Locating Office XP product key 1

[troyn69]

I have installed Office XP on my computer with XP Home Edition for the operating system. I would like to locate where on the harddrive I can find the product key for the Office XP. I have multiple computers and multiple copies of Office XP and I would like to keep the correct copies with the correct computer.
Please Help.

 

[Davetoo]

As long as you have a copy for every install, you're legal.

 

[troyn69]

No, I need to know which copy goes with which computer, in case I choose to sell the computer, I want to be sure to give away the correct software.

 

[DarkAngel]

I have Office 2002, but it may be in the same location for XP. Open Word or Excel, on the menu bar click Help, then click About Microsoft Word (or About Microsoft Excel -- whichever app you open) and you should see the Product ID listed.

 

[troyn69]

Yes, that is the Product ID, but I would like to find the Product Key, which is on the sicker on the back side of the disk case. I believe that it is some where inbedded in the registry. Where is the question.

 

[venkman]

anyone find a solution for this? I'm having the exact same problem?

-Venkman

 

[Marcs41]

The solution is to keep your keys in ordre.
It does not matter how may installs you make with the same key, as long as you have the licenses for it like lander215 already posted.
These forums have a rule of keeping it legal, and although your intentions may be legit, others may abuse it, so this site does not tolerate keys hacks or the likes, for whatever reason.
Search google if you want to, but it will not be posted here.

_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, excpect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC! - Marc}

 

[SteveBausch]

There *may* be a way to index the license key to the machine, that would be another unique number of some sort.

You *could* try searching through RegEdit on a specific key, to *attempt* to locate it. I think they are hashed out/encrypted by the time it gets to Registy.

So, these machines all came from the same vendor, at the same time? OEM or bundled OS?


You are kinda goofy if you sell a computer without wiping the hard drive and reinstalling the OS. At that moment in time, you will have the ability to synch the key with the machine.

 

[venkman]

marcs41-

I thought officeXP activateion worked the same way windows XP does. ie. you cannot install the same license key on different machines? I'm assuming from your post this is not the case, so I won't worry about it. I was just worried if I gave the wrong key it might invalidate the other copy or something.... which now looking back doesn't really make any sense. Plus, I don't really see how this could be used illegally? If all you needed was a cd key, couldn't you get that from kazaa? Why would you bother trying to steal a friend's?

Steve-

Cds were bought seperate from the OS/PCs and were bought from online retailer.

Anyways, my concern was not to give a friend of mine, whom I 'm giving one of the copies to, a cd that was already used. I decided I'll just send him both cd keys and give him the cd/case to match the one that he chooses. I figure since the cds are legal, if ever one of us needs to prove it's a legal copy than we have an actual cd case and cd to prove it, and if there was a mix up and my cd does not match my key, I can explain it.

-Venkman

 

[Marcs41]

You need the Office CD key to install, that is all. If someone 'steals' it, he or she cannot activate it, but there are cracks for that. I know of course there are illegal keys enough on the net, but some people just want to steal a real key because they think MS can see it, even with cracks.
We all know how to get those keys, how to hack it, crack, or whatever else you want to do with it.
But, the point is that the forums are kept free of such post to avoid encouraging potential illegal use.
Posts about (potential) illegal use of keys will always be removed anyway.
Please don't take it personal, you may probably have the best intentions, but someone else may not.
I hope you understand.

_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, excpect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC! - Marc}

 

[troyn69]

My whole point was to be sure that I gave the correct software CD's and Product Key's away with the correct computer. If it doesn't matter (which I think is what conclusion has been drawn here) then I won't worry about it.

 

[Marcs41]

Indeed, don't worry too much about it.

_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, excpect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC! - Marc}