Hello Steve, have you tried using the 'FIXBOOT' or 'FIXMBR' commands from the recovery console? Or have you tried pressing F8 during boot time and selected the 'Last Known Good Configuration' option?
If these don't work you can use your CD and any one of these generic product keys provided by microsoft, it will allow you to complete the setup but will have a activation timer on it, but in the meantime you will be able to boot from this drive and hopefully use the file available from Syschats' download section to recover your own product key:
http://www.syschat.com/download80.html
You could also try a system restore from the recovery console, there's an article that tells you how to do it here:
Running System Restore from the Recovery Console (well, sort of)
To install the Recovery Console as a Startup Option:
With Windows running, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive. Start/Run/X:i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons. Follow the instructions on the screen. This will give you the option of booting straight into the recovery console instead of loading from the CD all the time.
This is where you'll find your product key although you won't be able to use what you can see as it's sort of encrypted:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion
The number is listed under ProductId
If you are using the same CD as is on your working HDD then use the download file and you'll have the key you need to re-install on the broken HDD.
Generic Product Keys
Applicability
Product Key
Sequence Number
Whistler Tech Beta Program (All Platforms) PXRQ3-7VPMV-CQWXR-8Y4KX-RD786 010053298 Windows XP Home Edition Full product JKTVX-HCRXC-J2YC9-MX3K4-G9X26 005037750 Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade C84VB-JYVFD-P7HF4-6KKRJ-7M6XH 010000182 Windows XP Professional Full product DR8GV-C8V6J-BYXHG-7PYJR-DB66Y 005072760 Windows XP Professional Upgrade FKTW8-Q7MJ7-JK6GW-9J9RV-HC3C2 010000212 Windows XP Home Edition System Builder (Full) KGVXT-F9HVW-XGW9X-QVYVX-HQ9RD 120000613 Windows XP Professional System Builder (Full) TTGHK-3RC33-BT9DR-3BVYV-BTQ98 120000607
You can also use the attached .zip file to load the hive NTUSER.DAT (usually found in
C:\Documents and Settings\
User) or Windows\System32\Config\Software from the slave and then go into the registry and look under either: HKEY\Local Machine\\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version or HKEY\Local Machine\Software 00\Software\Microsoft etc. You should see a value 'DigitalProductID'.
You might be able to use the syschat download file to view the key.
Regards
Martin
Recovering Your XP Product Key From a Crashed Hard Drive
