How to Recover a Windows XP Pro Product ID
The Windows XP Professional product key is a 25-digit key that uniquely identifies your computer as possessing a valid copy of Windows XP. This key will need to be reentered if you ever reinstall your software, which can be problematic if you have lost your hard copy and have to perform a reinstall due to a computer virus or other unsolvable problem. Fortunately, a number of free programs can reveal your Windows XP Professional product key.
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Instructions
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Download and install a product key finder such as Magical Jelly Bean or Product Key Finder (see References). These programs can dig through your computer's hard drive to locate the product key, a task that would be nearly impossible to replicate without the use of this type of software.
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Run your chosen product key finder. Your Windows XP Professional product ID will appear onscreen.
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Note down your Windows XP Professional product ID on a sheet of paper, keeping it in a safe location for future use.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember to distinguish between characters that look similar when writing down your key, such as "I" (capital "i") and "l" (lower-case "L").
