finding COA key

[mtbvert]

here's a quick question, is the COA key stored within windows anywhere?? How would i find it. Basically I need to do a clean install on a machine that doesn't have the sticker on the side of the box. Also, is the CD keyed to the COA key?? What i mean is this, if i have an XP home disk, can i use that disk to install XP home on any machine given that i have that machine's key that was originally loaded on it??

[sdkfz]

google "magical jelly bean"

[bailey]

the key is coded to the computer and the cd, plus the activation code that microsoft uses for the updates, you must have the cd key.

[glc]

can i use that disk to install XP home on any machine given that i have that machine's key that was originally loaded on it??

Maybe. Sometimes it will accept the key, sometimes it won't. It depends on the exact version (OEM, retail, upgrade, service pack level) of the CD vs. the key you try to use.

To read out the key, what sdkfz said.

[mtbvert]

lets see if i understand, i have a copy of XP pro i recently installed on to the machine i built, there is a computer that is currently running xp pro that needs a reinstall, if i use my cd with thier product key its not guaranteed to work correct?? So basically the only semi-foolproof way to do it is to use the cd that the other machine was loaded from?? and that magical jelly bean is very useful, thanks sdkfz

[glc]

If the key is for the same subversion of XP Pro that you have, it should work. There's OEM, retail, and upgrade, and original, SP1, and SP2. OEM may not work if it's a name brand machine that came with a proprietary restore CD instead of a generic XP CD.