Find Windows XP Product Key From Your Installation CD [How To]
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Have you lost your Windows CD Key and are desperately looking for it? No backups, nothing. What do you do now? Well till you have your Original installation you can easily find the Product key without breaking a sweat.
Here are the simple steps you need to perform in order to get your Product Key from the installation CD.
(Note: This may only work for certain OEM CDs, if it does not work for you, you can check out our earlier post on how you can find your Windows XP Product key.)
- Insert the Installation CD into your CD / Drive Drive.
- Explore the CD and navigate to the i386 folder.
- Open the file UNATTEND.txt and scroll down to the last line.
- You will find your Windows XP Product key there.
We were able to find the CD key on a Windows XP Corporate Edition installation CD and would love to know if you were able to find it on your own installation CDs. Do let us know through your comments on how it went for you.
Via: [Cool Tech Tips]
Moldova
June 25th, 2008 at 10:00 am #
This is very nice. I didn’t knew it.
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Techblissonline Dot Com
June 26th, 2008 at 1:00 am #
Keith, For me the CD is also not needed.This tool works well – http://techblissonline.com/find-product-key-cd-ley-windows-vista-xp-office-2007-sql-server-produkey/
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Magie
June 26th, 2008 at 2:40 am #
I use to write the key prouct in the back f the CD cover. It’s conventional way, but it helps me a lot. Thanks anyway for your tip.
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Paul
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 am #
Thats brilliant. Not sure how I never knew this before. Just saved my arse as well as we have a ton of legit XP disks but no CD keys anywhere!
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Brad
October 4th, 2008 at 6:21 am #
I tried this and there were simply “” where the key should be. I wonder if x64 is different? It also says in the text document that it is a sample. How else can I find it?
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Allon Maxwell
October 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pm #
ALAS!!!! …… On my Win XP home OEM CD it does find a key. However it doesn’t seem to be the actual key for the disk. I think it is a sample. When I try bto use it to install a message pops up to say it is an invalid key.
I checked on a second OEM disk. It has the identical key to the first disk in the unattend.txt file.
Back to the drawing board!
Allon
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Murugan
October 10th, 2008 at 2:03 am #
This google is very good, helps us to find out each and everything.
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Michael
October 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pm #
This Tip does NOT work, while the there appears to be a key listed in the i386\unattend.txt file it is NOT a valid one.
If anyone knows if it possible to get a valid KEY from file on the installation CD please post. I have a an installation disk but CD KEY, the former IT guy never wrote it down anywhere.
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Jeff
November 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm #
if u still have the ISO do this: open the folder i386 and then open the file winnt.sif . There is located the Serial of any un-attended XP
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jerikh Reply:
October 25th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Hi Jeff, GREAT tip!! This worked on my install CD as well, since my CD did not have the .txt file specified in the article above. You’re a life-saver, thanks so much!
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Traci
November 30th, 2008 at 7:57 pm #
THIS KEY WILL NOT WORK.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO FIND YOUR KEY ON THE INSTALLATION CD.
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Pete
December 11th, 2008 at 7:14 pm #
This is absolutely amazing, my son lost his instalation key and i thought we where done for.
Thank You
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Sukha
December 14th, 2008 at 1:26 am #
Hey! That key is wrong. I have 5 windows xp compact disks and unattend.txt folder shows same key for every cd.
You are wrong!!!
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John
December 24th, 2008 at 12:17 am #
This absolutely worked for me. Probably different versions of windows or what have you. I was installing Windows XP Professional.
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kkkk
December 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am #
i didnt found the i386 and unattented
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Alexandre
December 26th, 2008 at 12:36 pm #
GREAT!!! This tip saved my skin!
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Arne
January 12th, 2009 at 4:23 am #
To confirm: this is *not* a valid key, it’s the “default key” and it is the same for *all* installation CDs of windows.
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Stevem
January 18th, 2009 at 6:43 am #
I rang microsoft support to get a new key. They said 3-5 working days to generate. What a load of crap. I asked them if there was any way to pull the key off the disk. They said no. Got this tip. Worked perfect. Thanks for nothing Microsoft . Nice support
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BuddyBear
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm #
Worked fine for Me. Great info to know.
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drew
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm #
i have been stupidly looking al over the web to maybe find a working key. but with your help i found it within seconds and it worked perfectly 100%. thanks
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Matt
January 26th, 2009 at 1:39 am #
This was the best advice I’ve gotten all day!!
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keon
January 28th, 2009 at 12:42 pm #
Hi can you help me to find the product key on a vista installation cd. thanks.
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kirkos
January 31st, 2009 at 2:21 pm #
This wouldn’t work for me either. The key listed on the UNATTEND.txt won’t allow me to install XP.
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chris
February 7th, 2009 at 1:11 am #
If you’re all saying its a sample and they’re all the same, why dont you post the numbers you saw for comparison? Itll save alot of trouble for the people that just have to try it to be sure. If I saw someone else post the same number I saw I wouldnt even attempt to try it… Mine BTW is: “CD87T-HFP4C-V7X7H-8VY68-W7D7M”
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MS_AGENT Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
THIS KEY HAS BEEN BLACKLISTED NOW
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Windows_Engineer Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
wow ms_agent youve got some real audacity to be a jerk towards people looking for solutions to microsoft’s poor programming. I would like to know if you are even certified, and if so i want your employee number so i can talk to my one of the Execs i have on file a microsoft HQ to have you evaluated
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Jess
February 9th, 2009 at 3:41 pm #
EXCELLENT! Had to reinstall from an old disc, which had been separated from the KEY #. Much anguish and $20 saved. (Recovery keys software would have been the “scenic route” to get this.)
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Johnny
February 16th, 2009 at 10:18 pm #
If this method doesn’t work, search the XP disk for a file called winnt.sif
The product key given there will likely work if the unattend.txt key doesn’t.
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comp tech
February 17th, 2009 at 9:54 pm #
put windows cd in drive and click on i386. look for winnt.sif. click on it and choose notepad to open it. scroll down and you’ll see a default product key. ***may work for some, but not for others*****
****lesson learned: write product key in permanate ink on cd cover or cd itself**** enjoy!!!!
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AG
February 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm #
I did this and I did get the same code as listed above (Chris). I need to know if there is a way to retrieve the product code off the disk?? I borrowed a genuine copy off a friend and I CANNOT find the envelope it came in. I wasn’t able to install it so I do not have an installed copy; just the CD.
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manny
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:25 pm #
Hey, Chris (feb.7, 09).. i have the same product key as the one you typed in your post.
And i also wasn’t able to install windows using that product key.
How come this seems to work for some but not for the others..?
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jah
February 25th, 2009 at 5:12 pm #
the product key contained within the unattend.txt does not work, and there is no winnt.sif file on my windows xp installation cd.
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James
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 pm #
It didnt help me at all.
But thanks for tryin.
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Mike M
March 14th, 2009 at 11:21 am #
It may only work for certain distributions. I can attest that it works for retail copies of XP pro. I’m sure volume licensing and OEM are different. But by the way, the OEM key should be on a sticker on the bottom or back of the computer.
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Narain
March 16th, 2009 at 2:54 pm #
Yes. I could find my product key in the XP Professional Edition. Thank you for letting us know
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Mark
March 25th, 2009 at 3:50 am #
Found the product key right where you stated that it would be. Thank you.
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Kiki
March 31st, 2009 at 9:38 pm #
That was just outstanding!!! Thank you all!!!
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Joe
April 6th, 2009 at 7:20 pm #
I used my unattend key it didn’t work but chris’ key from above worked! Thanks chris
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Paul
April 16th, 2009 at 11:19 pm #
Thanks so much!! I found it on my Windows XP Pro cd i won at computer camp for 50 or 51 tickets. They were having an auction and i had to borrow 3 tickets from my friend but i won it! I was really excited until i brought it home and found out my windows 98 computer with a 20 gb hard drive only had like 500 mb left on the drive and wasn’t enough space. But now it’s 2009 and i have a big hard drive and windows vista and virtual PC so i’m installing it now. i’ll say later if it works.
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Brad
April 21st, 2009 at 2:52 pm #
Saved me a lot of money on a new OS. For me the code was not at the bottom, but about half-way down the file. It’s not a sample, because I recognized it as the one I had used before. Thanks for the help.
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john
May 1st, 2009 at 11:55 pm #
yeah, the “unattend.txt” doesn’t work and there is no “winnt.sif”. Here is the product key that I retreaved from my unattend.txt file “JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8″ if anyone can use this then consider yourself luck because it didn’t work for me. If any one else have a different key than mine of the one Christ posted above, please post it so I can try my luck. Thank you.
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john
May 1st, 2009 at 11:56 pm #
nothing worked
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john
May 1st, 2009 at 11:58 pm #
however, here is the key I pulled up from my :unattend.txt file “JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8″. if anyone else have something different than mine or the one Christ posted above, please post it so I can try my luck. Thank you.
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Dee Reply:
October 27th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
this one worked thanks man
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cankarales
May 6th, 2009 at 3:15 pm #
nothing worked for me. i cant find that winnt file. i found that key in unattend.txt tho “RH6M6-7PPK4-YR86H-YFFFX-PW8M8″ but it didn’t work.
damn…
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cankarales
May 6th, 2009 at 3:27 pm #
READ:
to find ur key insert installation disc and go to USWXP32P_ZX folder (might be hidden) and then to sysprep folder and open unnatend.txt there. scroll down and there is ur key.
GOOD LUCK!
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Tal Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Finally I made it to your post and actually tried it before I posted that it was successful and I can confirm that you were the only one who got it right. Thank you so much!
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jason
May 17th, 2009 at 8:17 pm #
suggestion worked got on another computer to open the install cd and it was right there.
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codyr2550
May 31st, 2009 at 6:07 am #
Cankarales worked for me but I had the one that john mentioned. the one that I had did not work for me. very odd.
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Eamon
June 10th, 2009 at 3:10 am #
I purchased a new Windows Xp Home Edition (oem) only to find the cd had two trojans imbeded. The cd was counterfeit and so was the COA. I found the original COA using your advice which confirmed the cd was counterfeit.
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Eamon
June 10th, 2009 at 3:25 am #
Just noticed the comment from Chris February 7th, 2009 at 1:11 am #. I have the same code on my cd which you quoted above. The key supplied on the counterfeit coa is
RYQYT-JC2JX-8DMB6-2FX29-P849B which didn’t match the code on the cd. Some retailers can’t be trusted because you don’t know where they are getting their supplies from.
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Dee Reply:
October 27th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
it worked!
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eddy
June 10th, 2009 at 3:44 am #
I am using Windows Xp Home Edition (Spanish) which came on my computer. I have the original cd and coa. I believe the key codes given in the unattend file are just samples. The key shown below is not the same as the key I have with my cd.
; Microsoft Windows
; (c) 1994 – 2001 Microsoft Corporation. Todos los derechos reservados.
;
; Muestra del archivo de respuesta para la instalación desatendida
;
; Este archivo contiene información acerca de cómo automatizar la instalación o la
; actualización de Windows para que el programa de instalación se ejecute sin
; intervención del usuario. Puede obtener más información en ref.chm ubicado en
; CD:\support\tools\deploy.cab
;
[Unattended]
Unattendmode = FullUnattended
OemPreinstall = NO
TargetPath = *
Filesystem = LeaveAlone
[GuiUnattended]
; Define la zona horaria a la del Pacífico Noroeste
; Define la contraseña de administrador a NULL
; Activar inicio de sesión automático e iniciar sesión una vez
TimeZone = “004″
AdminPassword = *
AutoLogon = Yes
AutoLogonCount = 1
[LicenseFilePrintData]
; Por servidor instalado
AutoMode = “PerServer”
AutoUsers = “5″
[GuiRunOnce]
; Hacer una lista de los programas que se quieren iniciar cuando el equipo inicia sesión por primera vez
[Display]
BitsPerPel = 16
XResolution = 800
YResolution = 600
VRefresh = 70
[Networking]
[Identification]
JoinWorkgroup = Workgroup
[UserData]
FullName = “Nombre de usuario”
OrgName = “Nombre de la organización”
ComputerName = *
ProductKey = “RH6M6-7PPK4-YR86H-YFFFX-PW8M8″
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emory
June 16th, 2009 at 7:09 am #
I have the Same Key as Chris (CD87T-HFP4C-V7X7H-8VY68-W7D7M) and did not worked. I tried all other keys that are published in this post and none of them worked for me.
How about trying Jason’s trick posted on May 17th, 2009 at 8:17 pm. He opened it in another comp.
I need to try this out…..
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Lee
June 17th, 2009 at 4:10 pm #
The file “winnt.sif” is on the cd. You have to change your folder options to show all hidden files and folders to view it. However I have not tested the product id that is found in that file…I am about to do so now.
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AJ
June 27th, 2009 at 7:44 pm #
winnt.sif worked for me
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jiexi luan
June 29th, 2009 at 7:52 pm #
lmao it worked. it seems to be just coincidence that it worked since others complain that it isnt working. w/e. your best chances are getting a keygen at that point. but it DOES WORK for me
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sundar
July 1st, 2009 at 4:39 am #
I FOUND THE CD KEY IN MY XP INSTALLATION DISC BUT THE CD KEY IS SAME IN ALL OTHER XP INSTALLATION CDS IGOT FROM MY FRIENDS ……………..U CAN FIND THE CD KEYS ONLY IN THE OEM INSTALLATION DISCS AND NOT IN OTHERS
THE UNATTENDED .TXT FILE IS USED TO INSTALL THE XP UNATTENDED IF ITS AN OEM THEN THE MANFACTURER WILL PUT THE CD KEY INSIDE …OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE KEY THAT IS SAME ON ALL THE CDS.THATS THE DEFAULT KEY FOR THE USERS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE TO PUT THEIR CD KEY TO AUTOMATE THEIR INSTALLATION………………………………………………………………………………………………
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James Craig
July 4th, 2009 at 3:35 pm #
I found the key for my XPP. Knew there had to be a way.
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James Craig
July 4th, 2009 at 4:43 pm #
same as the other people are geting and it doesn’t work.
JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD
Oh Well.
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Lyn
July 15th, 2009 at 10:03 am #
How do you change your folder settings to view the hidden files such as the winnt.sif that i have seen work for others?
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Lyn
July 15th, 2009 at 10:22 am #
nevermind, i figured out how to change folder options, now where is that winnt.sif file?
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Dinesh
July 21st, 2009 at 3:16 am #
WINNT.SIF worked for me. Thanks for the post.
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Hanzzo Superb
July 21st, 2009 at 7:11 am #
Thanx…your step works very well…
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Gabriel Wu
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:08 pm #
yes i’m installing a windows xp professional edition and the product key I got in unattend.txt was the same as cankarales’s – JWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8.
no winnt.sif either. only txtsetup.sif.
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max
August 5th, 2009 at 11:04 pm #
got the same key as others on my XP Pro retail & XP Home OEM on the unattend.txt file:
“JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8″
and no winnt.sif either. any other solutions?
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trioproductsint
August 14th, 2009 at 3:36 am #
key from Eamon (RYQYT-JC2JX-8DMB6-2FX29-P849B) worked for me!! Thanks
Here are the ones I found on my cd’s (didn’t work for me):
CD87T-HFP4C-V7X7H-8VY68-W7D7M
JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8
Doesn’t hurt to try…keep posting them numbers!
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tendyfish
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am #
It worked wonders for me….thnx a million!
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D
August 24th, 2009 at 1:31 pm #
Amazing man worked on mine too, nice stuff thank you brother
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Luigi
August 27th, 2009 at 2:09 pm #
Great, great tip. Thank you, you saved me a lot of time because I couldn’t fine mine when I wrote it on a piece of paper. HUGS!
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tryingbe
August 27th, 2009 at 2:18 pm #
ProductKey= “JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8″ did not work.
RYQYT-JC2JX-8DMB6-2FX29-P849B worked perfect.
XP Service Pack 2
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Greg
September 16th, 2009 at 2:45 pm #
Great tip! I was sweating! Thanks!
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Dave.W
September 28th, 2009 at 2:33 am #
Bought ( Original ) Second hand XP Disk at Garage Sale No product code but this simple tip worked like a dream. Thanks
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Copain
October 12th, 2009 at 11:27 am #
ProductKey= “JJWKH-7M9R8-26VM4-FX8CC-GDPD8″ in unnattend.txt did not work.
“RYQYT-JC2JX-8DMB6-2FX29-P849B” did not work
and no winnt.sif or USWXP32P_ZX hidden folder either
any other solutions?
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Digdo
October 18th, 2009 at 5:12 pm #
it worked with RYQYT-JC2JX-8DMB6-2FX29-P849B!
thank you, eamon!
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Digdo
October 18th, 2009 at 5:13 pm #
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Leslie
October 24th, 2009 at 10:16 pm #
I’ve lost my office 2003 product key but still have the installation cd. my old notebook is dead and unbootable. How can I retrieve the product key from the installation cd
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Keith Dsouza Reply:
October 25th, 2009 at 12:39 am
@Leslie, unfortunately you will have to call Microsoft Customer support to get your product key
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Laura De Souza
October 26th, 2009 at 12:40 am #
Thanks a lot! You have been a life saver.
It really worked for me.
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JJW
October 27th, 2009 at 11:10 am #
Excellent- I’ve spent weeks trying to work it out- Thanks to this site, I got it in 3 mins- Thank you Guys!
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JJW Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Actually- it didn’t work- I was able to locate the product key- but no luck! I am still searching for help! Can anybody help?
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lalaal
October 28th, 2009 at 9:02 am #
thx for the tip worked like a charm.
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Vikram
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:59 pm #
unattend.txt doesn’t work but winnt.sif works perfect.
Thanks a ton !!
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Mirod
November 9th, 2009 at 5:34 am #
hi
that’s exactelly what I have done, but unfortunatelly the product code i found in the unattend.txt file was not accepted. I did try it many times but it wasen’t accepted, I looked for another unattend.txt file but there wase’nt any.I have bought my win xp installation disc from a charity chop but the product code was missing.
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Rigo
November 10th, 2009 at 4:00 am #
Winnt worked for me like a charm, the unattended file is like example file, thanks a lot.
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Bill
November 18th, 2009 at 4:38 pm #
Works great…thanks
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