Recover XP CD KEY

by ProjectZro

59K2460

Intro: Recover XP CD KEY

Dont you hate when you have to reformat your hard drive or when it breaks? Well you probably think to yourself "I'll just reinstall" and realize !@#$ i lost the sticker with my cd key, or the kids tore it off, or the sticker on the top of your desktop rubbed off from over use and overflow of cds. fear not I HAVE YOUR SOLUTION.

STEP 1: Tools

You will need your Windows XP CD, your computer (now if you are thinking, my computer wont work without finding out the cd key, your wrong you can install the 30 day trial) and to calm down lol.

STEP 2: First Step

Insert the XP disk in your pc or someone else's i don't care. Right click and press explore.

STEP 3: Step Two

Click on the folder that says i386, and find the file named UNATTEND.txt, copy it to your desktop (click and drag). open the file and press ctrl+f and type "ProductKey" and there it will be in ""

STEP 4: Microsoft Problems

if you are changing hard drives you may want to call microsoft to get a new key but if the one you found on your disk works then dont bother, Hope you enjoyed my first instructable.

18 Comments

ramblinrandy62 6 years ago

I put in the disk and did the update to time to put in key and found out I had the wrong key number. How do I get to the screen you are taking about. My computer is locked on the key screen.

KphtnbfaP 7 years ago

Days ago, i saw a site that it has all version of windows and offie key from it. Just i have a try to get a win 7 key. and after i used,my windows activated. Nice to share.The site is www.vanskeys.com.

DiigsznsK 7 years ago

Thank you so much, your video is so helpful. As a return I am going to share with you a nice site to get genuine but cheap product keys for both windows and ms office: <a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/">https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/</a>, you can go to have a try if you need.

DiigsznsK 7 years ago

Thank you so much, your video is so helpful. As a return I am going to share with you a nice site to get genuine but cheap product keys for both windows and ms office: <a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/">https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/</a>, you can go to have a try if you need.

DiigsznsK 7 years ago

Thank you so much, your video is so helpful. As a return I am going to share with you a nice site to get genuine but cheap product keys for both windows and ms office: <a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/">https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/</a>, you can go to have a try if you need.

DiigsznsK 7 years ago

Thank you so much, your video is so helpful. As a return I am going to share with you a nice site to get genuine but cheap product keys for both windows and ms office: <a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/">https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/</a>, you can go to have a try if you need.

DiigsznsK 7 years ago

Thank you so much, your video is so helpful. As a return I am going to share with you a nice site to get genuine but cheap product keys for both windows and ms office: <a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/">https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/</a>, you can go to have a try if you need.

DiigsznsK 7 years ago

Thank you so much, your video is so helpful. As a return I am going to share with you a nice site to get genuine but cheap product keys for both windows and ms office: <a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/">https://www.instructables.com/id/Office-2013-Installation-Error-1406-1/</a>, you can go to have a try if you need.

JonathanS14 8 years ago

It's nice that you don't care. That's really sweet.

JonathanS14 8 years ago

"LOL" hahahahaha (how do you type with sarcasm and imitate a snobby tone and attitude?) --- what's funny about that? Go on and laugh. Especially for those who have already done this.

jtoprani 8 years ago

Thank you very much for the clear instructions. I had to repair Windows
XP Home due to an error and after installation it needed the product
key. I had discarded the original PC case with the product key sticker
but did have the CD. Found the code in the Unattend.txt.

Bi11 11 years ago

Me! Nice? Surely sirs, you jest... Rather late but curious: I only recently discovered the site and as I was having computer troubles, timely enough. Many thanks, but to what end is the information?? I have several CDs of XP, some "Home", some "Pro". Some legal, some questionable. Some "cold start", some "restore". Since my Toshiba (A-75) went south, I have been trying to get my AutoCAD back up running.

I followed (sort of) the instructions for this article. What I found was curious, at best. Using a "hex" editor and examining the file "unattend.txt", I found the key ID number toward the end of the file. The details of why I checked several disks are unimportant, needless to say I did so. From widely desparate sources, the "Key" was the same on each disk. Having double-checked to be sure, I thought to ask you what the significance of this number is. Or to rephrase, would any sticker number work with any disk? Possibly useful there; I may have several stickers up for grabs in the not too distant future. For obvious reasons, I can't ask uSoft staff. They decline to even discuss XP any more, as does Toshiba.

In my case, AutoCAD will not operate on the newer versions of Windows, hence my efforts with the recovery of these machines. I first bought a new Toshiba toward this end. When the CAD wouldn't initialize, I sought assistance. In both uSoft's and Toshiba's eyes, the multi-thousand dollar program is "so what, tough s#!t, get over it"... I'm not very pleased with either vendor.

The net result was swapping the new Toshiba, with Windows 8, for an older machine as a parts source. Far cheaper than paying the price for a replacement LCD screen. I am familiar with the known problems of the older Toshibas, both their design flaws and thermal problems with high horsepower CPUs in a laptop. Having made repairs to the screen several times, the most recent was the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back." OK, wire not straw, but the comment fits. And the thermal issues now take me about an hour, once a year, or so.

The bottom line here is that if it won't run AutoCAD, it's about as useful to me as a dead cat. But, I do thank you for reading this far in the ramblings of an old man. If you would follow up and find a resolution, I would be interested, if only to scratch an itch.
Bi11
The Artificer

abadfart 14 years ago

will this let me install XP on a new machine?

ProjectZro 14 years ago

sorry for the slow response time. No this only works with OEM machines. in other words machine specified disks like toshiba or E-Machines. this is only in case that the sticker on your tower or laptop gets scraped off and it asks for the product serial number.

if it is a legit copy you are trying to install then call microsoft and tell them that the serial number isnt working and the store refuses to refund your money *cough* *wink, wink*

abadfart 14 years ago

lol thanks some of my media programs have been crashing vista

WolfDog 15 years ago

Also works if you look in c drive and the i386 folder, and follow the rest of the instructions. I used it to find mine as the sticker has worn of the bottom of my laptop.