How to forum: CD Key Extraction?

Then how does the setup know that I am not entering the correct key?

The key is sent through a check for validity to see if it's one for the version on the CD.

There is no (legal) list of CDKEYS and even if you did use someone else's key Activation and other things shut this machine down later.

--> Why not tell the entire tale? Maybe we can suggest who to contact next?
Bob

This is the whole "tale"

I have all twenty licensed Windows XP Pro disc I just don't know which one came with which machine.

Probably they are identical. Anyway, why care?

Kees

Those "licensed" CDs have a logo or printing on them. The ones from Microsoft use a CDKEY that came with the package. However IT staffers tend to lose them in spite of the value.

If the CDKEY is lost to some Microsoft CD that results in some advice.

If the CD is marked Dell, then the advice changes. But there is so much not told here that we would have to guess and guess and you would be upset as all the bad guesses played out.

Fill in all the blanks.
Bob

I don't know which disc came with this particular machine. I have all twenty COA's but they are not with the original disc. They were initially setup by another tech and then turned over to me. The machine's were issued out and I was given a box with all the documentation, cd's and manual's.

Thank you for trying to help me with this.

I understand the license is on the COA, okay? However the COA's are on the bottom of the laptops out in the field except for the one I am working on. But I don't know which disk the original installation on this machine was done with. Therefore the installation will not progress. I keep getting "NOT A VALID KEY" when I know the key is valid because I am taking it directly from the COA.

Say a mixture of different service packs, different OEM's and retail versions, different XP's (Home, Pro, Media Edition), different languages?

Kees

That's the same old discussion about using license keys found on the bottom of laptops.

If you use the right CD (it should not have the Microsoft Logo printed on it) then you NEVER enter in the key on the laptop's bottom.

For example, I use my Dell XP CD and it installs without me typing in the OEM key because the Dell XP CD is modified to work without bothering the owner during install.

Again, the gritty details are missing but you did reveal something that doesn't work. (using OEM CDKEYS on Microsoft "licensed" CDs.)
Bob

Try each disk until the correct one is accepted. Hopefully you'll find the right one early.