Windows XP CD-Key

Hey,

My Toshiba M40's recovery disk comes with about a billion and one addon programs that I really really do not want. Is there anyway to use a ... uhh....different XP cd...but use MY cd key?

Does that even work?

 

Your CD key will work with any install of the same OS. So what you're asking is if you can use your key with someone else's media. I don't see that being a technical or legal issue.

 

Thanks Brian!

 

I totally agree, because it is possible to retain your cd-key, but lose your cd itself, so go for it.

Thing is I don't think that cd-key will work on "normal" windows xp cds because it is for your recovery disk.

If it does, then awesome~! If not then just use your recovery disk and just delete all those add-on programs.

Cheers,
Mike

 

The CD Key should work, and with the recovery software, I dont have to use the CD Key at all. It seems to be encoded into my recovery cd.

But I shall find out soon when I do a trial run

 

OEM windows xp cd-key (the ones that doesn't have a box) will NOT run with a retail (boxed) windows xp

OEM key with OEM cd
Retail key with retail cd

Make sure u get an OEM cd!!

 

Same here... the OS disc that came with my laptop runs through the installation process without ever asking for a key.

 

If your notebook only comes with a recovery CD where do you get the bootable CD to do a clean install? Our toshiba has the recovery CD but all the bloatware gets installed when its used . Is the only option going to buy a new windows XP?

 

I'm going to use a copy of a Windows XP OEM cd. If I can find one.

There really shouldnt be any need to go out and buy software you already paid for.

 

I'd add to that: Corporate Key (VLK - Volume Licensing Key) with Corporate CD.

 

I hate how computer come with so much crap on them. : ( So many useless trial software. It drives me crazy.. And it REALLY slows down the machine.

Perhaps you could download windows xp and burn it onto a CD then use your CD key. Or borrow a friends?

 

Going through the add/remove programs, the services and the registry to get rid of whatever it is you want to get rid of is in most cases better than to reinstall from scratch, and then start installing the drivers that you DO need for your laptop's special features.

 

I have a question: I bought the OEM version of Windows XP Home 2 years ago. (Still have the CD_Key). I installed it on my new computer...

So my question is: Can I use my CD once again to install XP on other computers? Is it legal running same copy of XP on 2 computers?

Thanks....

 

Crazy_Person,

I don't know about now, but in the past Microsoft allowed you to install windows xp on up to 10 computers with the same license as long as you owned all the computers. It is the same for most software.

 

I thought (legally) you could only install it on one pc and you must remove any previous installs. I know with my OEM version that I've installed it on 2 PCs before.

This is what the license agreement says:

SG

 

dose that mean 'technicaly' your not allowed to use dule core processors, i think they may have to change the wording on that.

 

That might be true for OEM's. I will have to check my retail version when I get home.

 

Okay well update time:

I got a hold of a Windows XP Professional VLK SP2 cd...and I ran the setup and entered my Toshiba XP Pro cd key...only to have setup tell me that it is invalid.

This means that the version of windows installed on toshiba notebooks is not the VLK version. It could possibly just be a standard OEM version.

 

That's my understanding of things as well. The XP that comes with notebooks is a regular OEM version, only preactivated.

 

you coukd explore the CD, using a different computer. Maybe the CD key is saved as a separate file on the CD.

 

you could also just simply illegally download another version off LimeWire Or BitTorrent

 

No, it isn't.

No need to do that. The CD key is not attached to a specific distribution / CD. There are plenty of CD keys floating around the net, just waiting to be used illegally - OEM, Retail and Corporate.

 

About the cd key thing...when you boot up into Windows for the first time you have to validate your key...alot of the keys that are on the net are blocked out of verification through Microsoft.

 

You mean the activation process? Then, yes. Unless, it's a VLK which doesn't need activation.

 

Or its a pre-activated OEM version, which can be done using the the Microsoft DEPLOYment tools on the XP cd. Most companies these days use just the standard OEM version, and pre-activate it. But doing so means that no matter what, that cd-key/version of windows is pretty much locked onto that one pc.

 

Warning: Don't use illegal downloaded or pirated versions of Windows XP. I recently bought a pirated Win XP CD in Asia and brought it back to my computer and installed it on my PC. It worked great for a several weeks, but then once during a routine "Windows Update", the computer would not start up and I got a message on screen to call Microsoft to resolve the problem. Turns out that Microsoft keeps track of pirated CD keys, and when they detected the key on my computer they locked me out, and I lost all my files (maybe it was possible to recover them but I couldn't figure out how).

 

I was under the impression Microsoft had no right to lock you out of your computer if the CD-Key is fake. They just simply stop you from receiving non-essential updates.

When you really think about it, its ok to use a Pirate CD, but you MUST own a legitimate cd-key.

 

yeah u are really buying a cd key now with the amount of copies flying around the internet

 

Hey guys,

I really need you to help me understand this because I am beyond lost.

I have a sticker on the bottom of my machine, its my Microsoft CoA with my MS Windows CD key on it.

No matter what version of windows I have tried, whether it be an OEM version, a Retail version or even a corporate vlk version....the CD key on the bottom of my machine does not work.

I used a program called "ViewKey XP" which shows your cdkey, and it came up with a COMPLETELY different key to what is on the bottom of my machine..

Which key is mine, and why wont my toshiba key work?

 

Nope, that's not true. If you live in the U.S. or Canada and are using an illegally obtained copy of their software then they have the right to block you from using it (I'm not sure about the policy in other countries).

There exists a portion of people out there who have an illegal copy of Windows, paid money for it, and have no idea that it was illegal. In this case, Microsoft wants to know where and who they purchased their software from, so they can punish the perps and not the victims (the ones who paid real $$$ for fake windows).

Yea, pretty cruel isn't it? An unpatched Windows sytem is MUCH worse than a computer without an OS.


I was running Windows 95 from late 1994 to late 1998 and then upgraded to Windows 98 and ran that until about 2000. I couldn't afford Windows XP, couldn't afford Windows 2000.
Was greatly concerned about security... Had a pretty slow computer, couldn't afford a faster computer...

So I switched to Debian GNU/Linux... Ran it for 3 or 4 years... And now that I have some money, I'm back in windows to play Warcraft.
Not having money is NO excuse for running pirated copies of Windows.

Unfortunately, there are a LOT of different versions of Windows XP out there. I know a friend who bought a retail version of it recently and it came with Service Pack 2 preinstalled. From my school MSDNAA program, I recently got a copy of Windows 2000 Enterprise Server and a copy of Windows Vista Beta 1, both had a CD-Key built in (couldn't type in a new one at installation), and once activated couldn't be installed on any other hardware.
I think the issue with the CD key is between you and Toshiba... Not you and Microsoft. You need to get in touch with Toshiba.

Don't guess-and-check (installing every version of windows you can grab to see if it matches with the CD-key). Its a waste of time.


Have you tried using the CDs that came with the Toshiba and then searching for free software for cleaning up your PC?

 

Well, since the only time you use your CD key is at install, then yes, no CD will work with your key unless it is the original CD, as it is a special key used by that particular OEM; maybe CDs by the same OEM [and] for the same model.

The other possibility is that, in case it is a whitebook, your VAR is selling computers with pirate copies of Windows.

 

About locking you out of your computer:

No, Microsoft does not have that right. That is why they don't do it.
They block you out of their OS, but you can still access the rest of your files with a live cd or something similar.

 

Thats the first thing I tried.

The CD Key isnt used at install at all.

Toshiba would not provide Pirate versions of Windows, especially when they are partners with Microsoft on so many different projects.

 

If the cd is not asking for your cdkey then it is located in side the file called "winnt.sif" Which is located in the i386 folder. This is how a unattended install is done.

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/

also if you change the setupp.ini file located in the i386 folder and change the the last 3 digits of the pid to OEM the that disk will also take OEM keys. Per this website which i did today and it worked.

http://digg.com/technology/Convert_OEM_Windows_XP_disc_to_Retail_Windows_XP

"Unlocking WinXP's setupp.ini

WinXP's setupp.ini controls how the CD acts. IE is it an OEM version or retail? First, find your setupp.ini file in the i386 directory on your WinXP CD. Open it up, it'll look something like this:

ExtraData=707A667567736F696F697911AE7E05
Pid=55034000

The Pid value is what we're interested in. What's there now looks like a standard default. There are special numbers that determine if it's a retail, oem, or volume license edition. First, we break down that number into two parts. The first five digits determines how the CD will behave, ie is it a retail cd that lets you clean install or upgrade, or an oem cd that only lets you perform a clean install? The last three digits determines what CD key it will accept. You are able to mix and match these values. For example you could make a WinXP cd that acted like a retail cd, yet accepted OEM keys.

Now, for the actual values. Remember the first and last values are interchangable, but usually you'd keep them as a pair:

Retail = 51882335
Volume License = 51883 270
OEM = 82503 OEM

So if you wanted a retail CD that took retail keys, the last line of your setupp.ini file would read:

Pid=51882335

And if you wanted a retail CD that took OEM keys, you'd use:

Pid=51882OEM

Note that this does NOT get rid of WinXP's activation. Changing the Pid to a Volume License will not bypass activation. You must have a volume license (corporate) key to do so."

Edit:added link to unattended install

 

Wow...nice post. That is good to know.

 

Hi,

Can anyone please tell me should any OEM key work with an OEM version of windows XP.

i have a packard bell pc which i have lost the recovery cd for but still have the ket (on the sticker on the side of the computer), windows stopped working so i had to reinstall it. i tried using a different windows xp cd from another laptop i have but it won't accept my key.

does anyone know what version of windows xp i would need to work with my key? or if changing the setupp.ini file as described in the previous posts would work?

Thanks

Edward

 

As a clarification to the things about installing xp with cd key and validation and such:

1. You are only allowed to install a copy at one time on one computer. You can, uninstall it from one and install it onto another.

2. If you formatted your computer, and installed xp again, the installation will not ask for your cd, as the computer somehow remembers the cd-key. I don't think it is similar to the "winnt.sif" thing, as the hard-disk is already formatted. I rather prefer to think that it is stored in another section of the hard-disk.

3. If you changed the hard-disk or any other part of the computer, the computer will ask you for your cd-key when you reinstall.

4. When you activate, you can't activate through the internet as the cd-key have already been activated before, therefore, you will need to call the number provided to activate it.

5. When you call, you will need to say some random crap so that the computer automated voice will transfer you to a real person.

6. Tell the guy your condition, either that you changed your hard disk, or you are now installing it on another computer, and have already uninstalled it on the previous computer.

@eddyj443, you will need to use a recovery cd for the same model/series as your notebook, else you will just have to buy another copy.

 

If you reinstal youre XP on a formatted HDD and its activated before online, you can only activated it online after 3 months.
So like cheziyi says, you have to use the phone.

 

I am new to this forum.
As stated in this string at some point, it was said that WinXP VLK version does not require activation.
I had an an experience with a friends computer that had the VLK version CD. The machine was able to update through SP2. After SP2 was installed an attempt was made for additional updates. At which point the Windows Installer 3.1 was downloaded and installed.
Attempts for any further updates now required Validation. When attemting to Activate/Validate this version it was rejected stating something about a pirated VLK.
To my knowlege the machine is still working and any word of the SP3 release has been said to be late 2007.
My questions are:
Will this VLK XP version continue to work reliablly now that activation has failed?
Are there any more updates or enhancements needed for XP at this point that I don't know about?

I am curious.
I own more than enough invidual licenses for the XP machines running in an evironment where constant upgrading and repairing is required due to users disabilties/handycaps and am dead tired of WinXP Acivation issues.

Any reply's would be appreciated.

Thanx

 

There are keys that Microsoft has blacklisted due to them being very spread out among XP pirates. The FCKGW-RXQQ2-YXRKT-forgot-how-it-ends key is one of them (probably the most famous one). And it's indeed a VLK. Is this the one your friend used by any chance? If so, can't blame MS for tackling piracy.

As far as I undersand, these pirated keys are caught during attempt to update, and if you have a blacklisted key, Windows Update won't let you. But you can still use the system.

Does the machine now bug you for activation?

As far as additional updates and enhancements go... These are released all the time - small fixes, tweaks, security patches. IMO, there's no need to go through everything on a daily basis. Just get the security fixes, as theese are the most important.