windows wont do anything

In news:688C73AF-C10C-4D71-AE81-8DD782AF2F18@microsoft.com,
callie <callie RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> i finnaly got the cd to boot in but they dont know their
> product key
> number(they say all they got was the cd's and nothing else
> where
> would i find their product key..
>
>> my parents have a dell laptop with windows xp service pack 2
>> in it
>> .that quit working.you can turn it on and sign into windows
>> but that
>> is it.. so we decied to try to log in from safe mode and go
>> to
>> system restore no luck at all.when open in safe mode and you
>> try to
>> open anything it will open and then say something like dr
>> watson
>> debugging has caused an error and will now close and it will
>> keep
>> saying this with different stuff has caused an error..so we
>> decided
>> to try putting th os disk in and do a repair from there,
>> well you
>> guessed no luck again it wont boot in at all..what else can
>> i
>> try..thanks in advance for your help.. --
>> callie

First off, if the installation CD you're using came with their
Dell laptop, a CD key would not be needed. All the Dell XP CDs
I've seen use what's called an SLP key which does not require
activation. Bottom line is that you shouldn't be asked for a CD
key if you were using the Dell XP installation CD for their
system.

If they didn't receive an installation CD from Dell then there
would be a hidden partition which contains all the files needed
to restore their computer to the state it was in when it left
the factory. Check the documentation for their laptop to see
how to start this process.

If you're using a generic OEM CD, look on the bottom of the
laptop for a sticker with the 25 digit CD key for their system.
Keep in mind that you need to be using an installation CD that
matches the version listed on the sticker. Don't be surprised
if you have to use phone activation.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

yep the product key was in the cd already..i did the repair but it still wont
do anything ..so iam gonna try to see if i get some luck going in through
safe mode
--
callie


"Nepatsfan" wrote:

> In news:688C73AF-C10C-4D71-AE81-8DD782AF2F18@microsoft.com,
> callie <callie DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > i finnaly got the cd to boot in but they dont know their
> > product key
> > number(they say all they got was the cd's and nothing else
> > where
> > would i find their product key..
> >
> >> my parents have a dell laptop with windows xp service pack 2
> >> in it
> >> .that quit working.you can turn it on and sign into windows
> >> but that
> >> is it.. so we decied to try to log in from safe mode and go
> >> to
> >> system restore no luck at all.when open in safe mode and you
> >> try to
> >> open anything it will open and then say something like dr
> >> watson
> >> debugging has caused an error and will now close and it will
> >> keep
> >> saying this with different stuff has caused an error..so we
> >> decided
> >> to try putting th os disk in and do a repair from there,
> >> well you
> >> guessed no luck again it wont boot in at all..what else can
> >> i
> >> try..thanks in advance for your help.. --
> >> callie
>
> First off, if the installation CD you're using came with their
> Dell laptop, a CD key would not be needed. All the Dell XP CDs
> I've seen use what's called an SLP key which does not require
> activation. Bottom line is that you shouldn't be asked for a CD
> key if you were using the Dell XP installation CD for their
> system.
>
> If they didn't receive an installation CD from Dell then there
> would be a hidden partition which contains all the files needed
> to restore their computer to the state it was in when it left
> the factory. Check the documentation for their laptop to see
> how to start this process.
>
> If you're using a generic OEM CD, look on the bottom of the
> laptop for a sticker with the 25 digit CD key for their system.
> Keep in mind that you need to be using an installation CD that
> matches the version listed on the sticker. Don't be surprised
> if you have to use phone activation.
>
> Good luck
>
> Nepatsfan
>
>
>
>
>