XP cd keys.
 

Is there any way to change the windows cd key after you have installed it on a compuet? I'm currently running 2 boxes and had to do a reinstall of windows on one but i coulden't find a cd key and matching cd except for one of the 3 of each i had (dont ask why it just happened this way) but now i've got both boxes on the same cd key... so how do i change it w/o reinstalling everything?

I would call windows but all i get is a very hot sounding voice animated computer. (i think she likes me)

Sorry to be such a n00b about this but I just don't know who to call or what to do.

Thanks very much guys I really appreaciate it.

This free program should do the trick for you: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

I've never called windows before. Thats like saying I've never talked to thinkpad. :hmm:

just raising hell, i knew what you meant.

Unless product activation is giving you grief, just keep running both systems on the same key. Every three months or so the product activation database seems to be reset. You can install a copy of Windows XP on any number of computers as long as you don't try to activate more than one install every three months. Just straighten the issue out next time you have to reformat a computer.

So you mean that I could install XP on one PC, activate it, wait 3 months, activate it on a different computer with the key?

Yep, that's exactly what I mean. I've done it several times. On accident of course, totally by accident! ;)

That's actually the paperclip from Office. Bet you never thought it'd be a hot-sounding female.

All that is great, however how the heck do i tell what the product key is on a disk... if i have to reinstall or how could i just change the cd key on a compuer?

there is no product key on a disk. the product key is put through an algorythm and is either accepted or rejected. the same algorythm is on all the xp disks.

ah, any way to find the hash of those algorythems and then from the hash decode it?

You might be able to find the hash of the key currently on the computer, but decoding it would take... forever. It's 25 characters long, and alpha-numeric. Offhand I couldn't tell you how long it would take, but it'll measure in years. Possibly decades. And that's not what you want anyways.

If the product-key sticker isn't on your case for whatever reason, I think you're screwed for getting the key back.

i think i miss understood you. when you type in the cd key it is ckecked against an algorythm to see if it is a proper cd key, i dont know if the key is stored on the computer or not. i thought you asked where on the instalation CD the key was.

According to the link from neekap, the key is floating around the registry. But you said that you already reinstalled windows.