Finding the right XP CD for my CD key

[idlewild]

The laptop that I bought second hand unfortunately did not come with the original installation disks. Although it did come with the CD key certificate stuck to the bottom of it. I tried borrowing my friend's XP cd but it will not accept my CD key.

How do I go about finding which Windows XP CD will work for my key?

[Agent]

It *should* say at the very top of the COA what version it is.
Chances are it will be "Microsoft Windows XP Home OEM" at a guess.

[charleski]

Open the I386 folder on your XP CD and find a file called SETUPP.INI. That file will contain a line starting PID=
The numbers following the '=' indicate which version of XP is on the disc.

Here's a list of all the various types of disc along with the volume name, date and PID numbers:
Windows XP Home Retail = WXHFPP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Retail w/ SP1 = XRMHFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Retail w/ SP1a = X1AHFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Retail w/ SP2 = VRMHFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Upgrade = WXHCCP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home Upgrade W/SP1 = XRMHCCP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home Upgrade W/SP1a = X1AHCCP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home Upgrade W/SP2 = VRMHCCP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home OEM = WXHOEM_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home OEM w/ SP1 = XRMHOEM_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home OEM w/ SP1a = X1AHOEM_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home OEM w/ SP2 = VRMHOEM_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home Volume = WXHVOL_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Home Volume W/ SP1 = XRMHVOL_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Home Volume W/ SP1a = X1AHVOL_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Home Volume W/ SP2 = VRMHVOL_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270

Windows XP Pro Retail = WXPFPP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Retail w/ SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Retail w/ SP1a = X1APFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Retail w/ SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade = WXPCCP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade w/ SP1 = XRMPCCP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade w/ SP1a = X1APCCP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade w/ SP2 = VRMPCCP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro OEM = WXPOEM_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro OEM w/ SP1 = XRMPOEM_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro OEM w/ SP1a = X1APOEM_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro OEM w/ SP2 = VRMPOEM_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro Volume = WXPVOL_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Volume w/ SP1 = XRMPVOL_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Volume w/ SP1a = X1APVOL_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Volume w/ SP2 = VRMPVOL_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Tablet PC w/SP1 Disc1 = XRMPFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Tablet PC w/SP1a Disc1 = X1APFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Tablet PC w/SP2 Disc1 = VRMPFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN = WXPFPP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN w/ SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN w/ SP1a = X1APFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN w/ SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Evaluation = WXPEVL_EN

[idlewild]

Fantastic, except for the fact that my COA just says 'Windows XP Professional'. However it's probably safe to assume it's a OEM licence. So does this mean I can rip the XP cd, modify SETUPP.INI and reburn it to create my own cd?

Thanks for the info guys.

[charleski]

The last 3 digits of the PID indicate which type of key it will accept, and yes, you should just be able to reburn a disc with a PID indicating OEM status. Obviously this install would still need to be activated as usual.

[CrazyMonkey]

Yeh editing and reburning has worked for me in the past.

[AJStevens]

Hello, I'll give this a try for myself.

Basically, got a PC from a client which wouldn't boot into any mode.

So, silly me, I thought a repair might work... and it did, sort of. Except, I didn't have the exsact same CD... it wouldn't take the key on it (although, that's probably not the key it had, Dell probably used a system builder key) I ended up in an activation loop, logging me off (because msoobe.exe kept crashing). That was a retail Win XP Pro Upgrade CD.

So I tried another CD, OSL, and another, MSDN. Better, I'm now in and I could activate it, but I don't want to as it's our key on it now.

Why oh why does it have to be so arkward with Windows and Office, I can see the copyright/piracy protection side of things, but as an IT Tech trying to repair things quickly, urgh.

Anyway, to the whole point of this message, I'm going to try that tip of reburning an MSDN CD as an OEM, however, is there anyway of making this change on the Windows XP machine once it's up?

I've at least got it up and functioning now, and I am able to run the activation, and I choose Telephone and Change Key, but it says it's invalid. Surely there's a file or a registry entry somewhere that says "I will only except MSDN/OSL/RETAIL keys" that can be switched? Any ideas?

If not for now, it would be a handy tip for future repairs/reinstalls.

Cheers

AJS

[ouellettesr]

Hello guys, im having a little difficulty with those PID numbers, I just cant seem to find the right one, is there a bigger list somewhere?

I am working on a friends pc and he has lost his windows disc. I asked hin what type of cd it was and he had no idea. All i have is his key and none of the pid's above will work. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Kevin

[excalibur2]

If you have bought winxp and lost the key is it so bad to get a keygen off...cough sites.
MS have got their money so does it matter?

I had a friend who had an OEM winxp on his computer and the computer supplier only provided a recovery disk, the computer was well outside warranty etc..anyway he had severe problems and I formatted his hard disk and asked for his winxp install CD but he didn't have one....so I said "well legally you have to buy one then"..he said "I'm not paying twice for winxp on this computer"........so what's the answer?

[listy]

put some forum of linux on

[excalibur2]

put some form of linux on

LOL...for Joe public.

The daft thing is:- MS allowed the computer supplier to give free "works suite" but not a free OEM winxp install CD for that computer. What does a CD cost, erm 20p for MS to ship out.......it just encourages piracy or illegal activities, in these sort of situations.

I wont say how I helped my friend out, but would have thought the majority of people would just borrow a winxp install CD and just type in his own key that came with the computer.

[excalibur2]

put some form of linux on

LOL for joe public.

The daft thing is:- The computer supplier was allowed to provided a free MS works suite for his computer, but not a free OEM winxp install CD, and how much does it cost MS to provide an OEM install CD to give away.
Crazy when you have a legal key that you have paid for, but no install CD.

Edit: Just noticed I've made two replies, when I posted the first reply Opera crashed and thought maybe I'd posted something that Hexus objected to, so re-phrased the 2nd post.

[nichomach]

If you have bought winxp and lost the key is it so bad to get a keygen off...cough sites.
MS have got their money so does it matter?

If you have a booting windows installation and have lost the key, there're ways of recovering it. Personally, I've used THIS in the past, which does a very good job of pulling Windows, Office Family (so Project, Frontpage, Visio etc as well as Office), SQL Server, Exchange, may do others as well. Very, VERY useful kit. As far as using keygens, all very well until the key that you use is legitimately bought by someone else who can't then activate their installation.

[ouellettesr]

I have a valid key, I just cant figure out which cd to use, I have a windows home retail cd and it won't work with that, so I have created a disc with each one of the pid listed above, still doesnt work. I know that there are more PID than that listed above but I cant find a good list of them. Note: I put the cd in for an upgrade on windows 98 and it tells me the key has the wrong pid, its the same key that was used when i first got the computer, and im trying to put it on the same computer. Im not stealing anyones key, i just reinstalled their operating system (windows 98) with the key on the back of the compaq, I try to do an upgrade and it doesnt work with my disc or any disc i create with the pid above, which can only mean that there are more PID than whats listed above.

[excalibur2]

If you have a booting windows installation and have lost the key, there're ways of recovering it. Personally, I've used THIS in the past, which does a very good job of pulling Windows, Office Family (so Project, Frontpage, Visio etc as well as Office), SQL Server, Exchange, may do others as well. Very, VERY useful kit. As far as using keygens, all very well until the key that you use is legitimately bought by someone else who can't then activate their installation.

Thanks, but I have a sneaky suspicion even squeeky clean persons who know anything about computers, would bend the rules to help a friend out, who has already paid for a legal key/licence but has no install CD.

[excalibur2]

I have a valid key, I just cant figure out which cd to use, I have a windows home retail cd and it won't work with that, so I have created a disc with each one of the pid listed above, still doesnt work. I know that there are more PID than that listed above but I cant find a good list of them. Note: I put the cd in for an upgrade on windows 98 and it tells me the key has the wrong pid, its the same key that was used when i first got the computer, and im trying to put it on the same computer. Im not stealing anyones key, i just reinstalled their operating system (windows 98) with the key on the back of the compaq, I try to do an upgrade and it doesnt work with my disc or any disc i create with the pid above, which can only mean that there are more PID than whats listed above.

Well all I can think of is:- you can bend the rules or buy a new copy of winxp...Hexus is not a forum that would tolerate anything that would be considered in anyway illegal.