Checking Windows Installation Information?

J

JTG2003

New Member
There's a computer I've been working on for a company. It was bought at an auction with Windows XP pro pre-loaded onto it (genuine version). However it didn't come with any of the software.

Now I'm looking to re-install windows on the computer.

I know that I can find the serial that was used on the computer to install it before, but I will also need to know the exact version (XP Pro, XP Pro SP1, SP2, etc).

The serial will only work on the same exact version that was used to install it initially. Is there any way to find out what version it was so that I may locate another XP CD and re-use the serial?
 
Hello

You can check the current windows version right from the registry.
Click Start -> Run --> regedit
go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version
Good luck
 
JTG2003 said:
There's a computer I've been working on for a company. It was bought at an auction with Windows XP pro pre-loaded onto it (genuine version). However it didn't come with any of the software.

Now I'm looking to re-install windows on the computer.

I know that I can find the serial that was used on the computer to install it before, but I will also need to know the exact version (XP Pro, XP Pro SP1, SP2, etc).

The serial will only work on the same exact version that was used to install it initially. Is there any way to find out what version it was so that I may locate another XP CD and re-use the serial?
Click to expand...

You can use software called magic jellybean finder while the system is still able to boot into windows to get the product key. Look in system properties to get the version of windows used. The digits in the product id will tell you whether its a oem version, full version or upgrade version.
 
smajer said:
Hello

You can check the current windows version right from the registry.
Click Start -> Run --> regedit
go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version
Good luck
Click to expand...

Just in case there was some confusion about the "HKLM" abbreviation.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

ProductID is listed on the right towards the bottom.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Now when I look up what the 'Current Version' is, that will tell me just as the name says, right? Current version?



My point is, if it was installed it using a CD that had SP1, but I have since updated to SP2, will it tell me SP1 or 2? (I would hope, 1)
 
The SP version you have won't make a difference. The key goes with the actual OS not the SP.
 
johnb35 said:
The SP version you have won't make a difference. The key goes with the actual OS not the SP.
Click to expand...

Yes, but experience has told me that using a key from a "Windows XP Pro" installation will not necessarily work with every single other installation of "Windows XP Pro". I assumed different releases of the software were paired up with different sections of keys. Am I wrong?
 
You have different keys for retail version, oem version, and upgrade version. SP makes no difference.
 
johnb35 said:
You have different keys for retail version, oem version, and upgrade version. SP makes no difference.
Click to expand...

Ok, good to know.

Thanks everyone for the help

Edit: One more thing,

johnb35 said:
The digits in the product id will tell you whether its a oem version, full version or upgrade version.
Click to expand...

I don't have a version of Windows I can check this with at the moment, but will it say flat out "OEM" "Full" or "Upgrade" or is there some reference I should be using?
 
The disk will say that, however the product id will have numbers telling you what version is installed. I just can't remember which version is which and i can't find it online., its the middle 3 numbers that represents what you have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top