# Computer help! Which windows key is mine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352 "2008-07-13T19:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/1 "2008-07-13T19:30:50Z")
I built two computers at the same time, for myself and my mother, and kept the two copies of windows XP home (along with their packaging) together on my bookshelf. My mother is having computer issues now, and I might have to reinstall windows. The problem is I can’t remember which cd key is mine, and which is hers! Does anyone have a suggestion for how to find out which windows activation key belongs to which computer? ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/2 "2008-07-13T19:44:31Z")
What you need is this: [http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/gr/mjbkeyfinder.htm](http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/gr/mjbkeyfinder.htm) Allows you to find your product key, and all will then be well. Direct link: [KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean](http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/) ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/3 "2008-07-13T19:46:25Z")
That looks a bit dangerous to me, especially the “don’t worry if your virus scanners say this is a virus. It’s normal!” part. Is there any way I can do it through the windows interface instead of with a third party program? ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/4 "2008-07-13T19:51:20Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] That looks a bit dangerous to me, especially the “don’t worry if your virus scanners say this is a virus. It’s normal!” part. Is there any way I can do it through the windows interface instead of with a third party program? [/QUOTE] Er, where does it say that? I’ve used Magical Jelly Bean several times before without any problems. I don’t think there’s any way of getting the information without a third-party key-finder, but someone could come along and correct me in a minute. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/5 "2008-07-13T19:54:32Z")
[QUOTE=Dervorin] Er, where does it say that? I’ve used Magical Jelly Bean several times before without any problems. I don’t think there’s any way of getting the information without a third-party key-finder, but someone could come along and correct me in a minute. [/QUOTE] It said that in the “cons” part of the first link you gave me. I took your advice and tried the program out and it worked brilliantly. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/6 "2008-07-13T19:55:28Z")
I need to update a thread I posted a while ago – I was rebuilding a computer and couldn’t find a couple (legally owned) keys. It turned out that [Belarc Advisor](http://belarc.com/) did the trick for a few different programs. It matched my Windows and Office Keys (I had that those on hand), and gave me back my lost Dreamweaver key. It also provides a slew of other useful information on your system. I ran AVG, ZA, SpyBot and AdAware on it (not all at the same time) and none of them perked their ears up. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/7 "2008-07-13T19:56:59Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] It said that in the “cons” part of the first link you gave me. I took your advice and tried the program out and it worked brilliantly. Thanks! [/QUOTE] You’re welcome. I did some more digging around in the Microsoft Forums and came up with this: [http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3379914&SiteID=25](http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3379914&SiteID=25) This seems to suggest that there’s no way of getting the key without resorting to a third-party product like Magical Jelly Bean or Belarc. ETA: didn’t finish a thought. ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/8 "2008-07-13T20:52:19Z")
I might be missing something here, but if I read this correctly, the OP has both keys, right? Is there any reason **Mosier** can’t try the one key, and if that doesn’t work, try the other? I’ve mistyped keys before, and Windows doesn’t blow up or report you to Microsoft as being a thief trying to install an illegal copy, it just tells you that the key is incorrect and lets you try again. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/9 "2008-07-13T21:19:34Z")
Heh, I’m old fashioned, I mark the package and the CD. BelArc if I did not ever have the key… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/10 "2008-07-14T02:47:30Z")
[QUOTE=MisterThyristor] I might be missing something here, but if I read this correctly, the OP has both keys, right? Is there any reason **Mosier** can’t try the one key, and if that doesn’t work, try the other? I’ve mistyped keys before, and Windows doesn’t blow up or report you to Microsoft as being a thief trying to install an illegal copy, it just tells you that the key is incorrect and lets you try again. [/QUOTE] As far as YOU know. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/11 "2008-07-14T03:08:50Z")
> [@](#): > > This seems to suggest that there’s no way of getting the key without resorting to a third-party product like Magical Jelly Bean or Belarc. I second (or third) the recommendation of Belarc Advisor. It’s well-known and reliable and will get you the product key (among many other useful facts about your hardware and software). I run it regularly on my computer and keep the resulting HTML file. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-which-windows-key-is-mine/456352/12 "2008-07-14T03:13:02Z")
And some of the other information provided by Belarc Advisor will be helpful when it comes to rebuilding the system. Like when you need to update the video, network or audio driver but are not quite sure what model is installed so you can get the appropriate driver. But I strongly recommend having a copy of the network driver at least before wiping the system, because without it, you may find it difficult to get online to update everything.