Product Key.

[WDGC]

HP computer, about 3 years old, purchased new, Windows XP Home Edition pre-installed, HP recovery partition and HP recovery discs.
2 programs, Everest vers. 1.10 and Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v1.41, each show the same XP product key, however, it is different from the product key appearing on the COA sticker.
If OS reactivation is ever required which product key should be used?

[ErnieK]

I would think that it will be the number on the COA sticker. The other one could well be HP's own number, so you might have struck lucky with both numbers. The only way to be certain is to try both using the one at present installed first.

If you ever have the need to re-install your XP OS the try the following tip which could save you from going through the re-registration process with MS.

Please note.
The following DOES NOT NEGATE THE NEED TO REGISTER OR BYPASS XP REGISTRATION
If you have previously successfully activated the OS already, and if you are reinstalling it on the existing hardware, try the following:
Copy the file c:\windows\system32\wpa.dbl to a floppy.
Reinstall Windows XP.
Boot to a DOS disk if you are using FAT, or to the Recovery Console if using NTFS.
Copy the file from the first step above back to c:\windows\system32.
That's it - because all of your hardware is the same as before, your copy of WinXP is still valid according to the previous activation.

Another way is to make an image of your set up using the likes of Ghost.

[Paul Komski]

MJB-KF does a good job and would indicate the product key used when the installation occurred. I have seen OEMs stick different product keys on the outside of the case, etc, which don't match the internal one - and it often doesn't matter since when you restore using their recovery software both the key and activation are likely to have been embedded in the reinstallation process and not require input from you.

Make a note of both values and you won't be stuck one way or the other. You might also like to create backups of the \WINDOWS\system32\wpa.bak and wpa.dbl files since if a clean installation is done using the original pure WinXP installation CDs the reactivation can be achieved by replacing these two files under safe mode.

Seems Ernie's "trigger finger" is well oiled today! ;) I woud just add that registration is totally optional and not the same as activation.

[Mark Miller]

I have an Hp and the product key that you need is on the right back side of the computer. On the little label it says "product key"
Mark