go to yahoo and search for belarc and install the advisor and then run it. It will give you the code for windows and also many other good things about your computer. The advisor is free.
First, Microsoft Office, which contains programs such as MS Word, Excel, etc, is NOT on the Windows XP Operating System installation CD. Office will be on a separate CD or set of CD's with it's own product Key #. Check the CD's that came with your PC for the Office CD's.
As far as MS Windows XP reinstallation, there is a sticker on the case or rear panel of the PC that has the product key needed for reinstallation, if necessary. You should also write that product key down and keep it in case the sticker gets obliterated and you can't read it. If the product key tag is removed and discarded your only option, to reinstall Windows is to buy a copy of Windows XP.
A product key is in the registry, but usually an OEM one used by Dell, not the one appearing on the PC case. Running Belarc advisor, it lists the key in the registry, with a footnote 'this may be the manufacture's factory installed product key rather than your own.' In fact, I think it must be there in encrypted form, that Belarc can interpret. For example for Windows XP, Belarc gives me '55277-OEM-0011903-00102(Key: then the 5 groups of 5 characters)'. The 55277-OEM bit is the ProductId in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current version, but seaching the registry for the key that Belarc lists gave no result. The groups of characters given by Belarc are different from the ones on my PC.
For Office Pro, and Publisher, the keys given by Belarc are the ones on my CD cover. Again, the Product Id is visible in the registry, but searching for the key yields not found.
Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 01-03-2004 09:15 PM
anthony12
118 Posts
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January 3rd, 2004 08:00
fireberd
9 Legend
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33.4K Posts
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January 3rd, 2004 08:00
First, Microsoft Office, which contains programs such as MS Word, Excel, etc, is NOT on the Windows XP Operating System installation CD. Office will be on a separate CD or set of CD's with it's own product Key #. Check the CD's that came with your PC for the Office CD's.
As far as MS Windows XP reinstallation, there is a sticker on the case or rear panel of the PC that has the product key needed for reinstallation, if necessary. You should also write that product key down and keep it in case the sticker gets obliterated and you can't read it. If the product key tag is removed and discarded your only option, to reinstall Windows is to buy a copy of Windows XP.
BigBrother
2 Intern
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4.8K Posts
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January 3rd, 2004 13:00
Nicoliobgb,
The 25 character license key is located on a sticker on the side of your computer. Or on the bottom of your system if it is a laptop.
Steve
maxd
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January 3rd, 2004 16:00
JRosenfeld
2 Intern
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4.4K Posts
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January 3rd, 2004 19:00
A product key is in the registry, but usually an OEM one used by Dell, not the one appearing on the PC case. Running Belarc advisor, it lists the key in the registry, with a footnote 'this may be the manufacture's factory installed product key rather than your own.' In fact, I think it must be there in encrypted form, that Belarc can interpret. For example for Windows XP, Belarc gives me '55277-OEM-0011903-00102(Key: then the 5 groups of 5 characters)'. The 55277-OEM bit is the ProductId in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current version, but seaching the registry for the key that Belarc lists gave no result. The groups of characters given by Belarc are different from the ones on my PC.
For Office Pro, and Publisher, the keys given by Belarc are the ones on my CD cover. Again, the Product Id is visible in the registry, but searching for the key yields not found.
Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 01-03-2004 09:15 PM