CD Key for Windows xp sp2 Home Editio

hawkeye · 28th December 2006

Looking for your CD Key for xp sp2 home edition?

Go to C:\ i386 click on and go way down to see if you have the file UNATTEND and if so double click on it to open and scroll way down in the text and you will see your CD Key
If you do not see it do the following;
Insert your xp cd and browse and locate i386 and open it then scroll way down and find UNATTEND, double click scroll way down and you will see your cd key youcan copy or put a copy in your C:\i386 (of the file unattend) I copied the key and pasted it in notepad and saved to my documents as "CD Key"
Hope this benefits you

Bill Castner · 28th December 2006

Most intallations of both Home and Pro will not have an UNATTEND file. It is not used in production settings. (Nor is it used in an unattended installation, the file is winnt.sif).

Two notes:

1. You can always find your key, using such utilities as Magical Jelly Bean:
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

2. The key used to install XP likely will not work if you reinstall XP using the supplied media from the builder. Use the Certificate of Authenticity sticker on the side of the case and use that. This assures you of a unique key, and one suitable for the reinstallation media you were supplied.

**Whiskeyman** · 28th December 2006

I believe you should take a close look at the key in unattend.txt and see if it matches the key on your sticker. I would also input that key into a search engine. You may be surprised to find it listed at many crack sites.

**Scott Smith** · 2nd January 2007

I don't even have a C:\i386

**Zander** · 2nd January 2007

Originally Posted by Scott Smith

I don't even have a C:\i386

You won't unless you or the maker of your PC copied the folder from your XP CD to your hard drive. It doesn't get copied during the installation process.

hawkeye · 3rd January 2007

Originally Posted by Zander

You won't unless you or the maker of your PC copied the folder from your XP CD to your hard drive. It doesn't get copied during the installation process.

If you coppy it from your CD to your hard drive (to; C:/)you can run SFC (System File Checker) without inserting your CD

Bill Castner · 3rd January 2007

There is no question about the benefits of having \i386 copied somewhere for SFC.EXE to use.

You do, however, have registry entries to change so that it can find it.

The questions raised above were different: it just is simply not true that you can find, or even use, a key found in a file called UNATTEND.

The only time I personally have seen the entry is when people are using downloaded copies of MSDN releases of XP Pro.

hawkeye · 3rd January 2007

Thanks for your information. Here I thought I had a magic sollution, what in the world is the key I am finding in unattend? can it be used for anything?
When I first tried to use SFC it said something about needing the CD and I changed the address to C:/i386 and it has worked since then without the CD so I didn't make a registry change but I do not remember the exact text I saw.

**Whiskeyman** · 3rd January 2007

Unattend.txt is just a sample file. The key contained within is usually just an example. The key in my WinXP Home SP1 OEM Unattend.txt is for Windows XP RC1 and is listed at just about every crack site.

hawkeye · 3rd January 2007

Thanks, appreciate your help and information. There is a prior recommendation to use "key finder" which I tried , hope that is a good key it lists.

Bill Castner · 3rd January 2007

Magic Jelly Bean will return an accurate key for the installation of XP running on your computer.

Please though read my whole discussion. The key will not work for a reinstallation of a pre-imaged XP done by the computer manufacturer using the restoration media provided.

You use the key written on the side of the computer case on a Certificate of Authenticity sticker. If you are missing the sticker, it is nearly certain you do not have a valid license for Windows XP.

hawkeye · 3rd January 2007

I got the key it is on top of the computer case and very difficult to read thanks for the tip

**TonyT** · 3rd January 2007

Originally Posted by hawkeye

I got the key it is on top of the computer case and very difficult to read thanks for the tip

WRITE DOWN THE KEY on paper & store in a safe place, those stickers on comps will fade, scratch, discolor, etc. and eventually can become unreadable.

chasthur · 3rd January 2007

thank you all for the question and answers! I have v2002 and I have the i386 and all the other and I dig out my 5 yr. old cassete and, sure enough, the #s are not even close. With the aid of a strong light and a magnifier I salvaged the real # and noted it. They sure do fade over the years

Chas.