My mates PC wont boot, so I am going to reformat and start a fresh... Anyone know any way I can find out the XP serial that was on it before?

 

just google retrieve xp cd key theres software to get it for you

 

Do you mean a key gen?

Sorry to thread jack but i want to format my pc but haven't got an xp disk or any other os disk. Can anyone sell me one, is XP still available the proper way?

 

How would he do that if it won't boot?

Unless you have the booklet with the serial sticker attached or the sticker on the PC or get it too boot and use something like Magic Jellybean Folder, your bolloxed and will need someone kind to send you a key.

 

You don't need to borrow a key!!!!

As long as the registry is still readable there are ways around it.

I had to do this a few weeks ago, take a look at this website:

http://www.dagondesign.com/articles/...-key-recovery/

Worked a treat for me.

You will however need some form of access to the contents of the hard disk, so take it out and borrow another PC for half an hour or something. Format it and you've lost it forever.

 

Have you tried repairing the installation?

Doing a fresh install can be time consuming as you will need to download drivers and reinstall any software. Any data will be lost.

 

boot into safemode

if not repair install
and collierm theres software as i stated that can read from a drive thats on as a slave and retrieve the key from that hdd

 

If you can get into the computer at all....even safe mode...run this software which is completely free & legal & it will give you all the codes you need to re-install all your software.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html