XP Serial Number Problem

ticktock · 16 Nov 2008 at 22:18

Right. My mates sister-in-law has a problem where her PC has gone belly up. Long story short, the motherboard has to be replaced. Now, the Operating system is XP Home OEM. Her husband installed it originally but, here is the sticking point, he doesn't have the serial number as he threw the box / packet that the cd was in!

He has the original CD. He didn't put the sticker on the case. He left it on the packet which was thrown!!

Is there anyway the hard drive can be connected to another PC to extract the XP code off of it for the re-installation of windows? He can't buy an exact motherboard replacement as it is no longer available.

Anyone able to advise please?

Burnsy2023 · 16 Nov 2008 at 22:22

Buy another licence. He should have complied with the licence and stuck the COA onto the case.

Despite you not being correctly licensed, I will say that you could mount the registry hive and navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
The number is listed under ProductId

markyb · 16 Nov 2008 at 22:27

As said, You are not licenced.

You have thrown away the COA which is the licence to use the software. The disc is worth nothing.

ticktock · 16 Nov 2008 at 23:45

Burnsy2023 said:
Buy another licence. He should have complied with the licence and stuck the COA onto the case.

Despite you not being correctly licensed, I will say that you could mount the registry hive and navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
The number is listed under ProductId

How does he 'Mount the Registry hive'?

Also, he threw the box with the sticker in it away. It was a genuine mistake! I can't see Microsoft making a fuss about it surely?

Burnsy2023 · 17 Nov 2008 at 00:07

ticktock said:
Also, he threw the box with the sticker in it away. It was a genuine mistake! I can't see Microsoft making a fuss about it surely?

Regardless of what MS think, he should have affixed the COA to the case. It's a requirement of the SB licence. Because of this, you really should buy another licence.

ticktock said:
How does he 'Mount the Registry hive'?

Use the registry editor to load the hive located in the profile of one of the users on the HDD.

ns400r · 17 Nov 2008 at 00:19

The XP serial isn't stored in plain text in the registry any more. A key finder should help there though.

Burnsy2023 · 17 Nov 2008 at 00:23

ns400r said:
The XP serial isn't stored in plain text in the registry any more. A key finder should help there though.

I didn't think a key finder would work on an installation that isn't currently booted?

Ascendancy · 17 Nov 2008 at 00:26

Might as well crack it, it'll be just as legit

jas07 · 17 Nov 2008 at 00:26

Cmon guys we seem to be going a little harsh tonight, although what you are saying is true, this was a genuine mistake, it wasnt done on a purpose!

Ascendancy · 17 Nov 2008 at 00:31

Oh go on then

Google for "Magical Jellybean Keyfinder". I won't link it here, but this program will do what you require.

Site said:
# Load Hive option - allows you to load the registry hive of another Windows installation. To use, put the hard drive in a working machine (must also be Windows 2000,XP or Vista) or use Windows PE (not tested, should work) and click Load Hive. Then point it to the dead Windows install. If you're using Windows Vista, Administrator rights are required for this feature. You may have to right click on the Keyfinder and run as Administrator.

ns400r · 17 Nov 2008 at 00:44

Burnsy2023 said:
I didn't think a key finder would work on an installation that isn't currently booted?

See above.

Infam0us · 17 Nov 2008 at 09:12

Can you not transfer the Harddrive to another PC and boot it there and get the key? Thats what I had to do once ...

ticktock · 17 Nov 2008 at 12:39

Infam0us said:
Can you not transfer the Harddrive to another PC and boot it there and get the key? Thats what I had to do once ...

Can't boot on a different mobo. Won't work.

Brian Stuart · 17 Nov 2008 at 13:00

Regardless of whether or not you can retrieve the key, you will need another license for a motherboard replacement unless it is done under warranty.

ticktock · 17 Nov 2008 at 13:24

Brian Stuart said:
Regardless of whether or not you can retrieve the key, you will need another license for a motherboard replacement unless it is done under warranty.

Faulty Mobo = Ok to use OEM.

Brian Stuart · 17 Nov 2008 at 13:31

ticktock said:
Faulty Mobo = Ok to use OEM.

Only if it replaced under warranty.

ticktock · 17 Nov 2008 at 14:15

Brian Stuart said:
Only if it replaced under warranty.

Rubbish.

So, i have a mobo for 2 years (Warranty is 1 year), it breaks down and i have to buy another. I can't get an exact model only a similar one...... I am not able to legally put OEM on? Rubbish. Of course i am. What is wrong with that?

Burnsy2023 · 17 Nov 2008 at 15:12

ticktock said:
Rubbish.

So, i have a mobo for 2 years (Warranty is 1 year), it breaks down and i have to buy another. I can't get an exact model only a similar one...... I am not able to legally put OEM on? Rubbish. Of course i am. What is wrong with that?

Actually, you can't put another mobo in the machine under warranty, only the system builder (who provides the warranty) can do that.

Either way, like I have said several times in this thread, you do not have a valid licence for Windows. To be licensed, you must buy a new OEM licence.

Superficial · 17 Nov 2008 at 15:17

ticktock said:
Rubbish.

So, i have a mobo for 2 years (Warranty is 1 year), it breaks down and i have to buy another. I can't get an exact model only a similar one...... I am not able to legally put OEM on? Rubbish. Of course i am. What is wrong with that?

Correct

you may reinstall the oem OS as many times as you like with a thousand different motherboards - its still the same computer by MS's definition. I know this because i have done it many times and been very specific with MS - think i mayhave an email confirming this also.

edit: and I made it clear i was doing this out of the PC's warranty.

Brian Stuart · 17 Nov 2008 at 16:01

Superficial said:
Correct

you may reinstall the oem OS as many times as you like with a thousand different motherboards - its still the same computer by MS's definition. I know this because i have done it many times and been very specific with MS - think i mayhave an email confirming this also.

edit: and I made it clear i was doing this out of the PC's warranty.

This is FUD. The motherboard is considered by Microsoft to be the PC and OEM software is tied to that PC. If you have an email from Microsoft telling you that if you reinstall OEM software on a different motherboard you have not broken the EULA then please post a pic as this is contrary to every Microsoft EULA that I have ever read.