XP Versions

[jhoppe]

Good Morning all,

I ran into an issue at a client's site...I was able to view the serial that this XP Pro box is using (no COA sticker on case) and wanted to know what the best way was to be able to see what version (OEM, retail, VLK) they are using...

On the system properties from Control Panel, there is the XP information. This box is in the format...

XXXX - 013 - XXXX....

013 SHOULD be a clue. Anyone able to tell what version?

 

[thecoldone06]

If you go to system information under system tools, under system summary if the manufacturer is a big dealer (dell, gateway, etc) then it's a pretty safe bet its OEM. I'm not sure how to tell for sure though.

 

[14049752]

If the system is booted into Windows: Joshua's XP Key Reader will do exactly what you want (attached).
It works on BartPE as well as by itself inside a running copy of windows (and off a flash drive).

 

[TimeCode]

XP Media Center Edition 2005?

If the system is booted into Windows: Joshua's XP Key Reader will do exactly what you want (attached).
It works on BartPE as well as by itself inside a running copy of windows (and off a flash drive).

That's pretty cool. It told me that I have "XP Media Center Edition 2005, XP Pro volume license / OEM".

It is correct about the XP Pro and the OEM. I'm just wondering why it says "XP Media Center Edition 2005" before the XP Pro.

 

[14049752]

I think it does that because the Media Center edition is based on XP Pro. So maybe the PID or keys for volume licensing are the same.

 

[TimeCode]

I think it does that because the Media Center edition is based on XP Pro. So maybe the PID or keys for volume licensing are the same.

That kind of makes sense. But why wouldn't they have based it upon XP home?

 

[Blues]

That kind of makes sense. But why wouldn't they have based it upon XP home?

XP Home is based on XP Pro is why. They built XP Pro first as the full featured OS and then just strip out parts to turn it into Home and MCE much easier way then to try and add features into an existing OS.