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Question

Lost product Key.

Jan 21, 2014 6:33AM PST

Compaq Presario 3200AMDSempron Prosser,increased 256 mem to 1.94Gb,80 GB hd,CD-RW DVD-ROM, Lost key to winXP, Regedit / HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/ beyond this nothing.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Bad news.
Jan 21, 2014 6:38AM PST

OK, the only exits are:

1. When you bought your XP copy you registered it with Microsoft. It used to be free to call and ask for help. Figure 35 and up bucks which is cheaper than a new key.
2. Buy it again. This usually inflames the entitled folk but seriously. If everyone ran a Belarc Advisor report or better yet made a backup then this could be avoided.
3. Change to another OS. Linux is free.
Bob

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yes, Linux
Jan 21, 2014 8:37AM PST

look for Mint 16, Kubuntu, Ubuntu, and at distrowatch dot com for the most popular versions with the biggest following, which means the best help available too.

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Answer
You can also
Jan 21, 2014 9:36AM PST

You can also try calling HP (they own Compaq, which is a neat trick considering Compaq bought HP) and give them the serial number of the unit. They may be able to provide you with the product key that came on the physical sticker that was on the unit originally if that is for some reason missing. Of course if you still have the original Compaq restore media, that shouldn't need a product key because it's a volume license.

It's at least worth a shot anyway, but I'd really strongly suggest the Linux option for the main reason that for all intents and purposes, XP is dead and buried at this point. In about another 3 months Microsoft pulls the plug for good and after that point it wouldn't be a wise idea to still be using XP if the machine is connected to the Internet. Linux should run at least as well as XP ever did on that system, maybe a little better, and as long as you manage to keep the various packages and what not up to date, same as with Windows, you should be able to eek out maybe 1-2 more years from that system

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Answer
Lost Key Product
Jan 22, 2014 5:56AM PST

Thank you for your answers.Not finding the sticker and no answer from HP I guess I will try to install linus ,.Thanks again.Alvie

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Answer
Call Helpdesk
Feb 16, 2014 11:26AM PST

I suggest you call your computer company or Microsoft. If you just bought your laptop, I think they provide warranty for the hardware and software.