[Labyrinthus]

I recently ran a continual reboot fix and I used a win xp disk that happened to be handy. Well, it was my son's WIN XP Home and now MS wants the key to keep running and I don't have it.

I found my Win XP Pro disk.

Can I just do an install on top of what I already did?

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When you originally installed XP Pro, did you use the product key for your disc

Did the repair or anything since, involve entering another product key (unlikely)

[Retired Tech]

When you originally installed XP Pro, did you use the product key for your disc

Did the repair or anything since, involve entering another product key (unlikely)

[Labyrinthus]

It came installed. No product key needed.

fter I did the last repair using the XP home disk it allowed me to boot and run a couple times but now it wants a key.

I would prefer to just re-install my XP Pro disk.

?

[Retired Tech]

Can you download and run RockXP from here

http://www.angelfire...ic3/winkeys.htm

You want a 25 character alpha numeric product key

It should not have the sequence OEM in it

Post back if you find it

[Labyrinthus]

No can do. The PC that I am trying to fix stops on the "load key" page on the boot sequence...so I can't get that PC to go online.

I think if I just reload the XP pro disk that I have it will find the correct key...won't it? I am just worried about losing what is on my c drive.

[Retired Tech]

Is the product key on the PC tower or XP CD case

Once you get the product key, you can repair install using your disc, but you will need the product key first

[Labyrinthus]

Thank you! yes, it is stuck on the back below the power supply.

Cool -- so do I just pop in the XP Pro disk and reboot? ...actually I already did that much... I just don't know which repair/load option to choose.

[Retired Tech]

You can use this guide to repair XP

Possibly, you will need to press the start button and keep tapping the delete key, (possibly F2) until the PC enters set up. Change the boot order to CD ROM Drive then hard drive, press F10 then press enter, load the XP CD then type Y then press enter, as it reboots, look for press any key to load from CD, press enter

You will need your XP product key to complete this

The XP Product Key is a 25 character alpha numerical code, which does not include the sequence OEM

If you have audio / video files which are subject to DRM you should check with the provider for known issues with performing an XP repair install

XP Repair Install

Windows XP repair feature won't delete your data, installed programs, personal information, or settings. It just repairs the operating system

The XP repair install will look and run as a normal install, however, you must not see a request to format the drive

After running XP Repair you will need to install all Windows Updates

Microsoft Update

[Labyrinthus]

The 'repair' option goes to a C:\WINDOWS> prompt and just sits there.

What do I say next?

[Retired Tech]

Did it give you the set up screen

Did you press enter on screen 1

F8 on screen 2

Press R on screen 3

[Labyrinthus]

I already had my PC configured to pause a few seconds on the boot to "boot from CD ROM' by hitting any key.

I did that and yes, selected "R"

[Retired Tech]

Not on the first screen

It needs to be

enter

F8

R

[Labyrinthus]

I am in the 'Recovery Console" and it gave me a C: prompt

[Retired Tech]

Can you check the guide, clickable from the green XP Repair Install

" When completed loading files, you will be presented with the following "Windows Setup" screen, and your first option. Select "To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER". DO NOT select Recovery Console. "

[Labyrinthus]

ENTER
F8
R

ok ... setup is running