winXP serial questions

[RoseDragon83L]

I'm reinstalling winXP on my aunts computer and she has a copy of winXP home, but as always, can't find documentation or paperwork of any kind, so no serial number.

Can another serial be used for her disc? (considered using mine but I'd rather not)
If I used another serial would it limit services she could use, such as windows update?
Would it cause any other difficulties? (I don't want to be called over cause X program won't run/install or whatever)



[now that I wrote that it sounds like it falls into a grey area. I'm not asking for anything bad, just info]

[Borman]

As long as it is a legit Windows XP Home key, it should work 100% normally.

[GODJonez]

Well, I have not tried, but you can try installing it with other code. But take a note that when the system is Activated to Microsoft, they check the serial code so that no other uses it. Of course there are ways to bypass the activation process too, but I can't give details for obvious reasons

There is a program called XP-AntiSpy. I personally use it. I also recommend installing it to the system right away when Xp is installed. You can turn some options on Xp off that "spy" your system. You can for example prevent Xp from sending some data to Microsoft. All this program does about that is that it changes some registry entries.

The link: http://www.xp-antispy.org/ (freeware)

[Panda Man]

well, with my experiences with windows, win98 had 650 diff types when i couldn't find my serial, i had to narrow it down to about 50 and tried them all. i think the 23rd one worked. winxp may be different, you should try yours, it would cause no harm.

[SegNin]

The serial number for my (legit) copy of Windows 98SE is printed on a sticker that's on the side of my computer.
Have you checked her computer to see if there's such a sticker anywhere on there?

[RoseDragon83L]

thanks guys, my biggest concern is windows update, so if it works 100% that's good.
Xp-antispy looks handy, would have saved me time from disabling some of that stuff manualy.

Funny thing about the sticker. Thier computer was bought premade from a local computer store so it came with all the original cd's and manuals and junk, but they lost the book with the serial. Thier other computer is from gateway and has the sticker on the back with a serial but those companies don't give you the original disc, lol. So hopefully I can use that one with the original disc from the computer store.

[SegNin]

Isn't the serial saved in the registry somewhere?
So couldn't you just copy and save that registry key before you format?
Then import it after you reformat?

Also, if you registered XP with Microsoft, then all you have to do is contact Microsoft, and if you can verify that your copy of XP is legit, I think they'll give you the serial.

Even if you didn't register, they still might help you.

[polobunny]

You can check the windows xp serial with a small utility called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.
You can get it here.
It also shows most Microsoft serial you registered your programs with, just incase you lost them.

[RoseDragon83L]

woo! that's handy, solves that problem. Thanks!

[SegNin]

Does Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder also work with Windows 98SE?

[polobunny]

No.
It find the serial for Office though. I think the serial for Windows 98 is sotre as-is in the registry somewhere, while the serial of windows xp is cut in 2 parts.

[Zorlon]

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry. It has the options to copy the key to clipboard, save it to a text file, or print it for safekeeping. It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Office 97, and Office XP. This version is a quick update to make it work with Windows Server 2003.

The onlt thing it doesn't seem to work with is Office 2000, though it doesn't mention 98SE it does list Windows 98, the keys use the same method anyway

[SegNin]

I'll try it, and let you know if it works for me.

EDIT--500th post

[polobunny]

Sorry for the misinformation, it was sure it worked only for windows 2k and up.

[SegNin]

Well, I guess it works.

Is the product key the same as the serial number?

Because if it is then it does work for Windows 98SE.

At I least I think it does, because the serial I got with Magic Jellybean did NOT match the serial on the sticker that's on my computer