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How can I find the XP installation CD key used on my system without having the CD?

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Summary: There are freeware utilities that will find the installation CD key used on your system for you if you do not have the CD.

How can I find the XP installation CD key used on my system without having the CD?

There are a couple of freeware utilities that will do that for you. I just tried Keyfinder from Magical Jelly Bean, and it seems to do the trick nicely.

Article C2072 - June 19, 2004

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Recent Comments
43 Comments

My XP laptop computer is stuck in the safe mode. I need help. What do you advise.

Posted by: Richard at July 18, 2008 6:00 PM

i have a problem to reformat my laptop. i cant find the key number underneath my laptop. where should i find my key number? and just so you know, it's window XP professional Version 2002 SP2.

Posted by: James at September 24, 2008 4:21 AM

The Belarc Advisor gives both Installation Key and Product ID, as well as info on all hardware and software installed. It is free for personal use. www.belarc.com

Indeed. I formally recommended Belarc Advisor recently: Belarc Advisor - Detailed information about your computer's hardware and software
- Leo
18-Oct-2008

Posted by: John Thomson at October 17, 2008 10:19 PM

How can the Magic jelly bean be real. I was just playing around and found this software and ran it and found out the key it found is not the Key on my tag. Am I doing something wrong.

Posted by: Bobbo at October 24, 2008 6:29 PM

yea whats up with magic jelly bean i got it and it didn't work
now my computer is stock in the "activate window"
can any one help me please

Posted by: jean paul at December 6, 2008 1:56 AM

i have question sir like i have xp and i lose my cd for my computer and now i want to restart my whole computer so how can i do that there is anyway that i can down from interent? thank you

Posted by: roshni at February 21, 2009 10:41 AM

I have window me and I am trying to find easiest way to download windows xp. I dont have an XP setup cd, So how do I install XP without the cd. And I dont have a I386,winnt.exe,winnt32.exe file that has showed up when searching my files. I got the error message Fastfat.sys corrupt or missing , when I tried to install XP by using the six disk setup process.

Posted by: Linsey at June 8, 2009 2:17 PM

I have a system in which the reinstallation disk asks for product key number, which i dont have. I tryed to download the "keyfinder" listed above but the key its showing will not work either. I then tryed the "keyfinder" on another PC that does have product key number attached and this "keyfinder" listed a different key number than whats installed in PC. How accurate is this "keyfinder" and why is it showing a key# different than # on PC, and showing another key# that doesnt work on another PC?

Posted by: Billy Ganoe at September 12, 2009 8:44 AM

There is usually a multicolored tag on the bottom of your laptop or the back of your PC with the product keycode. Please visit this link for Windows Reinstallation Info.
http://www.oemsoftwaresource.com/windowsreinstallinfo.htm

Posted by: OEM Software Source at October 12, 2009 9:23 AM

you can find your product keycode on the Microsoft multicolored tag either on the bottom of your laptop or the side of your PC tower.
[link removed]

Posted by: OEM Software Source at October 18, 2009 9:54 AM

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