XP Password question

Hi all,

I have 2 PC's in my house that are networked. I have legitimate copies of XP pro on both machines.

I need to reinstall XP on one of the machines due to children being children and downloading and deleting stuff that they have been told not to on god knows how many occasions blah blah blah. (Anyone want 2 kids?)

Anyways, I have lost one of the discs and passwords etc for one of the copies of XP. No Really. I blame the kids again.

My question is this. Will anyone know if I use the password from the copy I have left to reinstall XP on the other machine? (apart from the entire DP community).

My thinking is that if the machines are networked and use the one IP address then I may get away with it. If not I have to tear the house apart to find the other disc. Hmmmmm.

I guess I have nothing to lose by trying. If it doesn't work and I can't find the other disc I'll have to buy another copy anyways.



Many thanks

boomer


And a further question.....If I have to buy a new copy, can I just enter the password from the new copy onto the current install or do I have to install the copy of XP that's on the new disc?

 

Hi there,

Well don't simply blame the kids... Kids are not matured enough to understand quite a lot of things....I am sure your parents felt the same way when you were a little kid.

Anyway...I think you are referring to "SERIAL Number" or "CD KEY" Right? Well first of all -- if you have purchased two legitimate copy of WINDOWS XP and lost the CDKEY of one, you will be able to install XP on both machines using the other cd. Actually CD isn't very important...You can even install XP using someone else's Windows xp CD. But when it comes to inserting the CD KEY you will have to use your unique CD key/product key. PC1's CD KEY can't be use in PC2 (if you have already installed windows xp on pc1 using that cdkey and registered it online).

If you call Microsoft's Office in Sydney, they will be able to help you to retrieve your CD KEY (if you have purchased the cd from Australia).

There are ways to crack this CD KEY issue...which i don't want to go into.....BUT...since you have purchased...two legitimate copy...You should just call up Microsoft up and retrieve the key. (You don't need to find the CD...as all the CDs are exactly the same).

Oh btw two computers on a network can't have one ip address. And Just for the record....even if you use a pirated Windows copy in Australia, Microsoft won't go after you They usually go and check the Big companies + universities etc.

 

Here you go:
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Run that on the pc and you get the key

 

Thanks blindcat.

I'll blame my kids if I wan't to. If I tell the little buggers not to do something numerous times and they keep doing it and they break something because they didn't listen - it's thier fault! Thanks for the parenting tip though.

I'd call microsoft for the password but I have no Idea where my reciepts etc are and can't remember if I registered it to me or my mum or whomever. Will give microsoft a bell anyways and see how I go.

In relation to the networked PC's, well they aren't really networked. They just share the same modem. Does this still give me different IP's?

Thanks for the other info. Very helpful.

Take care

boomer.

 

And thanks also loggylaps.

Unfortunately I'm way past running anything on that PC now. Looks like a complete re-install.

I think the kids downloaded a virus. All firewalls disabled and virus programs stopped. Bugger!

Lucky I backed up the important bits.

Thanks again.

boomer

 

If you haven't formatted the machine again try l0phtcrack.

 

...on the viruses of insurance policies doesn"t give out... and without children life is very boring ..... you can make attempt:http://www.office-backup.com/product.html
...even if all programs will die - your information will remain living...)) it is tested

 

Have you tried doing a system restore?

Start>all programs>accessories>system tools>system restore

that was off the top of my head I think that is correct though.

 

why buy a new copy. you can easily download one, and then just apply a couple of hacks that make it legitimate. Not that im know anything about that.

That is sooo stereotypical. Beacuse of people like you, we have laws for voting, getting credit cards, even getting a job that requires a person to be 18 years old. I know people who are way past that, having the maturity of someoe who's 5. So what? It's not about just being a kid, but how the parents bring them up. Sorry, just had to put that out there.

Try going into safe mode. That should allow you to access the computer for a bit and get the CD-Key and run that program that loggylaps was talking about.

Regards
Nick

 

I would just put a password!

 

I have two computers as well, and I lost one of the CD jewel cases around a year ago. I installed one license on two computers and they've both been showing up as genuine since then.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks die. that's exactly what I need to know. Thanks to all contributors. I learned heaps.

 

eventually it will happen, service pack 3 is in pre alpha right now

 

u can always call microsoft and request another key, my friend has done that before, after the looong wait to get connected to them -_-

 

The Windows XP activation uses a number of different hardware specific identifiers, like the hard drive serial number, memory size, network card MAC address and so on. The external IP address is not used at all. Microsoft certainly should be able to tell that you have installed one copy on two computers, so you may just have been lucky to get away with it.

 

Excellent answer.

 

If you have a receipt of your purchase of Microsoft XP or the purchase of a computer that came with XP, you'll be able to get a free replacement key from Microsoft.
http:// support . microsoft . com/kb/326246

 

If the computers are identical hardware, it will let you use the same key also . . .