Getting a code back?

kirbz · 14 Jan 2008 at 13:29

Hi all

A guy at work was reinstalling his pc and has realised that he has lost his product key code. He brought an oem xp home disk with the code, he has the reciept of when he bought it. Is there any way he can get that code back? He got to the setup screen so the hardrive has been formatted.

Ta
Kirbz

bledd · 14 Jan 2008 at 13:39

highly unlikely

if he's able to recover the old partitions it may still be there in the registry (unlikely though)

kirbz · 14 Jan 2008 at 13:54

so you say, try to recover and use that jelly bean keyfinder?

what software to use to recover?

lokkers · 14 Jan 2008 at 14:02

He should legally have stuck the COA sticker on the side of his case - AFAIK it's part of the licence agreement

(I always put mine on the inside, as its a bit of an eyesore on the outside).

Not much good to him now, but might be worth mentioning this to him for the future!

bledd · 14 Jan 2008 at 14:20

testdisk is free, i really wouldn't hold out much hope though

Realist · 14 Jan 2008 at 15:57

If your reinstalling the OEM software and uising the original motherboard, you can call Microsoft and explain and they normally provide a new key.

That is if you have NOT change the motherboard as the key is attached to the hardware.

Change the hardware and that means a new OEM disc.

Regards.

m4cc45 · 14 Jan 2008 at 16:25

Loads of programs to get the key back in Windows. Not sure on the legality of it so not linking anything.

M.

MarcLister · 14 Jan 2008 at 17:06

m4cc45 said:
Loads of programs to get the key back in Windows. Not sure on the legality of it so not linking anything.

M.

Good thinking.

(About linking

)

However the OP says the PC has already been formatted so he needs ways of getting the key back that don't involve using Windows.

m4cc45 · 14 Jan 2008 at 20:38

Sorry didn't know what the OP was on about when he said setup screen.

Is the PC branded?

M.

MarcLister · 14 Jan 2008 at 20:39

OEM XP Home.