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I bought a used HP notebook and I would like to find my XP product key and match it with the sticker label on the back of the unit to make sure that the version of XP is geiune. How do I find the product key inside?
Twice I've bought a new PC from major manufacturers & the sticker product key has never matched the one installed by the manufacturer at the factory as revealed Keyfinder, but the sticker key has still allowed a reinstall successfully.
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As I understand it, OEM installations come from a master image therefore the product key found using a "keyfinder" won't be the same as the product key on the sticker/label.
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jam is correct, OEM manufacturers that use a recovery disk set or a modified install disk such as Dell will install on their hardware without asking for a key.
Since the unit is used I suspect there is no recovery media included with the system. If that is the case a reinstall can be done with a matching OEM media however all device drivers need to be manually installed from the manufacturers web site.
Doing a repair install from an OEM also allows you to insert the key from the sticker so your concern about the key would be resolved.
Richard
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You can also use Belarc Advisor. It's a small program that so small it even fits on floppy. Anyway, Download it (can also run from a flash drive)& let it run. It will give you full description all off your computer Hardware and software installed on the PC right on your web browser. It includes License Numbers or the Product Key your looking for.
Who knows, knows and who doesn't know, dosen't know jack!
El que sabe, sabe y el que no sabe, no sabe nada!
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All, thanks for your responses! Ran the jellybean key finder and it came back with a different product key not only on this unit but also on couple of other computers that I am sure of their genuine XP. since I don't have the recovery driver CDs, I am going to order them from HP ($30), hoping it will solve some hick ups and resets the XP to its original condition. If the XP is not geniune, would the HPs driver CDs still work? any free driver download source?
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Does your machine have XP SP2 installed? If not then try installing it, during the install it will check your key and if it's a blacklisted one then it will alert you.
Alternatively run windows update, one of the first things it downloads is WGA (windows genuine advantage) if your copy is an illegal one then you will be alerted. The driver cd's you will get will work no matter what copy of windows you have.
hth
scottUnknown has caused an error in unknown and unknown needs to restart.
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If you want to find out what the key is the go here and download the free version of SIW (System Information for Windows)
http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download...
It will show your Windows key, serial number and a whole load of other info about the computer.Computers... designed to entertain,help with work but most of all to frustrate you!
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