How to find my XP reg. key

[blackwrx]

Hey, my mom bought an HP computer about a year ago and I put some games and stuff on it and it's running kind of slow. I'm building a new computer for myself in the next week or two, so I can take everything off (my mom doesn't have anything important on it). I told her I could reformat the harddrive, and that's what she wants. But since we bought it from HP, we didn't get an XP cd. I have another one at our other house that I can use, but I need to find the registry key that the HP is using because I already used the reg. key on the cd I'll be using. Is there a way in windows to find out what the registry key you're using is? Or do I need to call HP or something? Thanks.

 

[Ankush09]

There should be a sticker thing on your hp copmuter case that shows the key, and you can use the same key more than once.

 

[maverick_teck]

What exactly r u trying to do? r u formating the HDD using HP recovery cds or a ms windows xp cd.
If u r using hp recovery cds, they dont require any product key.
If ur using ms xp cds they must have come with product key.
Call hp. They will send u recovery cds. The recovery cds will not require any key. But they can only run on hp computers.

 

[smartech]

There is some programs, like KeyFinder, that can tell you what is yours windows CD key.

 

[sunsider]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion
In right pane, look for key by the name "ProductId". This is your Windows Product Id.

 

[blackwrx]

Sorry if there was any confusion. I'm trying to reformat this harddrive using a microsoft windows XP home cd. The key that came with the cd was used on another computer, so I can't use it on this one (I assume) because you can only use it on one computer. I heard that I can use that cd however, as long as I use the registry key from this computer, so I'm trying to find this computers registry key. Thanks for your help.

 

[EbonHawk]

HP uses another hard drive to reformat your computer, you don't need to reinstall everything. Just go to the following:

Start > All Programs > Hewlett Packard > System Recovery (I believe)

 

[blackwrx]

I do want to get everything off though, since I'll have my own computer my mom doesn't want anything but a fresh computer with windows on it. If I do what you said, won't that leave some stuff other than windows on it? I'm not sure, I'm just trying to get more info before I do it. Thanks

 

[Ankush09]

The key that came with the cd was used on another computer, so I can't use it on this one (I assume) because you can only use it on one computer

No, you can use a key on more than one computer.

 

[Blind_Arrow]

you'll find your COE (Code Of Authentication) in holographic form at the back of ur system.

if u couldnt find it, (which should have to be there) then call HP. telling them ur asset tag or whateve applies.