Windows XP massively overpriced

superscaper

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

You can display the XP key by right-clicking on My Computer (on the desktop) and selecting properties.

You can even select the key, copy it and then paste it into notepad or any other text application.

That's only the "product ID" and not the serial key that is asked for when you install. The serial key isn't obviously displayed anywhere in the OS and the easiest thing is to use one of the utilities suggested or read it off the COA sticker.

The serial/product key is the same length whether it's OEM or not, ie 25 characters. The reason a non-OEM disc doesn't work with an OEM serial is just that the disc is slightly different and you need the same version of windows disc as serial key not because the key length is different (which it shouldn't be).

Debt_Free_Chick

superscaper wrote: »

That's only the "product ID" and not the serial key that is asked for when you install. The serial key isn't obviously displayed anywhere in the OS and the easiest thing is to use one of the utilities suggested or read it off the COA sticker.

I can only say that on my desktop and two laptops, it displays the product key - identical to that on the CD (desktop) or the sticker on the back of the lappie.

The serial/product key is the same length whether it's OEM or not, ie 25 characters. The reason a non-OEM disc doesn't work with an OEM serial is just that the disc is slightly different and you need the same version of windows disc as serial key not because the key length is different (which it shouldn't be).

For the OEM version (Dell) it's 22 characters long. The others are 25 characters. And when I used the "retail" disk to reinstall XP, it wouldn't load with the Dell key. So I had to reformat and then install the Dell disk, which accepted the Dell/OEM key

superscaper

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I can only say that on my desktop and two laptops, it displays the product key - identical to that on the CD (desktop) or the sticker on the back of the lappie.



For the OEM version (Dell) it's 22 characters long. The others are 25 characters. And when I used the "retail" disk to reinstall XP, it wouldn't load with the Dell key. So I had to reformat and then install the Dell disk, which accepted the Dell/OEM key

It must be a Dell install then and not specifically Windows because I'm look at a MS Windows (XP Pro) OEM sticker right now and the key is 25 characters. And the number under the properties is definitely not a key, it is the product ID as the key is not kept in readable format on the pc.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/findxpkey.htm
http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/prodkey.php
http://www.microsoftcalsettlement.com/FindIDNumbers.htm
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-1035_11-5034890.html

I'm willing to bet if you ran Magic Jellybean you'd get your proper 25 character key.

Debt_Free_Chick

superscaper wrote: »

It must be a Dell install then and not specifically Windows because I'm look at a MS Windows (XP Pro) OEM sticker right now and the key is 25 characters. And the number under the properties is definitely not a key, it is the product ID as the key is not kept in readable format on the pc.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/findxpkey.htm
http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/prodkey.php
http://www.microsoftcalsettlement.com/FindIDNumbers.htm
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-1035_11-5034890.html

I'm willing to bet if you ran Magic Jellybean you'd get your proper 25 character key.

I'll give it a go but ..... I wrote down the key from the lappie before I reformatted the drive and reinstalled XP It's a Dell disc "Operating System Already Installed on your Computer .... Reinstallation CD .... Microsoft Windows XP Professional including Service Pack 1a"

All very odd .... as the one I copied from "My Computer, Properties" allowed XP to install. It's been running since the w/e and passed the Windows validation test when I ran Windows Update

Bloomin PCs

superscaper

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I'll give it a go but ..... I wrote down the key from the lappie before I reformatted the drive and reinstalled XP

All very odd .... as the one I copied from "My Computer, Properties" allowed XP to install. It's been running since the w/e and passed the Windows validation test when I ran Windows Update

Bloomin PCs

I'm not sure why the product ID worked instead of the key and I can only assume it's something to do with the volume licensing and/or using Dell's recovery CD rather than an actual windows disc.

Debt_Free_Chick

superscaper wrote: »

I'm not sure why the product ID worked instead of the key and I can only assume it's something to do with the volume licensing and/or using Dell's recovery CD rather than an actual windows disc.

You could well be right. I'm going to download that proggie now and make sure I have the right keys!

I'm OK with the retail version, as I have the original wrapper with the key clearly printed on the back.

All very interesting ... thanks for your input

superscaper

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

You could well be right. I'm going to download that proggie now and make sure I have the right keys!

I'm OK with the retail version, as I have the original wrapper with the key clearly printed on the back.

All very interesting ... thanks for your input

Also try something like Belarc Advisor (it will probably give you more keys for the other software you have installed). I certainly find it convenient to keep a list of all my software serials etc in one place for easy reference. Better than hunting around for CD cases and boxes and manuals.