Obtaining a Product Key (Windows XP Professional)

[JettaFet]

I own a copy of Windows XP Professional but don’t have a Product Key for it. I read on a post that you can obtain a Product Key from Microsoft to activate Windows XP so I can install windows on my newly built PC. I have searched high and low on microsoft.com and cannot find anything on where to get a new CD key. Except to pay 199-299 for the entire package, which I really don’t want to do.

Anyone know the options I have? Anyway to get around the Product Key Authenticity? Buy a Windows XP Professional Package? Get a Key somehow?

Thanks`- Jettafet`

[glc]

I own a copy of Windows XP Professional but don’t have a Product Key for it.

You don't "own" anything. You simply possess a CD. A product key is provided as part of a license to USE the software. You can use that CD to install Windows, but without a product key you do not have the license to USE it, therefore it won't install.

Bottom line, you need to find your certificate of authenticity with the product key (and that copy of Windows cannot be already installed on another computer), or you need to buy a new package. You can legally buy OEM software at a considerable savings to install on your new build. XP Home is around $90, Pro is around $140. This is cheaper than buying a license from Microsoft.

[JettaFet]

That is something I didn’t consider.

The copy of XP Pro has been installed on another computer.

I will probably pick up a copy of XP Home this afternoon. I left it idling at the product key authentication screen as of now, will it hurt my PC if I were to power off than replace the XP Pro CD with my new copy of XP Home and power back up?


Thanks

[AnotherMuggle]

It would be a better idea to cancel the installation and start again with the new CD!

It won't hurt the PC to leave it there but Pro is slightly different from Home so you should restart the installation. You would likely find that the Home edition install would not accept a licence key for Pro anyway.

[JettaFet]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 It would be a better idea to cancel the installation and start again with the new CD! It won't hurt the PC to leave it there but Pro is slightly different from Home so you should restart the installation. You would likely find that the Home edition install would not accept a licence key for Pro anyway.

Right, as I assumed. I didn’t think there would be a way to cancel installation. Only options I get is to move forward in the Windows XP Professional Setup Wizard, Therefore that’s why I thought my only option was to power off than power on with the XP Home in the Drive.

Ctrl + Alt + Del don’t respond at this point either.

[AnotherMuggle]

Do that...but when you power on...boot from CD again.

Remove the XP Home install and do a fresh install with the XP Pro disc.

[glc]

You cannot buy OEM software at a retail store - order it online.

[JettaFet]

Originally Posted by glc You cannot buy OEM software at a retail store - order it online.

What Do You Mean?

I cannot go buy a fesh copy of XP Microsoft Home at a store Like Best Buy?

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by JettaFet What Do You Mean? I cannot go buy a fesh copy of XP Microsoft Home at a store Like Best Buy?

What you buy at BB is called a RETAIL version (or an UPGRADE version is also available). You can't buy an OEM version at BB. That's what glc means. You have to buy an OEM version from an online store.

[glc]

OEM online costs about the same as the retail UPGRADE version. You need a qualifying product to use the upgrade - if you have a Win98 or ME CD kicking around you can use that. Otherwise you will pay about twice that price for the full retail version. OEM will install just like a full retail.