Recover Windows XP Key from hard drive

[dreamliner77]

I have an intact hard drive from a system that the motherboard died on. How can I extract they key?

 

[American Zombie]

Found this: Windows XP and Vista Product Key Recovery Dagon Design

 

[Perris Calderon]

I think the key is hardware specific once it's activated, even if so, if you can get it it you probably get microsoft to re-issue a new key once you use it to activate another box

 

[SysProg]

The key is hardware specific but it allows you to change up to three components in your system before it becomes invalid. XP should work fine (as far as registration is concerned) if all you do is replace the motherboard.

XP will have problems if the disk controller is different on the new motherboard. You will need to get into Safe mode, delete the disk controller, and then start XP normally (I think - it's been quite while since I've done this :nervous.

 

[Dark Atheist]

Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit - will do what you need - will even grab key from office if it was installed

 

[dreamliner77]

Okay, let me explain better...

The hard drive is fine, but the system will not boot, I believe the southbridge burned out. This is from a AMD 3000+ socket 939 build so I'm just going to rebuild the system new. I had a XP Home OEM legit install on it, I just want the key so I can do a clean install and reactivate on the new build.

 

[American Zombie]

Okay, let me explain better...

The hard drive is fine, but the system will not boot, I believe the southbridge burned out. This is from a AMD 3000+ socket 939 build so I'm just going to rebuild the system new. I had a XP Home OEM legit install on it, I just want the key so I can do a clean install and reactivate on the new build.

Look at my previous post.

 

[dreamliner77]

Yeah, AZ, I'm gonna try that. I was hoping there would be a slightly easier way. Not tonight though. After digging at the box yesterday, I have no desire to touch it tonight

 

[bush dogg]

Yeah, AZ, I'm gonna try that. I was hoping there would be a slightly easier way. Not tonight though. After digging at the box yesterday, I have no desire to touch it tonight

Been awhile since I had to do this but I don’t remember it being too much of a pain.

Jellybean will do what you ask from an unbootable system. Below is taken from there site.

(Another feature is the ability to retrieve product keys from unbootable Windows installations.

Load Hive option - allows you to load the registry hive of another Windows installation. To use, put the hard drive in a working machine (must also be Windows 2000,XP or Vista) or use Windows PE (not tested, should work) and click Load Hive. Then point it to the dead Windows install. If you're using Windows Vista, Administrator rights are required for this feature. You may have to right click on the Keyfinder and run as Administrator.)

jellybean irate:

 

[dreamliner77]

Thanks all. My customer found the original disc and key.