If one can not get past the loading of windows due to the request of a product key, how does one download

[Behindthe 8ball]

looking for a way to download one of these windows xp pro product key finders to a cd or chip so that I can load it to the computer that does not load windows xp without a product key, if you understand what I am trying to say here....product key finders that I see load to the working computer which normally no one would have a problem with a product key.

 

[USAFRet]

No, I don't understand what you are trying to do.

Win XP does not ask for the product key on startup, even if currently unactivated.

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

ok, I went to clean up my computer to start fresh again not realizing that my product key under my lap top was rubbed off and when windows started to load it requested my product key, the one which now I cannot read and so without it windows does not load so in essence I cannot get past that point.

 

[USAFRet]

1. If you bought this new, and it is the original OS, the manufacturer should have a record of the key. Call them and ask.

2. It's been a long time since I installed XP, but I believe there is a "Enter key later" checkbox. I could be wrong, though.

But...if you go through the install process, that Product key information may not be available anymore.

Lastly....you have ~150 days left on any support and security updates for XP. Maybe it is time to move on.

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

maybe your right in the "move on" department but its one of those tuffbooks and I do so like it. a simply fix will be good in regards because, I need a tuff laptop for my construction business....a new tuffbook is a big hit compared to typical laptops

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

as far as the os product key via the manufacturer....one has to buy a new product key.

 

[USAFRet]

maybe your right in the "move on" department but its one of those tuffbooks and I do so like it. a simply fix will be good in regards because, I need a tuff laptop for my construction business....a new tuffbook is a big hit compared to typical laptops

Are Windows 7 drivers available for it? If so, that might be an option.

 

[USAFRet]

as far as the os product key via the manufacturer....one has to buy a new product key.

They should have a record of the key that was originally installed on it.

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

there is no 'install product key later" button, ....we both know that there are product key finders out there. I need one that loads to a disk or so or get into registry and pull it out from so that I have it when it request the product key

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

well, there maybe drivers I have not checked for a while but would there be one to pull the product key? even so I would need to load it to the computer which does not load without product key

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

I bought it refurbished and so the people from whom I bought if from....well I cant find them (bought online)

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

I bought it refurbished and so the people from whom I bought if from....well I cant find them (bought online). there is no problem with the computer other than not having the product key

 

[Saga Lout]

This sounds to me as though it's stuck in a loop at the Product Key input stage and if you're lucky, the original system hasn't yet been overwritten so the pont where you could pull the key out. Restart without the CD in the drive and see if it starts to run XP. If it does, you can use MagicalJellyBean Finder or Belarc Adviser to decrypt and read the key.

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

This sounds to me as though it's stuck in a loop at the Product Key input stage and if you're lucky, the original system hasn't yet been overwritten so the pont where you could pull the key out. Restart without the CD in the drive and see if it starts to run XP. If it does, you can use MagicalJellyBean Finder or Belarc Adviser to decrypt and read the key.

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

there is no cd, it came loaded with the windows xp pro with an authentic windows sticker under laptop with product key, which rubbed off a bit I could barely see. It's not a loop just she needs the product key to laod the windows as if for the first time. its is the original system. it wants to run the windows, it just needs the product key to load it. simply put, if I had the proper product key and typed it in, all would be fine. She knows it, but I dont.

 

[hang-the-9]

If you already wiped the drive to try to install the new OS and are stuck now, you need to either contact the prior owners, the laptop vendor or buy a new key. You were not very clear as to why it's asking for the product key, sounds like it's doing it after you tried to install a new version of Windows on it.

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

as you said i did wipe the drive as i have several times before. after that process she would always load windows to the point where she request the product key..was no problem. i looked under laptop and there it was. i would type it in and bamm...fresh as a daisy. only this time when I looked under laptop to get the product key it was illegible...i had it written down somewhere but cant find that either. thats where i am at. the programs out there that i c that can get it for me loads to working computers such as the one I am typing this on. I need something to run at boot to pull it, the product key, out for me. do you know of one. and yes I know I can purchase a new os... just looking to try something before I go out and purchase one. thx for your help., I appreciate it

 

[Saga Lout]

If it means that much to yu, pull th ehard disk and use Pirifor's Recuva to retrieve as much information as possible then save it to the same disk. Then you can buy Recover Keys which is similar to Magical JellyBean Finder but can also find keys in attached or networked drives.

It's a gamble because the utility could cost a bit - I think mine cost £24 last year when I needed the key from a dead W7 system to save my customer buying a fresh one but it did work. In that case, the key was obscured on the label like yours but the system hadn't been formatted out.

 

[hang-the-9]

If you wipe the drive, you are also deleting all the old information with the XP code, so there is nothing that can be run to get the key from the system. If you did this before the disk wipe, it's a different story, but after, you deleted the info you needed already. And what's worse, you probably over-wrote the old files with the new setup, making any chances of recovery pretty much 0.

as you said i did wipe the drive as i have several times before. after that process she would always load windows to the point where she request the product key..was no problem. i looked under laptop and there it was. i would type it in and bamm...fresh as a daisy. only this time when I looked under laptop to get the product key it was illegible...i had it written down somewhere but cant find that either. thats where i am at. the programs out there that i c that can get it for me loads to working computers such as the one I am typing this on. I need something to run at boot to pull it, the product key, out for me. do you know of one. and yes I know I can purchase a new os... just looking to try something before I go out and purchase one. thx for your help., I appreciate it

 

[Saga Lout]

I hate to disagree but Recuva can retrieve information from a formatted disk, especially here where no data has been put on it because for no understandable reason, the system wants the key first. Then Recover Keys will be able to fish the key out and decrypt it.

I can't remember where it is stored but I suspect either c:\windows\config\SAM or c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile and if Recuva lists that as found and not overwritten, there's a fighting chance.

 

[USAFRet]

It's possible. But if the system is asking for the key before it even loads....
The only recourse is to put that drive in something else and try.

But that still seems very weird to me. Asking for the key first.

 

[hang-the-9]

I hate to disagree but Recuva can retrieve information from a formatted disk, especially here where no data has been put on it because for no understandable reason, the system wants the key first. Then Recover Keys will be able to fish the key out and decrypt it.

I can't remember where it is stored but I suspect either c:\windows\config\SAM or c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile and if Recuva lists that as found and not overwritten, there's a fighting chance.

He already installed a new Windows version on the drive.

 

[Saga Lout]

@ USAFRet - that's the bit I don't understand either, after eleven years of installing XP - possibly a thousand times and never had it happen to me.

@Hang the nine - I took it from Post #3 that he had a fresh start but if he tries the free Recuva first before spending money on Recover Keys, he's little to lose and I did suggest slaving to another machine because it's the only way to go.

One more mystery is how did a laptop come with an MS XP CD - all the big OEMs failed to ship them out more often than not.

 

[Behindthe 8ball]

its interesting reading...lol...it did not come with a cd. it came pre loaded. I wish I had the cd, it would be end of story....and I do believe that even slaving it would only give me the same thing when tryn to open it...getting into the inerds of the puter...like msconfig and stuff is where anything could happen but simply if one of these key finders could boot the computer it just may be the ticket....but really thank you guys its good to now that there is help out there.

 

[Saga Lout]

I must emphasise that I haven't tried this but it may work for you if you download and burn as an ISO to a CD to make it bootable. Perhaps you'd post back if it does the job.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=858456

At the very least, you end up with a workable system if you chose to install it but a LiveCD is all you should need in the first instance.