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How do I find the Microsoft serial number in Windows?

  • 11-04-2009 8:02pm
    #1
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭


    Im going for a fresh install of XP and wondering where to go about finding the serial number before I go and format. There is no OEM sticker on the machine. Would the same serial number work?


Comments

  • #2
    Rambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 811 ✭✭✭Rambo


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Im going for a fresh install of XP and wondering where to go about finding the serial number before I go and format. There is no OEM sticker on the machine. Would the same serial number work?

    MagicJellybean is great
    http://www.magicaljellybean.com/


  • #3
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Rambo wrote: »
    MagicJellybean is great
    http://www.magicaljellybean.com/
    Excellent :)


  • #4
    tech
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,860 ✭✭✭tech


    SIW like also work!


  • #5
    mobile01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11 ✭mobile01


    The best trick in the market is to copy the wpa.dbl file from system32 folder and save it on usb and when u've done reinstallation for windows, just replace the existing wpa.dbl file with the old wpa.dbl.this will activate your windows rather than u finding the serial numbers for the windows.


  • #6
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,567 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    mobile01 wrote: »
    The best trick in the market is to copy the wpa.dbl file from system32 folder and save it on usb and when u've done reinstallation for windows, just replace the existing wpa.dbl file with the old wpa.dbl.this will activate your windows rather than u finding the serial numbers for the windows.
    Note, it only activates windows on your computer because it stores your hardware hash, it may not work if you change lots of hardware at the same time as the XP reinstall.


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  • #7
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,567 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Im going for a fresh install of XP and wondering where to go about finding the serial number before I go and format. There is no OEM sticker on the machine. Would the same serial number work?
    no OEM sticker :eek:

    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa&displaylang=en
    What is a Certificate of Authenticity (COA)?

    A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a label that helps you identify genuine Microsoft software. A COA is not a software license – it is a visual identifier that assists in determining whether or not the Microsoft software you are running is genuine. However, without it, you will not have a legal license to run Microsoft software. A COA should never be purchased by itself without the software it authenticates.

    I really hate M$ licensing, I wish they would just decide on what constitutes proof of licensing, you have the paper, you have the sticker and you may still need receipts even though you are buying a make/model of PC that was never sold without a non-transferable windows license in this country. "yes I'm fairly sure I have a license because you guy lost that anti-competition court case" Ancient history but still irks me that they still go through the lip service on copy protection when volume customers have the opposite problem of trying to stop people installing more copies than they have licenses for.

    :mad:

    And yes I microsoft did loose some old records of our volume licenses a long time ago, they sent out the numbers and couldn't tell me which product they were for.

    /Rant ( too much caffeine this morning )


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