Finding a lost WinXP Product Key on the computer

[jstultz]

No, it's not what you think, I'm not looking for a leaked corporate key or anything.

I installed an OEM copy of Windows XP on my machine a while back, and I realized a little while ago that I don't know where my certificate of authenticity got to.

It's not causing any problems now, but I'm just worried in the future that I may have to reinstall Windows XP and if that happens, I won't have a CD Key to install it with.

Yes, I know I shouldn't have lost the key in the first place, and should have written it down somewhere else, but I didn't, for the following reason. I know in Windows 95 and 98, the CD Key that you entered was displayed on the system information dialog box, so I thought that if I needed it later, it would be right there for me. However, I realized that on Windows XP, that number is not actually the CD Key anymore.

My question is, do any of you know of any way to find a CD key on the computer? In the registry? Anywhere? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Intelman07]

Um hey i would help but i dunno where it is either. U may want to consider changing the title people will think u are trying to find a pirated version good luck!!

 

[nortexoid]

if u provide MS w/ that number (from teh system info page?) they'll probably be able to provide u with a legitimate one.
i mean, u had to active the copy at some point, so they'll have u on file.

 

[RalfHutter]

There's an app called GetProdKey that will give you the first and last 5 digits of your CD-key the middle set of 15 shows as "X's". You can hack the app to make it show all the digits. PM me and I'll send you the details.

 

[Jhill]

Thanks for the program.

 

[NeoMadHatter]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
There's an app called GetProdKey that will give you the first and last 5 digits of your CD-key the middle set of 15 shows as "X's". You can hack the app to make it show all the digits. PM me and I'll send you the details.

going to try that program when i get home.

 

[NeoMadHatter]

Originally posted by: NeoMadHatter

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
There's an app called GetProdKey that will give you the first and last 5 digits of your CD-key the middle set of 15 shows as "X's". You can hack the app to make it show all the digits. PM me and I'll send you the details.

going to try that program when i get home.

is there one like this for windows 2000? i kinda need to reinstall it on my server and and someone decided to misplace it. i have the system still installed but it's struggling and needs reinstalling.

 

[Doh!]

There is s modified version of GetProdKey that shows all letters & numbers. Don't remember the link though.

 

[RalfHutter]

Not that I mind all the PMs, but here's a link to the actual thread that shows how to hack "GetProdKey" to show all the digits. You have to use a hex editor (I like UltraEdit). The guy who posted the hack is "deferenced". Look for the 2nd version of it, posted on July 9th at 21:54. Scroll down a bit and you can see the screenshot of my UltraEdit that I posted. That's the place you need to edit.

Link to thread.

 

[A-star]

I've got a little program that's called winxpkeyviewer (or something like that)
Works beautifull.

 

[dancingpig41]

1.Go to run and type in regedit
2. Go the HKEY Local Machine
3. Go to software and then Microsoft tab
4. Go down to the windows folder
5. Finally click on current version.

Scroll through the registry entried until you find product key.

This works in every M$ Windows version, so I am pretty sure it will work in XP. Hope I understood your question and that this works.

Take care,
Jason

 

[Bluefront]

Didn't work for me...in XP you come up with a product id#, not the serial #.

 

[OJ]

Do a Google groups search for viewkeyxp,

Hope this helps

 

[HalfCrazy]

Thanks, for the link RalfHutter. I saved me a copy of the app after I edited it. I like to have little apps like that handy just in case I them.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Just a note, the number show in the system properties page in (Win98se, at least), and stored in the registry, is not the CD-Key, rather it is the "Product ID", which is generated from a hash of the CD-Key entered, along with the date/time, and a few other things.

 

[Wallysaurus]

Thanx OJ,
The Site that I found with your search tip has quite a few useful tips for XP.

 

[rch4001]

wally, thx for the link. could have used that a time or two.

 

[JW310]

As far as I know, that GetProdKey app will work just as well for Windows 2000 as it does for Windows XP... I tried it on a Windows 2000 system and it worked as far as extracting a product key.

JW

 

[corkyg]

It works perfectly! I applied Ralfhutter's hex mod to getproduct key and it gives the entire key - no x's.

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: corky-g
I applied Ralfhutter's hex mod ...

I'd love to be good enough to be able to do something like that, but unfortunately I'm not even close. I am good at "Ctrl + C" however!

The guy who posted the hack was "deferenced" over at Ars.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter

Originally posted by: corky-g I applied Ralfhutter's hex mod ...

I'd love to be good enough to be able to do something like that, but unfortunately I'm not even close. I am good at "Ctrl + C" however! The guy who posted the hack was "deferenced" over at Ars.

Ha, ha! Sorry, Ralf! I got lost in all the links. Anyway, it was pretty easy using good old ZTree - a Windows clone of Xtree. The sequence there is simply to View the file, then press H for Hex Mode, then Edit, and voila! Just change that 74 in the referenced line to EB and save it.

I have tried it on about 4 machines now - works perfectly. So I carry it in my pocket on my USB key drive. Thank YOU for the lead!