SFC_Hammer Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Here's a question for all the experts out there.I am trying to rebuild a laptop that has a Windows COA sticker on the bottom. It has the product key, but the top of the sticker was either cleaned or wiped off so I can't figure out which version of XP this should be.Is there some website that I can type in the product key to determine what version this is for? Of course I don't have the original CD. I've tried two different OEM cd's from a different manufacturer, but it won't allow me to activate using my product key.Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Product keys for commercial computers, especially laptops, are specific versions tied to the manufacturer of the computer and the associated hardware/software.You must obtain a Windows disk appropriate to the brand of laptop - and, quite possibly, the model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC_Hammer Posted December 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I figured as much. Wonder if anyone has this that they'd be willing to part with. Or even just a copy of it as I already have the required COA. Any CF-18 owners who can help, much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I have a feeling that what you are proposing is a little bit naughty, and you will find it is not quite what this forum was set up for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Any CF-18 owners who can help, much appreciated. Thanks in advance.CF-18 = a Panasonic Toughbook ?If so ............... it probably came with XP Pro (see below)http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/s...No=Toughbook-18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC_Hammer Posted December 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I have a feeling that what you are proposing is a little bit naughty, and you will find it is not quite what this forum was set up for.Sir, not quite following you here. I have a Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 that had its hard-drive wiped. There is a COA with the product key on the bottom of the case. The laptop model number is CF-18KDHZXVM and the first set of numbers on the product code is TTBRK.I want to restore this laptop back to its original operating system. Can you help or not? If you believe it is against the law to restore an operating system back to its original build, then I guess that would be your opinion and interpretation.If you can assist then I appreciate whatever you can do. Thanks for your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hb_Kai Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I have a feeling that what you are proposing is a little bit naughty, and you will find it is not quite what this forum was set up for.Sir, not quite following you here. I have a Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 that had its hard-drive wiped. There is a COA with the product key on the bottom of the case. The laptop model number is CF-18KDHZXVM and the first set of numbers on the product code is TTBRK.I want to restore this laptop back to its original operating system. Can you help or not? If you believe it is against the law to restore an operating system back to its original build, then I guess that would be your opinion and interpretation.If you can assist then I appreciate whatever you can do. Thanks for your time.He means that passing your own Windows product key to anyone else, even a friend, is illegal and is only for your own personal use. We are but humble, law-abiding citizens here. :)Your best bet would be either to look on the Panasonic website for your computer and see what operating system it was shipped with or buy every single version of Windows possible until you can find the right one.Or. You could remember what the old operating system was and use that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 CF-18 a Panasonic Toughbook ?If so ............... it probably came with XP Pro (see below)http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/s...No=Toughbook-18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I am trying to rebuild a laptop that has a Windows COA sticker on the bottom. It has the product key, but the top of the sticker was either cleaned or wiped off so I can't figure out which version of XP this should be.Is there some website that I can type in the product key to determine what version this is for?Go straight to source - "Microsoft".They will immediately designate you as "Genuine" or "just another punter who is trying to get Windows XP Pro for free".Fairly simple. - Why bother to involve a middleman ? :D - Go straight to source. (simple logic)Most forums are generally well aware of most of the illegal requests, and are very wary of the answers they give in reply.(Sir, you are obviously not classed in this category)Why did you not present this probem firstly to Microsoft who could have classified ownership ?No harm in giving a link I suppose if your intercourse with Microsoft is less than useful. Hope that the below link will be of some help.http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&key...sl_4c7xrn5irk_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC_Hammer Posted December 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 I have a feeling that what you are proposing is a little bit naughty, and you will find it is not quite what this forum was set up for.Sir, not quite following you here. I have a Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 that had its hard-drive wiped. There is a COA with the product key on the bottom of the case. The laptop model number is CF-18KDHZXVM and the first set of numbers on the product code is TTBRK.I want to restore this laptop back to its original operating system. Can you help or not? If you believe it is against the law to restore an operating system back to its original build, then I guess that would be your opinion and interpretation.If you can assist then I appreciate whatever you can do. Thanks for your time.He means that passing your own Windows product key to anyone else, even a friend, is illegal and is only for your own personal use. We are but humble, law-abiding citizens here. :)Your best bet would be either to look on the Panasonic website for your computer and see what operating system it was shipped with or buy every single version of Windows possible until you can find the right one.Or. You could remember what the old operating system was and use that one.I am not asking anyone to give me their product key as I already have one. The COA however does not state what version of Windows XP the product key belongs to either due to it being inadvertantly cleaned off or never having been there to begin with.I am fully aware of piracy laws, rules and regulations and am not asking for anyone to break the law in this regard. I was simply asking for someone to sell me their restore or recovery disks for a Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 laptop.I am not aware of this being illegal in any realm of piracy laws regarding software. If it is then I digress and apologize to this forum. Otherwise, if what I am asking for is leagally available, then I am requesting the assistance of someone who can is is willing to help.Thank you in advance for your comments and assistance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hb_Kai Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Well you should be able to tell what the operating system and version is booting into a Linux liveCD then just mount the Windows partiton and have a look through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 CF-18 a Panasonic Toughbook ?If so ............... it probably came with XP Pro (see below)http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/s...No=Toughbook-18Your version will be XP Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC_Hammer Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Thanks Boris. I was finally able to round up a cd that works with the product key thats on the bottom of the laptop. Strange that the COA that came with the laptop didn't state what version of XP was installed originally. Could have been wiped off by the previous user during a more than necessary cleaning job.At any rate, thanks to all that replied.HB Kai, I know your idea of booting with a Linux disk to check the partition would work if there had already been an OS still on the hard drive. Since I purchased this Toughbook from a government auction, hard drives are wiped clean before releasing to the public.Thanks again all!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 That is an interesting situation.When the HD is wiped clean the OS must also be wiped, and theoretically it must return to virgin status.Does this mean that it has lost any claim to its previous OS? Having said all that I suppose, if it is an ex govt. machine, you could equaly well have ended up with the details for the invasion of Ongybongyland or the Prime Mentalists private porn cache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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