I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product key
has been cleaned with some solvent.
I can very clearly see the full code.
The HD was formatted.
I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
Is there some way I can find out?
The key starts with ........
HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- etc

HELP ! !

On Jul 3, 9:21*am, "Bruce--M" <bruce9...********.com> wrote:
> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product key
> has been cleaned with some solvent.
> I can very clearly see the full code.
> The HD was formatted.
> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
> Is there some way I can find out?
> The key starts with ........
> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- * * etc
>
> HELP ! !

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
Download freebee keyfinder (Magic Jelly Bean) and run...........the
software, I mean! Not you!:-)

I think I mentioned the HD had been formatted?...... Cupboard is bare as a
babies ............


"sandy58" <aleckie68@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:c6ee9d75-b8fc-4057-b58c-3cfd3f76c347@h2g2000yqg.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 3, 9:21 am, "Bruce--M" <bruce9...********.com> wrote:
> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product
> key
> has been cleaned with some solvent.
> I can very clearly see the full code.
> The HD was formatted.
> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
> Is there some way I can find out?
> The key starts with ........
> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- etc
>
> HELP ! !

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
Download freebee keyfinder (Magic Jelly Bean) and run...........the
software, I mean! Not you!:-)

Bruce--M wrote:

> I think I mentioned the HD had been formatted?...... Cupboard is bare as a
> babies ............

>> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product
>> key
>> has been cleaned with some solvent.
>> I can very clearly see the full code.
>> The HD was formatted.
>> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
>> Is there some way I can find out?
>> The key starts with ........
>> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- etc
>>
>> HELP ! !
>
> http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
> Download freebee keyfinder (Magic Jelly Bean) and run...........the
> software, I mean! Not you!:-)

Sorry, there isn't going to be any way to find out what the original license
was for. Run a diagnostic from one of the freely available utility disks
like Ultimate Boot CD to see what hardware is in the system and then
purchase an operating system that works with that hardware. Or put Linux on
it for free if you don't want to buy a Microsoft OS.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

sandy58 <aleckie68@googlemail.com> wrote:

>On Jul 3, 9:21*am, "Bruce--M" <bruce9...********.com> wrote:
>> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product key
>> has been cleaned with some solvent.
>> I can very clearly see the full code.
>> The HD was formatted.
>> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
>> Is there some way I can find out?
>> The key starts with ........
>> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- * * etc
>>
>> HELP ! !
>
>http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
>Download freebee keyfinder (Magic Jelly Bean) and run...........the
>software, I mean! Not you!:-)

Umm... what part of "The HD was formatted" do you need help
understanding?

Bruce--M wrote:

> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product key
> has been cleaned with some solvent.
> I can very clearly see the full code.
> The HD was formatted.
> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
> Is there some way I can find out?
> The key starts with ........
> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- etc

If the restore image for the OS was in a hidden partition, is it still
there? Formatting works on partition boundaries, not across the entire
hard disk. So it is possible the hidden partition is still there. You
will need to follow the instructions for the computer to find out how
the OS gets installed.

If a restore image is not in a hidden partition, and if the seller did
not surrender the installation media, then the OS was *not* included in
the sale. What you bought was just hardware. So now you'll have to buy
Windows (or use a free Linux variant).

haha......... I thought I might get some better answers but I'll do it the
long way.
I've got ...
XP Pro disk
XP Home disk
XP Pro VLK disk
Windows 2000 disk
so........ I'll just start installing one at a time until that key works in
it.
I WILL come back & let you know.
I'm not even going to answer some of those replies.
It was an ex-business computer that had zero's overwritten.
Thanks.




"VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
news:h2lv79$pfk$1@news.albasani.net...
> Bruce--M wrote:
>
>> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product
>> key
>> has been cleaned with some solvent.
>> I can very clearly see the full code.
>> The HD was formatted.
>> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
>> Is there some way I can find out?
>> The key starts with ........
>> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- etc
>
> If the restore image for the OS was in a hidden partition, is it still
> there? Formatting works on partition boundaries, not across the entire
> hard disk. So it is possible the hidden partition is still there. You
> will need to follow the instructions for the computer to find out how
> the OS gets installed.
>
> If a restore image is not in a hidden partition, and if the seller did
> not surrender the installation media, then the OS was *not* included in
> the sale. What you bought was just hardware. So now you'll have to buy
> Windows (or use a free Linux variant).

You may need some more disks as I believe that if you have an OEM key, it
will not work with a retail disk and vice versa.
Louis

"Bruce--M" <bruce9950********.com> wrote in message
news:e1LpEDH$JHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> haha......... I thought I might get some better answers but I'll do it the
> long way.
> I've got ...
> XP Pro disk
> XP Home disk
> XP Pro VLK disk
> Windows 2000 disk
> so........ I'll just start installing one at a time until that key works
in
> it.
> I WILL come back & let you know.
> I'm not even going to answer some of those replies.
> It was an ex-business computer that had zero's overwritten.
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
> "VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
> news:h2lv79$pfk$1@news.albasani.net...
> > Bruce--M wrote:
> >
> >> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product
> >> key
> >> has been cleaned with some solvent.
> >> I can very clearly see the full code.
> >> The HD was formatted.
> >> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
> >> Is there some way I can find out?
> >> The key starts with ........
> >> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- etc
> >
> > If the restore image for the OS was in a hidden partition, is it still
> > there? Formatting works on partition boundaries, not across the entire
> > hard disk. So it is possible the hidden partition is still there. You
> > will need to follow the instructions for the computer to find out how
> > the OS gets installed.
> >
> > If a restore image is not in a hidden partition, and if the seller did
> > not surrender the installation media, then the OS was *not* included in
> > the sale. What you bought was just hardware. So now you'll have to buy
> > Windows (or use a free Linux variant).
>
>

Seems it is the code for Windows 2000 .....
Now where is my 2000 disk?



"Bruce--M" <bruce9950********.com> wrote in message
news:e1LpEDH$JHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> haha......... I thought I might get some better answers but I'll do it the
> long way.
> I've got ...
> XP Pro disk
> XP Home disk
> XP Pro VLK disk
> Windows 2000 disk
> so........ I'll just start installing one at a time until that key works
> in it.
> I WILL come back & let you know.
> I'm not even going to answer some of those replies.
> It was an ex-business computer that had zero's overwritten.
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
> "VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
> news:h2lv79$pfk$1@news.albasani.net...
>> Bruce--M wrote:
>>
>>> I bought a 2nd hand computer recently & it looks like the LEGAL product
>>> key
>>> has been cleaned with some solvent.
>>> I can very clearly see the full code.
>>> The HD was formatted.
>>> I CAN NOT read if it's XP Home, XP Pro or even Windows 2000.
>>> Is there some way I can find out?
>>> The key starts with ........
>>> HDBY3-H3X49-49PWX- etc
>>
>> If the restore image for the OS was in a hidden partition, is it still
>> there? Formatting works on partition boundaries, not across the entire
>> hard disk. So it is possible the hidden partition is still there. You
>> will need to follow the instructions for the computer to find out how
>> the OS gets installed.
>>
>> If a restore image is not in a hidden partition, and if the seller did
>> not surrender the installation media, then the OS was *not* included in
>> the sale. What you bought was just hardware. So now you'll have to buy
>> Windows (or use a free Linux variant).
>
>

3c273 wrote:

> You may need some more disks as I believe that if you have an OEM key, it
> will not work with a retail disk and vice versa.

And it could be a BIOS-locked version for whatever brand and model is
the computer to which it was assigned.