Lost XP OEM product key!!!!!!!

[bluquarta]

Im currently putting together my first build. Ive been having problems installing XP Home OEM due to my incompetence with the CPU fan / overheating etc! Thats all sorted thanks to this forum. So i haven't had the need for the XP product key yet.

Today i realised - oh yeah, ill need the activation key..........where is that? After calling the place where i got all my parts they tell me its on the plastic wrap of the Windows CD / manual! Guess what? I threw that out about a week ago obviously not noticing it!!!!!!!

So my question is...what is the best thing to do?

Is is stupid to think Microsoft will give me the code if i call them? eg) can i prove its mine.

Or should i try and use a crack or is this a bad idea?

Or is there any other options? Can i copy XP from another PC and use that?

I cant face buying it again and neither can the bank balance!

[faulkner132]

I don't think Microsoft will be able to do anything for you (wouldn't hurt to try though). Maybe the place you purchased it from has a record of it?

[doctorgonzo]

Give M$ a call, it won't cost you anything. Don't use a crack, since it may prevent you from getting needed security updates. Copying XP from another PC is illegal and won't work anyway.

If M$ won't give you a key, then chalk this up as a lesson learned and buy another copy.

[sdkfz]

If you tossed the sticker that you must have to install the only hope is that garbage has not yet been picked up, and you can retrieve it. Failing that option then - since you sound like you bought an OEM copy of XP from somewhere like newegg - I am sorry to say you are out of luck, Microsoft will refer you to the manufacturer of the PC to get the OEM install key, which is you unfortunatley.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246

Sorry.

[jayb1234]

How far did you get in installing windows?

[bluquarta]

Most of the time it would switch off as it was about to format the drive, sometimes i could get past the format and it would switch off on the next stage. Its got to be CPU overheating as it was 71C on BIOS at idle after this had happened. The heatsink was a right pain to install and i prob didnt do it properly.

So i havent even had the need for the product key yet and ive lost it already which makes me even more irratated!!! Its an expensive business being a muppet!!!