Online Windows XP Key purchase?

Does anyone around here know of a legit way to purchase a windows xp key?

I can't seem to find my old one anywhere, and I feel no need to buy a 140$ (in canada, on average) cd of windows xp home, when I have a win xp sp2 (which is the only version that works. My new mobo doesn't like earlier versions).

All I need is a new key. I recall seeing something like this in the past but i've been unable to find it again.

Your best choice would be your local Microsoft hotline. If they can't tell you any better solution than to buy a new XP, then you could switch to Linux or ReactOS.

Heh...not sure why I would ever want to do that. No offense to that alternative, but i'm not looking for more challenges on my spare time.

I 'really' don't feel like dealing with microsofts computer/foreigner customer service, I just want to throw in a legit key and move on. If I can't find, or i'm not lead to what i'm looking for i'll bite the dust and buy the box at a retailer, but i'm sure there's better options out there.

Do you not have access to your previous install? You can find a product keyfinder that will tell you what your product key was.

Here's a page with some links to free keyfinders.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/tp/topkeyfinder.htm

Some important info on that page:-

If your system was purchased with Microsoft Windows pre-installed, and you have not reinstalled it or upgraded it yourself, the key finders on this page may only find the generic product key that your computer manufacturer used to install the operating system.

This product key may not work when attempting to reinstall Windows. In this case, you must use the unique product key that is on the sticker attached to your computer case.

M$ did come up with a way to do this but it was only for XP installs that were using an illegal CD-Key.

There were no prosecutions or anything like that from M$ they just basically want you to own a legit key. So they developed a way using Genuine Advantage, eg if your XP install was flagged as not genuine when checking for updates, M$ developed a process where you click the link shown to you when your install is detected as not genuine and you were then taken to the M$ store where you could buy a legal key for XP.

I haven't fully checked it out but if it's still availbale then all you have to do is just google for a non legal key then visit the genuine advantage website and try and validate windows.

All info is available at the Microsft GA website. Link below. After a quick read it states that if your copy of XP fails validation there are various methods it states to getting you up and running legally including replacing providing a replacement product key.

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FailureScenarios.aspx?displaylang=en

ReactOS is a nice idea, but not even remotely ready for real-world use. Lack of SATA and even USB support is a major dealbreaker at this point.

If you just need to reinstall Windows and don't remember the key you used, you can also use Magic Jellybeaen's XP Keyfinder if your computer still boots up. It will tell you the key that was used to install windows on the machine.

Thanks, I ended up using the key finder. It still failed and I needed to still contact microsoft but things are in order now.

http://store.purplus.net/miwixphoedfu.html