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I would just the key from the back or front of the windows xp CD.. LOL .. Am I not creative ?
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I couldn't argue with that if I tried =P
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On a more serious note, some ideas I was thinking about were maybe using some kind of dos-based cd key retriever though I've never seen one before.
Or maybe there is some way to get it in a Win PE environment... or maybe an ERD 2000 envronment...I dunno...just ideas that never really amounted to anything
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I was thinking about this.
some of the websites i looked says about seeing product key or product ID going here
c:\windows\system32\$winnt$.inf
well, in my xp pro that file doesnot contain product key or ID. I donot see any reason why they would keep it in that location and be so obvious.
Anyway , if that is true in some windows xp machines, i wud use knoppix or any live CD and retrieve that file and get the product key out of it..
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mine doesn't either...looks very much like an automated installation file for xp though...maybe the winnt.sif gets copied to that file...which would only apply if the OS was an OEm machine...but if it was an OEM machine, there would be an XP sticker on the side...so i'd never encounter that scenario
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Sorry just reread your question and if you can't boot you can't install Everest...duh!
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woodendude, I see a dos-based registry reader in your link....buy how does that help me get the XP Key?
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sunray_2003, after reading the page I can confirm that scenario is only with unattended installs of windows. like I said above, most installs that don't require a key are OEM machines, and OEM machines with XP on them already have the key on the sticker attached to the computer.
unfortunately, the three tools the site provides for getting cd keys all need to be run within windows.
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Thats applies to windows 98. Windows XP doesn't store the CD Key in the registry in clear text like 98 does...otherwise I'd be awarding you points right now =)
Not to mention that the homepage isn't in english so I have no idea if it even supports NTFS.
However if there was some way to find where the encrypted cd key is stored, and a program that could unencrypt it...now *that* would be something!
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as above but use a bootable floppy disk to run ms dos and then just run the keyfinder.exe or have them files on the floppy disk and run them in dos on that computer that you cant boot up in to windows.
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keyfinder.exe cannot be run in dos, it's a win32 binary.
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keyfinder.exe will run from erd commander on a boot cd it may run on a bart pe disk as well all so if you open regedit from dos find this key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion export it to a flopy disk then use a basic test computer runing the same version of windows import the key to the regerstry after backing up the key thats thare then use keyfinder.exe on the test computer then put the backup back
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Running keyfinder.exe in an ERD 2003 environment gives the following error...
"The application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect"
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>>Running keyfinder.exe in an ERD 2003 environment gives the following error...
Why you run on 2003? I thought you just want to retrieve the key from WinXP Pro or Home
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I had better luck with Bart's PE. I built out the iso and included the keyfinder.exe...it actually ran but threw an error about missing CRTDLL.DLL Ok, so I found this .dll and copied it to the ram drive, as well as keyfinder.exe. It still complained about the missing .dll. I put them both on the floppy and it complained as well. So then i found another keyfinder (InsaneWare Keyfinder http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4421.html ) It complained of a missing MSVBVM60.DLL. So I copied both files to the RAM drive...then it just wouldn't run. lol. so now what?
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So I put the required dll in the system32 folder *before* creating the bart pe iso...and it ran. but it didn't work as i suspected because there is no loaded registry to pull the value from!
"Could not query registry value"
soooo....back to square one.
the registry is stored in files on the hard drive...you wouldn't think it would be too hard to write an application that could pull the key from that from the command line...but being that I have no programming skills, I couldn't do this myself =(
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can you get an older version of ERD commander we use the old erd commander no numbers after the name all so the copying of the reg key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion to another computer works as long as you dont reboot or log off
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andymsmith18, how would that help me get the cd key from xp?
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ok first boot with a bartpe cd with a dos reg editor on it open the windows regerstry and export the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion save it as a reg file on a cd if you have the nero plug in for bartpe or any usb drive it wont fit on a floppy its 2 big
next go to a working xp computer open regedit and export the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion to back it up then put the cd or usb drive in to the working computer and import the reg key then use keyfinder or any prog to see the key right it down then import the backup reg key back in to the working computer do not reboot or turn off the working computer with out puting the old key back
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andymsmith18, can you provide with me a link for software that can read the registry in a PE envrionment? I think the situation is tricky because there is no DOS in a PE environment...only a command line. If you can give me links to software that can do this, I'd love to try your suggestion!
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more specifically, do you know which key actually contains the product key? It looks like it could be LicenseInfo, but DigitalProductId could be it too? this way I don't have to merge the entire key...
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I found out it was DigitalProductId by trying to run keyfinder with it deleted and it failed. So DigitalProductId contains the hashed cd key...now what program do i use to retrieve it in PE?
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try this prog http://www.matcode.com/codes.htm named load hive all so you must copy the hole key acording to the tec that gave me the info at work or your working copy of xp can blue screen on you when you merge the reg
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holy crap it worked lol this is how i did it.... 1. Created a Bart PE iso, nothing extra added, just used defaults. 2. Booted dead system from PE CD. 3. Downloaded LoadHive from http://www.matcode.com/codes.htm and put it on a floppy. 4. Ran it from the floppy in PE, loaded C:\WINDOWS\System32\Config\software ... it mounted the hive as SOFTWARE_00. 5. Ran regedit, found the SOFTWARE_00 subkey and navigated to CurrentVerion, exported that subkey to the floppy. 6. I moved to a working XP machine, backed up my DigitalProductId key. I edited the reg file from the floppy to only contain the DigitalProductId key. 7. I merged the DigitalProductId key from the floppy, ran Keyfinder (Magic Jellybean Software) and it pulled the key ! 8. I merged the backup I made and ran it again, and sure enough it had my original key. very very cool...I did not think this was possible. Thanks for all the help!
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congrats Dvation.. I see you are very happy about knowing the trick.. gudos to andymsmith18.
when I find time, I will do the same and post here
SR
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i must share the credit for this with a 64 year old man we think he may be 200 years old he works at our repair centre and seams to fix computers just by looking at them some sort of zen thing i asked him how to get a cd key from a unbootable system and he came up with the swapping reg files to a working system then i figerd out how to do it. if i ever learn half the stuff he knows about computers i wood be ruining Microsoft from my front room :-)
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Andy,
If you ever learn half of that stuff and start your own company , let me know , I would be ready to be hired in.
SR
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no problem sunray i have put you on the list :-)
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internethotspot, how can I run that software if I can't boot into windows?
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just look in your Windows XP Box, i'm not creative at all regarding this matter
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i got the windows xp installation cd with my pc and its cd-key is on the barcode sticker on the bottom of the pc.
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You can get all your software keys by downloading the completely free Belarc advisor: http://www.belarc.comAaron
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comworks,
And how do you propose I run that if I can't boot into windows like my original question asks?
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Install a copy of linux on your machine, modify the copy of belarc to run in "Linux mode", this will read the "C" drive, and voila, give you the product key. Nah, i actually didnt ready the question right...Sorry. Aaron www.stupidmedidntreadthequestionright.com
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@ DVation191 BartPE + MagicJellyBean Keyfinder (PE-Edition) worked for me on a Win2k harddisk. BartPE v3.1.2 http://www.oion.net/qnd/bootcd/plugindepot.cgi -> File name: keyfinderpe made my own keyfinderpe-plug-in with: http://www.royalbox.plus.com/pe/ -> "run from ramdisk" had compiled it to the iso-file had copied crtdll.dll into the /i386/system32/ directory of the iso-file burned it with nero and the keyfinder worked. with the keyfinderpe version you can choose from which windows installation you would get the registration key. on my suspected harddisk two windows 2000 was found (winnt and winnt5). *sorry for my bad english*
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thanks! that's certainly a nice alternative...
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i think the posting of cracks and illegal cd keys on this site is against the rules of the forums and very unfair on the software makers we try and help people with a genuine problem with there computer using legal and safe solutions that way a fix we use is safe and wont stop working the next time some one downloads a service pk i hope a mod will read your post and take the correct action
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Folks, As andymsmith18 has noted, this question opens a whole can of worms that I'm reasonbly certain EE doesn't want opened. I'm going to zero the points here now, and then will delete this question in 24 hours. If you want to take notes, please do so, but if you are asked for this kind of information in the future, please make sure of the Asker's purpose. To accomplish this, I'll have to unaccept the answer and then reaccept it. DVation191, This is no reflection on you; you were candid with your intention and purpose here, and we appreciate that. This will have no net effect on your point totals or standing. andymsmith18, Please see http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_21342916.html and comment there to replace the points you'll lose when I zero out this question. Netminder Site Admin
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Netminder, with all due respect, I have no idea what you're talking about.
The question has been alive for 3 months now, and has even been on the front page of EE, with no issue. There is nothing illegal at all about retrieving a cd key from a computer (I'm sure you've seen PLENTY of people suggest using Magically Jellybean Keyfinder to get their key in windows, and those threads don't get shut down...) The only difference is my thread asks how to get a key from a system that won't boot so a reinstallation of windows can be accomplished...and that's a big difference.
I think the information in a thread like this is what makes EE so incredibly valuable to premium account holders like myself. Shutting it down because one person hasn't read the member agreement and rules (who otherwise would have known posting sites to find serials is defintely not allowed here....) would really, really be a shame.
Please reconsider your actions. Thank you,
- DV
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i agree with dvation191 only the link to the crack site needs to be removed from this question the rest is legal and safe
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DVation191 / andymsmith18,
I was informed of this question by one of the Page Editors, who was concerned that some of the techniques offered here could be used to illegally obtain a key for Windows XP. While it's obvious to me that there is no intent of that by anyone involved in this question, my concern is for others who might not be so honest when it comes to the acquisition of a new operating system. We don't monitor each and every question asked here -- there are about 15 Moderators/Admins, and about 9,000 new questions every week -- so we depend on members to ask us to look at questions that MAY be dubious.
Fortunately, we can (and occasionally do) reconsider what we've done, and I can certainly do that here -- but I have to be convinced that we aren't setting EE up to be a repository for hacks and cracks. I'm a bit of a pack rat -- I think I have evey floppy or CD I've ever used to install software (anyone need a legit copy of Win 3.1?), along with the serial number and key -- so while I'm intellectually familiar with the problem, it's not something I've ever had to deal with.
If you'll take the time to reassure me that we aren't opening up the aforementioned can of worms, I'll be happy to reopen the question, reinstate the points, and reclose it.
Netminder
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Netminder - as a newbie here let me take a shot at this.
I recently wanted to wipe a notebook PC clean and reload it from scratch. For a variety of reasons I wanted to make sure that there was nothing left on the hard drive, and this poor notebook had been added to domains, removed from domains, and used by multiple users in a zillion different ways. But the problem was...which of my XP license keys did I use for it? I have quite a number of legal licenses for XP, but it's always a problem when you need to find the right one so that when you reload you don't try to activate one that in use somewhere else.
So...I used google to find a little program that let me see the XP key that was in use on that laptop. Of course Microsoft wouldn't let me use that XP CD key anywhere else (isn't that what activation is all about?) but at the same time I wanted to reactivate XP on that laptop with my perfectly legal, paid-for key.
If it weren't for activation I might agree with you that getting CD keys off systems could open the door to piracy, but I don't think this is the case. Besides, limiting access to this type of program on this site is akin to saying that Google is more useful that EE!
-GT
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hi netminder ok if we look at the question how to get the cd key from an unbootable computer then the answer i gave works i like you have every cd floppy and key i ever purchased but a lot of people build there nice new computer go out spend £80 on OEM windows come home read the instructions and load the operating system they put the cd case with the sticker in a draw leave the xp cd in the drive for a day or 2 then take it out and put it with the rest of the Cd's they have, now six months down the line they have a problem that needs a repairer install so they get out the cd hunt around for the case and cant find it the computer wont boot and with out the key they cant reload windows enter my answer a good safe way to recover the cd key which dose not hurt any one as the key is paid for. now if they cant get the cd key do they go out and get another copy of xp or do they go to a crack site and download a crack my guess is they get a crack. so which is the better option what wood Microsoft want them to do ? so as a member on this site i ask you to remove the link posted by olsonjw which i reported to lee tutor but keep the solution i worked out for other people to use i have all so posted the solution on http://forum.pcmech.com/ another good tec site with strict rules regarding cracks and they don't have a problem with it
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Okay... nice job, all of you.
But Andy... I'm not going to give you an extra 500 points x 4 for this... *grin*
Netminder
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Netminder,
My full time job is that of a Systems Administrator, but part-time, I work as a technician for a major retail chain ( I won't say who, but I work there for the great discount and extra cash... ) It is very common for customers to bring in their computers that are custom built machines. When we receive these machines, they obviously don't have the OEM COA on the side of the PC like most OEM machines do. When these particular systems cannot boot, even in safe mode, we are often forced to reinstall the OS (fresh install, because a repair install fails...). At this point, the only way to keep it legal is to use the customers current CD key. If, for whatever reason, the vendor did not provide them with a COA or they have lost or misplaced it, we need a way to retrieve the key in order to do the OS reinstallation. Granted, this scenario does not present itself often, but when it does, this procedure is invaluable. It is also great for clients that have brought in their PC and actually *do* have the COA but it's at home (they didn't realize they'd need it at the time of dropoff) or so we don't have to try to contact them by phone for a CD Key they might not even know how to identify.
That, and only that, was the basis for my question. I assure you, if there was any intention on using the information posted here to steal CD keys, there are much much easier ways of doing so readily available elsewhere. It is those locations anyone looking to do anything illegal can go, because obviously EE is not that kind of place.
Thanks for your time,
- DV
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DVation191,
And thank you for your patience and cooperation through all of this.
N
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thank you netminder shame about the extra points ;-) glad you removed the post with the link to the crack site as well
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hey andy smith, I was just curious if you had a full explanation with regards on how to do what you said posted somewhere on another site or something and also URL's to the required downloads ie the pebart cd and the nero plugin you were referring to , etc ?
If not then I just need the URL's to them 2 items so that I can make a copy of that for future refernce, if that is ok.
Thanks
Kind regards
Gecko
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gecko_au2003,
I don't know how to link to a specific post in a thread on EE, but if you refer to the post i made on 12/16/2004 03:38PM EST, I summarize the steps I took to make this all work.
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ok I looked at that but if you refer to andysmiths posted here :
===========================================
Accepted Answer from andymsmith18
Date: 12/15/2004 11:04AM PST
Grade: A
Accepted Answer
ok first boot with a bartpe cd with a dos reg editor on it open the windows regerstry and export the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion save it as a reg file on a cd if you have the nero plug in for bartpe or any usb drive it wont fit on a floppy its 2 big
next go to a working xp computer open regedit and export the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion to back it up then put the cd or usb drive in to the working computer and import the reg key then use keyfinder or any prog to see the key right it down then import the backup reg key back in to the working computer do not reboot or turn off the working computer with out puting the old key back
=================================================
Yes I am aware it takes more space in the database, however if you look at his 2nd and 3rd line down in his comment with regards to that registry key and having to save it to a cd using the nero plugin or a usb drive, For starters I do not have a USB drive and 2nd of all I would need the nero plugin.
I was asking where do I get this specific nero plugin that he is reffering to ? also where is the ISO of bart PE cd so I can get that as well.
Thanks
Kind regards
Gecko
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Dvation191/Andysmith,
Very creative solution to a perplexing situation..........applause! Now I am wondering how you circumvent the activation part of this particular scenario. You have successfully restored the puter after retrieving the key and the puter boots for the first time and you are posed with the inevitable MS activation screen. What do you do? I know in the past my previous versions of Wndows have come with a 5 activation limit but I believe they have removed that ability, I may be wrong on this hence the question? I also read on another website about a file (will not mention in respect to the rules) that if saved and reused will keep you from having to have to re-activate in the likely event you must perform a clean install, has anyone experience with this and does it work? I would never use this accept on a legal copy of Windows and for all I know you may not be able to use one file from an activated copy to activate another but this was very interesting to me and I have not had the opportunity to test it yet. I have on many occassions though when having to reinstall just called MS and gotten a new key for activation no fuss no muss. Great thread and I enjoyed readin it and happy to be a new member as well. Will post any and all relevant information I can add when appropriate.
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Assuming you are doing everything legally, you will likely be able to reactivate online. If you are denied from too many changes, a call to Microsoft to explain your situation has never failed me, nor have I heard of them denying anyone else over the phone. I stress the legal a legitimate part of this answer!
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gecko_au2003, the reason you are having problems is you didn't read my instructions carefully enough. "ok first boot with a bartpe cd with a dos reg editor on it " > NO ..., boot with bartpe, with no extras on it. "open the windows regerstry and export the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wi ndows NT\CurrentVersion save it as a reg file on a cd" > NO ... put LoadHive on a floppy and run it in PE. *ONLY* extract the subkey containing the product key and put it on the floppy " it wont fit on a floppy its 2 big " > Because you are trying to save the entire hive instead of the subkey I said to.... Since you missed my instructions above.... 1. Created a Bart PE iso, nothing extra added, just used defaults. 2. Booted dead system from PE CD. 3. Downloaded LoadHive from http://www.matcode.com/codes.htm and put it on a floppy. 4. Ran it from the floppy in PE, loaded C:\WINDOWS\System32\Config\software ... it mounted the hive as SOFTWARE_00. 5. Ran regedit, found the SOFTWARE_00 subkey and navigated to CurrentVerion, exported that subkey to the floppy. 6. I moved to a working XP machine, backed up my DigitalProductId key. I edited the reg file from the floppy to only contain the DigitalProductId key. 7. I merged the DigitalProductId key from the floppy, ran Keyfinder (Magic Jellybean Software) and it pulled the key ! 8. I merged the backup I made and ran it again, and sure enough it had my original key.
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I did read your instructions , I am just confused to as why you say do it that way and andy smith is saying you will need the nero plugin or a usb disk drive or something to that extent because it is too large to fit on floppy !?!?!?!?!?!
That is the part I did not understand, why you are saying you basically dont need it except for the load hive and he is saying about using nero plugin or a usb disk drive ??
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Well that was his suggestion based on information he obtain elsewhere. When I actually *did* the suggestion my steps that I provided was the way I had to do it to make it work. If you want to know how to do it specifically the way andy suggested, you might want to open another thread =)
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ok thanks for the help DVation191 !!
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hi gecko just to confirm dvations post my answer is the long way round to go dvations made it easer by changing it thats the best thing about this web site some one finds an answer then we refine it
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ok I will have to give that a go sometime :)
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Anyone have a program where you can type in the DigitalProductId or ProductId and have it converted to the CD Key? I can easily boot and grab the ProductId or DigitalProductId using 'BOOTDISK' found here: http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/But I still would need to convert the DigitalProductId or preferably the ProductId to the CD Key.
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internethotspot, send me an email please. My email address is on my profile :)
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If that is ok with the EE rules :)
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Complete full instructions: Create bootdisk from the cd050303.iso found here: http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/Copy KeyViewer.exe to bootable floppy disk found here: http://www.alphacomps.com/tools/keyviewer/keyviewer.php#DigitalProductIdBoot (dead) system using the bootdisk (CD) *Note: BIOS must be set to boot from CD 1. Select disk where the windows installation is located. Generally this would be the first one listed (is also notated by Boot). Press '1' [Enter] to select the first drive listed. 2a) Enter path to the registry files. (Press [Enter] to select default) 2b) Select which part of the registry to edit. In this case, you want 'software' so type: software [Enter] 3. You should now see the loaded hives indicates <software> Select '9' [Enter] At prompt [1020] do the following: Type: cd Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion [Enter] Type: hex DigitalProductId [Enter] This will list the value of the DigitalProductId. Look for the line 0030. Starting from the 5th column (following 00 00 00 00) write down the next 15x HEX code values (each set of 2 characters is a hex value). You should end up with 30 characters, ending on the row beginning with 0040, in the 3rd column. Eg. 7F6A514C8E5A9156EA34771AB7F202 Now that you have what you need, you can either just eject your CD and shut down the dead PC, or shut down properly by typing: q [Enter] q [Enter] n [Enter] exit [Enter] (then wait for prompt) Eject CD and shut down. From either a boot floppy also containing the key viewer, or from a working system, run KeyViewer. Select the tab, 'Raw Key'. Enter in the 30 character Hex code you wrote down (no spaces) and press the Decode button. Voila - you have your Product Key.
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oops - KeyViewer only works from within Windows (my bad)
(note, KeyViewer is not the same as the Jellybean Key Viewer/ finder)
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thats another method to attain the windows key, as long as it works lol. The easiest way to get it back is to make a backup copy of it in the first place whilst windows is working using magic jelly bean keyfinder and saving it to a text document on a cd - r or even on another partition of your hard drive that you dont format and you can access the text file in dos using the edit command or even print it off or write it down before you do the re install :)
That only works for people who know what they are doing or unless someone made a utility in visual basic 6 or another language that did that for users so that they dont have to worry about losing there key :)
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internethotspot,
Is that a valid key number; if so, I should probably remove it.
N
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heh heh - no that's not a valid number
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Not only did I find this entire topic amusing, but found it quite amusing that someone opened the door on Netminder's cubicle. This was even more hilarious:
Netminder
Expert Points this month
8
wow!
Now that is funny, I don't care where you're from.
Most of the question probably does belong behind closed doors though, I agree with that.
17000+ views. Wonder why.
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GinEric,
The only reason I have any points at all is because I don't feel like going through all the work it would take to remove them; traditionally, Moderators and Admins don't receive points in questions. But it's going to be a while before most of the people here catch me in terms of the number of answered questions, and there aren't very many people who've been members as long as I have, either.
N
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It's not about points - just the satisfaction of finding the answer. There are two perfectly working solutions here; both start out the same. The only difference is the first you export part of the registry, import it into a working machine, then decode, then repair the registry. The second, you don't export anything, you write down the HEX, type it into a program, and it provides the decoded key. No points, but some personal satisfaction.
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"..........wondering how you circumvent the activation part of this particular scenario"
Copy the WPA.DBL and WPA.bak from \windows\system32 directory, to a floppy, USB thumb drive, burn to a CD, wherever.....(BEFORE the process of reinstall/reformat/etc.)
This is the file to replace back to the dir (\windows\system32) after a reinstall and when activation is required again.
You must place the file while booted into safemode.
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i think we are getting away from the question a bit here how to get my cd key if i cant boot in to windows the info on the wpa is good but i think it wood be better placed in a hints and tips section our objective here is not to bypass any windows security features or help people use illegal software its for the recovery of your cd key when you need to reinstall a legal licenced copy of windows. as a computer engineer i keep a few test computers at work that i format every 2 months i have never had a problem with ms activating my computers on the phone all my software is OEM and i change parts sometimes weekly if the computer needs activating a quick call is all thats required and i am good to go my thinking is if Microsoft did not have to spend money on anti piracy the maybe the programs it sells wood be cheaper to the rest of us, or bill will give himself a pay rise :-)
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There are a few suggestions for getting the XP key from DOS here http://personal-computer-tutor.com/abc2/v15/vic15.htm . It talks about the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\$WINNT$.INF method mentioned earlier on in this thread, but it also points to another site which its self has a program available for download which is supposed to extract the Key under DOS from an "attended install of the Corporate version of XP". Perhaps this can help you?
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Regarding the WINNT inf file...that only applies to unattended installations or OEM installations...okay in some scenarios, but not others.
Thanks for the link, I've seen that before. Unfortunately I've tried all those programs and none of them (at least from what I've tried) seem to work in DOS mode as claimed.
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Well to the 17,000+ views of this question; IMHO this question should be closed, edited and locked; there is nothing to add of benefit to genuine fault resolution, but I will add in my arrogance my opinion from experience and this weeks repair work as an example, to which I hope some will take note.
I work providing support/repair to the home office/small business market.
An XP PC without a sticker attached to the PC is unlicensed, the license requires attachment. Pain as this maybe to tell someone. I read license keys from PCs using the various methods available and already listed, many licenses are bogus (corporate or large oem) on PCs which are neither or no longer from a corporate environment and hence unlicensed (under the terms of the license) or not on a PC from a large OEM eg Dell who may legitimately use a restricted key tied to their hardware BIOS strings, such keys read from PC will not work with an oem xp disk for this reason - on alternative hardware, but all large oems stick an alternative key which can be used for re-install on the PC -it is a license requirement.
Simply put if the license isn't there it isn't licensed, cracks, patches etc exist and are installed by the amateur repair people to supply PCs at discounted prices, which seriously affect people like myself who work honestly to compete in a difficult market.
The origional question simply reads to me on an unlicensed PC which isn't working, whose license may have been moved elsewhere how do I get the key back to re-use, regardless of its' legality.
Having said that the question has validity, but for a quite different reason from that asked, to which I return to this weeks work example, from which I think there is much learning and benefit for readers.
I was called following a customer who had had a total hard drive failure on the offchance I might recover the data and save them a months work lost. They had already got someone out to replace the drive and had spent 3 days restoring data and customizing the PC back to photo editing, paying specialists to set up their software, but were unable to reliably browse the Internet. On enquiring about the replacement hard drive I was told he had taken the PC away and pre-installed XP (they offered the disks, but he said he didn't need them) but left leaving the PC struggling to install updates off the Internet, but they had been desperate to get things back up and running and had proceeded to add their apps etc (antivirus first from the logs and their credit, SP2 from CD), they had updated the antivirus scanned the PC, but just couldn't get more than the first page on the Internet.
Simple I thought - malware, but negative on scans, reinstall modem - negative, but connection OK, enabled full logging of firewall, hmm lot of port 445 stuff on boot not so good. So checked the license using belarc, not the same as on the side of the machine, suspected patched/cracked XP had been installed. Why? well simply put from the logs it saved the time to install XP by imaging the new drive and of course this guy built cheap PCs....
To the lab and tracked a new virus created same time as all OS files (sent to the AV labs - my first!!), but what damage how many exe, dll corrupted - logical action wipe the disk and use the customer license to install XP, but in view of work installed and virus appeared stopped by removal and deleting associated registry entries a re-install of the OS might be better, but customer OS pre SP1 and a corrupted re-install likely and as some will know the license on the label might not work with any oem SP2 and still might corrupt after further updates installed as file replacement would be required to scrub any damaged OS exe/dll from this new virus or patched OS.
The resolution (I hope, but will have to see what the AV guys come up with) was to apply all SP2 and all updates to the Dell oem setup disk as administrative updates and make a new install CD and then upgrade the installation using this. Of note 4 OS files were replaced by this on comparated scans; all of which I suspect were to disable windows activation.
All I would like to say to finish is to think carefully that the scenario posed by the question and repairs in this situation only support those who deal in unlicensed copies of XP and beat the honest people out of the market. By refusing to re-install the OS on PCs where physical licensing is not present (as I do) you are ensuring real techs can continue in business and ultimately it is better to have a genuine OS installed properly, which won't be deactivated at a later date when MS puts in place fully its updates on verification process. And those who pose activation cracks, think carefully what you are installing, not what you are removing from windows.
I dislike like many the price of XP and its' activation process, in irony I had to reactivate my disk recovery PC this week again as I use a caddy to recover hard disk contents. Those who can't afford MS use linux, all my PCs 'made to measure' are linux with MS as an option.
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I would dis agree completely with the delete it and close it aspect, I found this Question with regards to attaining the key from a dead machine very useful and a very good reference for future reference(s).
If an admin or mod could please get back with regards to what is happening to this question because if it is about to get deleted then I would like to know before it is !!
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Just to note I didn't say delete but closed, locked and edited (grammh comment to note as reason for latter), I would be a hyppocrite to suggest otherwise having used and being prepared to use methods in this post to diagnose issues with installations as I exampled.
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Folks,
This question started off as a discussion of one specific subject, and has ranged far afield. As an answer has been accepted, I'm having the Page Editor for this question look at it, and he will be removing comments that do not address the specific question asked by the Asker.
Netminder
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Netminder sent an email to me, part of whose contents follows:
Can you please look at this question, and then delete all of the comments (don't erase, just change them to Deleted) after my last comment (to GinEric, about my point total) that are not specifically and completely on topic -- meaning that if they don't have anything and everything to do with retrieving the key off a completely unbootable system, they should be removed.
I have done as suggested. I found the thread very interesting and informative, and I agree with Problem_Solver that it should be preserved. I don't know if current E-E site technology allows this thread to be "locked" so that no further comments could be added, but if it does, I think that is a good idea, too.
LeeTutor
Experts-Exchange Page Editor for Windows 3.x, 9x, ME, and XP
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Unfortunately, it can't be "locked" using EE's existing system without deleting it from the database, and I don't want to do that.
However, notice is given that I'm still monitoring it, and any comment that does not fit within the parameters set down in my email to LeeTutor (which he has reproduced above) will be deleted without further comment.
Netminder
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There are 2x solutions provided that work very well. One involved copying the registry and pasting it into a working machine, using Jellybean or a similar program to see the CD Key (accepted answer), and the other that I provided is to boot from a CD, view the digital product ID in Hex, type it into a program that converts it into the CD Key. I don't mean to sound arrogant when I say from a technician's point of view, it would be nice to see the question and answers and avoid the philosophical debate.
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aida32 is now named everest you can get it from this site http://www.lavalys.com/ but you must be loged in to windows to use it so it wood not help in this situation
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once again, read the question - the system does not boot into windows at all therefore you cannot run a windows program to get the key
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The best thing would be to run a windows environment such as ERD commander from wininternals, then use the regedit option that way, but that will only give you the Hex version, which you will need to convert it.
I'm not 100% sure on the location of the string either, but i'm sure its not too difficult to find out.
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Please note that, as I've said above, comments which do not deal directly with the issue in the question will be removed.
andyalder,
I've fixed it.
Netminder
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Admin - there have been two answers provided and well explained. The only thing simpler would be a program that does it all in one step - auto boot, extraction and conversion of the digital product id into the CD key. But as this isn't possible, there can really be no better answer than the two already provided.
However, there are programs worth considering that may be able to repair a bad installation, unless the problem is a failed hard drive, in which case only copying the data to a good drive then repairing the installation would (possibly) work.
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internethotspot,
That's all well and good, but that's not THIS question, and to be honest, the posts that have been left over the last few weeks have been nothing more than repetitions of previous posts.
We know the question has been closed; we know that points have been awarded and that's not going to change; and we know that I've said exactly what will happen to new posts that don't speak directly to the issue of this queston. I'm just reminding everyone.
Netminder
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internethotspot - can you explain just ONCE MORE? :P :P :P :P
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THIS QUESTION IS CLOSED.
Please do NOT add additional comments. Per my comments above, new comments will be deleted if they do not meet the following criteria:
1. They must speak directly to the issue posed by the questioner COMPLETELY. Take special note of the condition of the machine.
2. They must not be reiterations or repetitions of previous comments. Please read the entire thread carefully before you post.
3. They must be directly on topic (sorry about your most recent comment, DVation191 -- no offense intended).
Netminder
Site Admin
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GinEric,
What amused me was the speed at which Netminder came rushing out of the cubicle, without thinking carefully enough, and skillfully extricating herself(?) by putting the onus back onto the contributors. Less steering, more navigation please Netminder!
Regards,
John
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jjjtuohy,
You may be amused, but I don't pretend to be an Expert in all TAs, including this one. What I do know pretty well is the MA, and what EE will accept as a viable comment regarding a fairly sensitive matter. I also know that given the traffic this question has generated (and Microsoft's policies with regard to the installation and potential theft of their software), it's prudent that this question be monitored.
The onus, however, is ALWAYS on the members to follow the guidelines set forth in the help page -- you agreed to it when you registered. We don't monitor each question; that's not our function here. We were alerted to this question only when it started to drift away from the original topic and into the area of defeating Microsoft's copy protection. While many of the participants were good enough to avoid that gray area, the possibility of someone inadvertently posting a link to a tool that COULD be used to do that was evident, so one of the members -- I don't recall which one -- asked us to take a look. I brought in the Page Editor for this TA, and between us, we removed the off-topic discussion for precisely those reasons.
Since the question has been closed, I've limited my self to deleting comments that add nothing to the discussion (i.e. they are comments which repeat a suggestion made above), and I'll continue to do so.
Netminder
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Netminder
A very fair point and my apologies for needling you..wholly undeserved it seems.
Regards,
John
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John,
Don't worry about it... *chuckling*... I've had a lot worse.
N
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Quick and hassle-free way to get the key back before re-installing is: Windows Product Key Viewer & Changer,a useful util. that helps you out there on this point. http://www.miscsoftware.com/winprod.html
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Thank you for your comment, bwimail. However, the scenario presented is one in which windows is unbootable. Being that this a win32 application, we would not have an environment in which to run this utility, as was pointed out when a competing win32 key grabber was suggested.
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Experts Exchange has pushed new code today that will keep us all from getting any further notifications to this thread. If you want to contribute something that hasn't been contributed, you're welcome to write to netminder "at" experts-exchange.com to have this question unlocked.
Netminder
Site Admin
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I am just checking if the new code works or not..
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the code is not working.
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The code needs to be worked on again cos it failed miserably to say the least as I got a notification , unless this is one of those April fools deals and we just look like total idiots now for expecting it to be true lol.
Oh well..... :P
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nope not working!
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The code works fine, actually. It should do exactly what I expect it to do, which is to lock out non-participants.
N
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November 30, 2005 - 03:03AM PST
Who's using EE?
Title: Retrieve XP CD Key
