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Need help finding OS license key

Red_Machine

Red_Machine

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Software Microsoft Windows 11 Pro | Microsoft Windows 98SE
Hey guys. I have a laptop here with XP Pro that needs a repair install, but it wouldn't let me finish without the license key. The key on the bottom is slightly worn, so some of the digits are hard to make out and I think it's for Vista anyway as I've never come across an OEM machine with a Core2 Duo running XP.

Magical Jellybean Keyfinder can't read the keys as I think the registry was overwritten during the partial repair install, and our backup got corrupted so I'm shit outta luck. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Red_Machine said:
Hey guys. I have a laptop here with XP Pro that needs a repair install, but it wouldn't let me finish without the license key. The key on the bottom is slightly worn, so some of the digits are hard to make out and I think it's for Vista anyway as I've never come across an OEM machine with a Core2 Duo running XP.
Click to expand...
Eh... My sister has a Lenovo business laptop equipped with a C2D and XP Pro (tech university student @ Eindhoven). So it is a slight possibility actually.

Could you maybe make a high res pic of the key sticker and PM it to a member you trust? Maybe someone else can read it or at least give some possibilities.
 
you can do a couple things.. Hope this helps..
  1. call your OEM and give them your serial number and they will give you the key.
  2. Install the new Windows 8 Developer Preview
 
This is a customer's machine, I'm not going to go install Win8 on it...

We're going to try installing Vista on another HDD and attempt to decipher the worn digits.
 
Well, the reason why we need to reinstall is it's borked. That, and it can't boot into Windows right now as it's halfway through the repair install.
 
Red_Machine said:
This is a customer's machine, I'm not going to go install Win8 on it...

We're going to try installing Vista on another HDD and attempt to decipher the worn digits.
Click to expand...

Yea, I wouldn't install it on a customer's machine either.. What's the OEM (Dell, HP)?

*EDIT: Missed the n't.. lol I'm eating pizza and typing with one hand... lol
 
It's a Toshiba.
 
I'm throwing this blindly since I never was in your situation:

Install SIW.

Not only is it a great free utility tool in general, it will also show you the OS key. I use it myself.

And you can just run it off a thumb drive without installing anything on the client's pc.

Here's a screenshot of it on my pc (with licence keys edited out obviously):

siw.png


_________________

I think if you temporarily install another OS like linux SIW would still work and show you the key, since it shows keys for all programs installed on that pc.

Then you can continue the repair.
 
Last edited:
The registry has been wiped by the partial repair install, so programs like that can't find the key.
 
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