From : www.techquark.com

Microsoft’s new Windows Product Activation presents support techs with all sorts of new challenges, including the need to have a valid product key to install, or reinstall, Windows XP on workstations. But what do you do if you can’t find the CD with the original key. You can discover the key using the trick below.

Steps :

1. Insert the Windows XP disk inside your computer.
2. Explore the CD from my computer.
3. Open the folder I386.
4. Locate the file UNATTEND.TXT and open it.
5. Scroll down to the last line and there you will fine the product key.

PS (by this sites editor):
the product key found in unattend.txt is ot the product key for the install CD but rather a prototype KEY for the very first version of windows, its the same key on every windows XP cd (differs only between SP versions)
so you cant activate your windows over the internet with it, but at least you’ll have it running for 30 days, until you find another solution !!

Tests on the overal validity of this are run right now!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purpose only, as most information is found on various part of Internet. Readers should contacts Microsoft if their licensed or OEM software cannot be installed or purchase genuine software.

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for all those experiencing the “file not found” error with tubeSock lately, heres an alternative to view/download you favourite YouTube videos:

Mactube

Works great for me, you might want to give it a try …