Reinstall windows without cd/licence key?

not_tonight_josephine_2

Hi, i've been an idiot- bought a laptop with an oem xp licence, and never got round to making any system backups. I now have a virus and want to start from scratch again and reinstall windows, but the laptop did not come with a cd or licence key.

Is there any way I can reinstall the software without having to buy another licence?

Thanks

crampo_2

there is a bit of software that will let you view your CD Key. I think this is it:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/downloads/kf141.zip

fwor

There are several free utilities that will tell you the licence key used for your existing installation, such as this:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

All you then need is to borrow a CD of the correct type (e.g. Windows XP Pro) and use that with your original, retrieved licence key.

not_tonight_josephine_2

Thanks guys that's great!

fitshase

Sometimes laptops have stickers on the bottom with the CD key.

kippen_noedel

Magical Jelly Bean is great but limited, a more versatile app is belarc, it will also give you a profile f your machine including details on your drivers & hardware in a printable html format.

http://download.cnet.com/Belarc-Advisor/3000-2094_4-10007277.html

RobTang

OEM Copies should ALWAYS ALWAYS have the coa licence sticker on the case or somwhere in the computer (ie in the battery bay).
its part of the system builder's T&Cs, otherwise the copy may be dodgy.

Usualy cd-key recovery programs dont work with laptops, as the manufactuer will pre-activate the OS with their generic key, and not the key as written on the coa. this key doesn't normally activate though windows activation.
if the laptop is from a smaller generic reseller it should work however.

What you need to do is backup your activation (search for it on google), install xp with no key the restore the activation files.

prowla

The licence should be listed it you do My Computer -> Properties.

enigma52

copy these files to floppy or pen drive wpa.dbl and wpa.bak which are in the windows/system32 folder, install windows but do not activate, just replace the files with the 2 above and you should not need to do anything else. full instructions are on theeldergeek.com under activate from floppy

almillar

Prowla, no, that's a different number, not the COA number.