I have a PC here that has a faulty motherboard.

Is it possible to pull the CD Key off the hard drive if plugged into another PC that is running a different install of XP on a different hard drive? (does that make sense??)

I would boot the HD in another machine if possible and then use a key extraction software for XP. There are plenty out there, just Google it.

Everest will also do it (not the trial version though).

I would boot the HD in another machine if possible and then use a key extraction software for XP. There are plenty out there, just Google it.

Yer I doubt my chances of it booting at all. The system it come from was a P4 with 915 chipset, and the only other system I have here that supports SATA is an A64 with NF4.

it will still attempt to boot, but the likelyhood of it actually starting and running and not complaining about being a different computer are slim to nill if any.

still though, its worth a shot.

Edited September 13, 200619 yr by Cygnus

This utility is supposed to work on a second drive or even a remote computer through command line switches...

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

I haven't tried doing what you need, but it works straight up in Vista and it's free

EDIT: I just re-read the instructions, it sounds like it will work for you if you can slave the drive and know the name of the Windows directory.

Edited September 13, 200619 yr by Spyvie

Magic JellyBean Finder..Google it

This utility is supposed to work on a second drive or even a remote computer through command line switches...

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

I haven't tried doing what you need, but it works straight up in Vista and it's free

EDIT: I just re-read the instructions, it sounds like it will work for you if you can slave the drive and know the name of the Windows directory.

woah, that is handy

On a working PC:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

(Download and run the Basic EXE ver and follow instructions)

Boot from this CD in the "BAD" PC

When the main screen comes up (wait for the HD light to stop):

Programs

System Information

Keyfinder PE

Browse to c:\windows

Keep this disk handy, if there is a USB external HD plugged in at boot time

you can open one of the many disk management programs and copy in a Windows

enviroment files to that external drive

Edited September 13, 200619 yr by Bigbrit

This utility is supposed to work on a second drive or even a remote computer through command line switches...

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

I haven't tried doing what you need, but it works straight up in Vista and it's free

EDIT: I just re-read the instructions, it sounds like it will work for you if you can slave the drive and know the name of the Windows directory.

Cheers mate, pulled the cdkey off it.

However, i've got more issues, which i'll post in a new thread.