How to Identify Windows Version?

[J741]

I often run into a situation were I need to re-install Windows XP for someone. In this situation I am often not provided with the original installation CD and/or Windows XP license key (I've heared just about every reason/exuse for this you can immagine). If the system is functional enough, I can use the program 'Magic Jellybean' to extract the current Windows XP license key. However, If I use a different distribution of the Windows XP CD than what was originally used, Windows will report 'invalid license key' (even if it is a valid license key for a different type of distribution) and abort the installation process.

So how can I tell from the license key if it is for Windows XP Home Edition (OEM), Windows XP Home Edition (Retail Upgrade), Windows XP Home Edition (Full Retail Package), Windows XP Professional Edition (OEM), Windows XP Professional Edition (Retail Upgrade), Windows XP Professional Edition (Full Retail Package), Windows XP Professional Edition (Corporate), or truly an ivalid license key?

Also, I know I can identify if a currently functional Windows XP is Home or Professional Edition, but how can I tell if it was an OEM, Retail Upgrade, Full Retail Package, or Corporate install? And is it possible to find this information if Windows XP is not functional, and I have only the recovery console's command line from another Windows XP CD?

Also, how can I find this same information by examening the contents of the user's CD, or just by looking at the label (if the CD is scratched or otherwise damaged)?

- James.



My memory is not as good as it should be, and neither is my memory.

I have forgotten more than I can remember

 

[J741]

Anybody have any ideas on this?

My memory is not as good as it should be, and neither is my memory.

I have forgotten more than I can remember

 

[bcastner]

1. On a working machine, as you noted, Belarc or Jelly bean will show the CD Key. It should be obvious what is the Windows version, or Start, Run, CMD, winver

2. The license key will not tell you the version of XP. Early on it was suggestive at least. They have now gone to all numeric 25-keys. Office XP is very revealing, and Microsoft has published a KB article to decipher the codes.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011364611033.aspx

3. The COA. Or in Explorer click Help, About, right down the key value shown and call Microsoft.

4. Again, the COA. Recovery Console cannot help.

5. If the disk is in any readable, or could be made readable by cleaning or polishing with toothpaste or whatever, the PID is what you want to know.

(Excerpted from Dan Petri's site,

http://www.petri.co.il/use_oem_version_to_upgrade_xp.htm

):

First, find your setupp.ini file in the i386 directory on your Windows XP CD. Open it up, it'll look something like this:

ExtraData=707A667567736F696F697911AE7E05
Pid=55034000

The Pid value is what we're in this for. There are special numbers that determine if it's a retail, OEM, or volume license edition. First, we must break down that number into two parts. The first five digits determines how the CD will behave, i.e. is it a retail CD that lets you clean install or upgrade, or an OEM CD that only lets you perform a clean install? The last three digits determine what CD key it will accept....

Here are the individual values, the first and last values are interchangeable but you should keep them together:

Retail = 51882 335

Volume License = 51883 270

OEM = 82503 OEM

 

[linney]

There may be some assistance to be had from the Recovery Console, or other bootable CD's such as BartPE, or even a 9x Startup Floppy in some circumstances.

The file that you want to examine is the Eula.txt contained in the System32 folder (or on any Windows CD).

The first part of the Eula text file should describe the Operating System.

The last line of the same text file should describe the license type via the Eula Identification, for example -

EULAID:XPSP1_RM.1_PRO_OEM_EN
EULAID:WX.4_HOM_RTL_EN
EULAID:WX.4_PRO_RTL_EN