I lost the CDs that the computer came with.. including reinstallation CD

Question

My computer was being an idiot so I decided to format the whole thing. the problem is... I moved around alot last year so I have no idea where my CDs are...   and even if I figure it out, it is most likely in Korea, which I'll not be visiting til may. I don't even know if it's there so...   Anyways, because I lost it, I borrowed my friend's XP CD (although I know I'm not suppose to. I borrowed it because i originally owned one) and installed it. And ofcourse, I must activate it. (it's same home edition..) and also, hers came from her compaq computer, so I don't know if that's going to cause any problems...   Anyways: Well, it wouldn't let me activate over the internet, and I was wondering if I could activate it over the phone (the machine wouldn't let me activate it so I got to talk to a real person) would they still let me activate it although I borrowed my friends? I was curious about this... Thank you.

tgsmith · Answer

Cielle,

No problem. Download Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder from here: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml.

Run Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder. Use it to enter the Dell Windows XP Product Key. It should be on a sticker on the side of your computer cabinet. Its on the bottom of laptops. After changing it to the correct one, attempt to activate via dialup modem if you have one. If your friend's Windows XP was purchased before February 28, 2005, it should activate just fine. I just used a Gateway XP Home CD to repair an eMachines XP Home installation using this method and it activated just fine.

Note: Read Product Key carefully. Easy to mistake B for 8, G for 6, etc.

Tony

cielle · Answer

I tried that, but it keeps on giving me the same product key... (i pushed change it and it told me to restart keyfinder.. so i did. Gives me the same number/letters again!)

jmwills · Answer

How did you format without the CD's? Most re-activations are being done over the phone now. Message Edited by jmwills on 03-04-2006 03:05 PM

Denny Denham · Answer

cielle,

In Keyfinder Options|Change Windows Key should produce a new window with five blocks each capable of holding five characters. If it doesn't your download may have been corrupted. Try downloading it again. If it stilll does not work, you can change the Product ID to the one on the sticker on your case using the procedure here before you activate the installation.

cielle · Answer

Just one thing i was confused about the whole process...   They say 'enter the new product key' welllll   what exactly is the new product key? They just tell me to change the registery (which I'm assuming is not the product key because it's 24 letters) and then expect me to know the new product key... so i don't know what's a going on.. O_O

cielle · Answer

o btw i'm talking about doing it the manual way... not the keyfinder way because it keeps on giving me the original key (unless I'm doing something wrong..?)   I push change the key and then i enter the key into the five slots. Then it says to restart keyfinder to see the new key. And then when I restart it, it gives me the same original key again. Wt...

cielle · Answer

nm i called the windows ppl and told them my computer was compaq and i formatted it. They gave me what i needed, the end. Thanks for helping guys.

jmwills · Answer

Wait a minute, you are on the Dell Fourms for help with a Compaq?

cielle · Answer

^ No i just jacked my friend's compaq CD to format my dell. It worked actually but the problem was it didn't detect any of my hardware (like soundcard, usb ports, ethernet) so it was very inconvienient

Windows General

I lost the CDs that the computer came with.. including reinstallation CD

Was this post helpful?