How to find Windows XP Product Key

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How to find Windows XP Product Key

The Windows XP Product Key is necessary if you want to install or reinstall Microsoft Windows XP onto your computer. This key is a security tool designed to stop counterfeiting and software piracy.

The Windows XP Product Key is necessary for installation and reinstallation, so make sure you have your Product Key available for use.

If you purchased your computer from an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) such as Dell or Sony, a Windows XP Product Key should be easily found on a sticker located on your computer, your Windows XP documentation, or both. If you purchased Windows XP from a software dealer, you should find it with the software's documentation.

Retrieving a Windows XP Product Key

If you no longer have any documentation and/or if your computer does not have a Windows XP Product Key sticker, you will need to pull the Product Key from the registry. While previous versions of Windows made the operating systems Product Key easy to find, with Windows XP the Product Key is encrypted.

Here are some tips on how to pull the Windows XP Product Key from your registry and decrypt it so it can be read and documented.
Since the Product Key is encrypted you will need to decrypt the key.

This can be done easily and for free with many software applications. Two software titles that you may want to use are Keyfinder and Find XP Key.

Once you have found the software you would like to use, just download it and follow the instructions.

It should be noted that the XP Product Key consists of 25 characters; these 25 characters are separated in 5 groups (e.g. xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx). Characters can consist of numbers or letters.

Once you have found your XP Product Key, make sure you correctly write it down - any mistake in inputting the Product Key when reinstalling will prevent you from installing Microsoft Windows XP.