windows product key in dos

[orangelady]

Is there anyway that I can get a windows product key from dos for Windows XP Pro. I know there are downloads but the ones I have seen need windows to be running. Windows has crashed and the product key is not on the side of the computer. I need to reload windows but need to find the product key. Thanks in advance

[puzzlesRus]

Do you not have the windows XP system boot/repair disc ? If not, you can create it(CD) or them (floppies) by following the instructions at bootdisk.com

[mikeyp]

You cannot view the windows product key from the recovery console (which is what I assume you mean by dos).

This forum provides a possible alternative, you need another copy of windows to be running.

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?f orumID=11&threadID=154598&messageID=2072012

You'll need to remove your hard drive from your computer and put it in another one with a working copy of xp. Following the instructions on that link you can use the working xp to read the product key from the non working one. At which point you put your hard drive back and reinstall. Alternatively you could phone microsoft and they might help you out, not sure exactly how though.