to do more research. I know these things because I have my one Windows Keys and i also have a VLK license. I also create unattended and slipstreamed XP Disks.

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Comment from IT Professional on 2009-07-17

2009-07-17T14:40:03Z

Leo is completely incorrect. Not all versions of the install disks are the same. There are MANY different disks, each meant for a specific distro. For example, if you have a legit key from an XP cd you purchased direct from the store, that key will not work with an OS purchased from dell. It will also not activate a system that was installed with a store bought copy of xp that has sp2. If you buy an XP sp2 install disk, it wont work with the origionals. There are also VLK copies, which wont work with retail keys. Sorry for the blatent post, but I found this article specifically because i am coding a program now to validate the serial key to a copy of xp BEFORE installing it, as in the IT field, we run across alot of installs where the customer has the license key, but not the origional content.

I probably should have been clearer, but I wrote "for any given version of a Windows CD, the CDs are all the same". I did not mean to imply that all XP Home's for example are the same, but that all the variations you list comprise different "versions". But if you get two disks of the same OEM's disk of a specific build of a specific variation of Windows XP, all those CDs will be the same.

Bottom line is that I think we're actually in violent agreement - and that I'm not actually "incorrect", just unclear perhaps.

- Leo
18-Jul-2009

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Comment from Deg on 2009-06-02

2009-06-02T10:23:52Z

I have found a genuine xp disk and tried loading it using the number found in the text file, but it did not work and said the product ID is not valid, so I think the batch, or run number seems to be correct, so the cd is of no use, but thanks for the try anyway.

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Comment from Allen on 2009-05-16

2009-05-16T10:01:32Z

Matt, thanx man, you are the only one who knows anything on here.

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Comment from Tony Frost on 2009-04-15

2009-04-15T12:48:44Z

The 'key' in the folder will only get you through the first hurdle when installing Windows. However when it comes to veryifing online, it won't work.

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Comment from Edna on 2009-04-11

2009-04-12T01:35:32Z

Matt, 2/9 poster.. Thank you SO much. You saved me and your suggestion Worked!!! I am so glad that people are not afraid to share their knowledge.

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Comment from Sean on 2009-04-10

2009-04-10T22:44:27Z

Ummm.......This article is wrong wrong wrong. The product key IS ON THE CD. It is in a folder name I386 and the name of the file is UNATTEND.txt.

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Comment from Charolotte Harvey on 2009-03-12

2009-03-13T04:17:55Z

There are several programs out there freeware that you can run and get the xp key code. Microsoft office and internet explorer. One of them is winkeyfinder. Another is jelly bean magic. Just put them in search and follow the links for download

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Comment from Dan on 2009-02-25

2009-02-26T05:35:43Z

bull vista has the key on the cd

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Comment from Matt on 2009-02-09

2009-02-09T19:53:48Z

If you explore the windows cd and open up I386 it does reside in a file named UNATTEND.txt. I have successfully used this on VALID windows installations. Still working to this day, have never been blacklisted.

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Comment from Graham on 2008-10-08

2008-10-08T20:30:50Z

You are wrong, the CD key is stored on windows XP cd's I'm pretty sure with vista as well. I'd have to look up the exact file location, but the CD key is in a text file named UNATTEND, It's either the first or the last thing in the file.

Yep, there's a product key in \I386\unattend.txt and it's the same on all CDs for a specific version or CD-pressing run. It is NOT the same as the key on the outside of the box, and it is not a valid key for you to use on subsequent installations. Since it's not unique I'm guessing that if you attempt to use it activation will probably fail.

- Leo
09-Oct-2008

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Comment from Trevor on 2008-05-09

2008-05-09T22:13:49Z

Wow, I just found your site.
It's amazing!
I know this won't help someone who's lost their CD key.
The first thing I do when I open a CD is use a marker to write the CD key on the printed side of the CD.
That way I can't lose it.

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Comment from Brody on 2008-01-07

2008-01-08T00:22:21Z

Omg thank you sooo much i didn't have the cd key for my windows xp media center cd, but using the "Unattend" system i got it thanks a million!

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-01-07

2008-01-07T19:15:10Z

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

You have to use the CD Key on the same product. CD Keys for
one product or version of a product will not work with
others.

Leo

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFHgnpNCMEe9B/8oqERAtfoAJ44eijYMSg2Pccd5OULvNhV/mfVxACfcDtu
Om1cEu8nYWnE4eiFMUZHs48=
=HoQu
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Comment from Robert on 2008-01-06

2008-01-07T03:43:38Z

This does not work!!!!!
It gives you a cd key but it will not proceed get an error.
The Product Id you entered is not valid!

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Comment from Bowlday (IT Pro) Network Spec. on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T05:08:25Z

Yes, you can get the product key from a windows xp home cd.
How do u think it states the correct key with cd without being online. Leo do you work for MS. Or just didnt know??

Find Windows XP Product Key from the Windows XP CD:

1) Insert Windows XP cd into a working computer.
2) Exit the Autorun introduction.
3) Open "My Computer"
4) Right Click on the Windows XP cd-rom drive and select explore.
5) Open the USWXP32P_ZX folder.
6) Open the sysprep folder.
7) Open unattend.txt

Your CD's product key is contained within the unattend.txt file.

Note: On some system disks, USWXP32P_ZX is a hidden folder..

This is MS OS 101 and perfectly legal

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-05-12

2007-05-13T00:32:29Z

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

It's *a* product key, but it's not the product key on the outside of the box.

My expectation is that this is a placeholder that's meant to be replaced with
your real product key if setting up an unattended installation. I'll bet that
if you use it, your Windows won't activate.

FWIW I found it in \i386\unattend.txt.

Leo
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFGRlyTCMEe9B/8oqERAnIxAJsFatuuh9zpQxVFZS6ONqJEQ+sqkQCcDbXY
MYzCWoBW36S7Kc8Z64vjVaE=
=ipGj
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Comment from Rob on 2007-05-11

2007-05-12T01:48:37Z

You can find the XP Key on the CD and it is very easy to do.Put the XP CD in your Drive and right click explore.Now click on search and type in Unattend. When search finds this file on your CD, open it with NotePad and scroll down to the bottom, and there in all it's Glory will be your XP CD KEY.

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-03-03

2007-03-03T17:53:57Z

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

There are two things that validate keys:

1) they are not just a random string. There's an algorithm that
determines what is and is not a valid key. So you can't just enter a
random string of characters and have it work. Only actual, valid keys
will work.

2) activation. Normally you activate over the internet, and that double
checks whether the key has been used previously. If you're not connected
to the internet, I believe phone activation is required and would do the
same thing.

Leo
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFF6bZfCMEe9B/8oqERAhjCAJ9v+KENW2rt/slww/7h31ZiLgVWxgCfcjQ+
jSNwUcu+C1VyPJYS4coticM=
=19jV
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Comment from Kerrie on 2007-03-01

2007-03-01T18:29:09Z

I understand why the product key is not on the CD. And I understand that you are basically purchasing the product key. But.. how does the computer know you are using a unique key? I'm not connected to the internet.

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Comment from ghghgh on 2007-02-22

2007-02-22T13:18:43Z

search unattended in the search facillity and search the disk. it should be a txt file and its in ther

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Comment from Leo Notenboom on 2006-12-07

2006-12-08T02:11:38Z

Any SP2 XP Home CD will work fine.

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Comment from Nigel on 2006-12-07

2006-12-07T15:17:18Z

im preparing to reinstall windows xp sp2 home edition...i have a genuine installation key but i cant find my cd...would it make a difference if i used another windows xp sp2 home edition cd to install it as long as i have my original key???

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2006-08-08

2006-08-08T16:12:08Z

You'll need to purchase a key, or a CD with a key.

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Comment from martin on 2006-08-07

2006-08-07T16:33:41Z

i have installable cd for windows xp home edison but i dont have cdkey how can i start windows

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Comment from Leo on 2006-05-23

2006-05-24T03:49:32Z

Thanks for letting me know. I've contacted keyrecover.com.

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Comment from En-Cu-Kou on 2006-05-23

2006-05-24T03:09:27Z

Hello
I visited the site mentioned above (keyrecover.com), and found out they have a copy of this article in their Resources section -- except the link to the free KeyFinder is simply changed to one for their non-free KeyRecover! If that's not a crime in America, it's at least beyond rude.
No comment about the implications about the trustworthiness of KeyRecover corp.

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Comment from Russell Taylor on 2006-05-15

2006-05-15T19:14:08Z

There is a program that will find your product key for you. it works with microsoft windows and office. you can view or change your keys with it.
www.keyrecover.com

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