Re: Is the product key on the XP Home upgrade disk?

No, the Product key is nowhere on the CD. Check your Compaq's manual for how to the provided recovery method. Normally this is a hidden partition on the hard disk and is access during the initial POST of the computer. This "recovery partition" is separate from the OS partition, and unless you formatted that, as well, you should be able to use it to put your system back to its "out of box" condition.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"RonC" <RonC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:30FC7F0F-F7A6-44E2-BF2D-387960B0E74A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have a Compaq SR1403WM with a valid XP sp2 windows product key. It caught
a virus and I had to reformat the drive to get rid of it. I bought it with
the OS installed and have no recovery disks. I have an XP sp1 upgrade disk
but cannot find the product key for it. I have valid Upgrade 95 and 98 with
the Product keys but want XP back on the Compaq. HP will sell me recovery
disks for $30 but can I find the Product key somewhere on the actual XP
upgrade disk?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Enable SET command in Recovery Console
    ... the updated partition data to the disk - and rebooted into knoppix (was ... knoppix set-up.....but I'm so relieved to have reached this stage that I'm ... also noted I couldn't see the D: drive from the Recovery Console either ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • RE: Whats the difference between...
    ... but will prove invaluable to any who may have the easy fix to your woes. ... HD ensure no data recovery. ... With a clean installation, you erase all data, reformat your hard disk, and ... *TO CREATE A PARTITION IN THE UN-PARTITIONED SPACE? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Hard disk data recovery.
    ... the best way to attempt data recovery. ... unformatted disk. ... Mount any partition you want to recover as read-only, ... as well as tools related to S.M.A.R.T capable hard drives. ...
    (comp.os.linux.misc)
  • Re: Cannot boot to Safe Mode or otherwise.
    ... The recovery partition is present, ... happened when I did a new full install from my Home XP Disk. ... disk that won't boot? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: How can I reload XP after file system failure? Had preload but
    ... he is supposed to supply them on a separate partition ... Even if things are so messed up, you cannot boot. ... the Windows Disk Management might have less to say about them. ... In terms of recovery procedures, you should be looking in the user manual, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
Loading