So my windows xp installation won't start, I have this old PII for the web.
The XP computer works fine, but when it gets to the point when it should show the login screen, it never shows up. Safe mode hangs at the equivalent point.
I can't remember the Administrator's password, I always log in as "Andrew" which is an admin. Is there a way to run Repair with an administrative user or am I really SOL and it must be the "Administrator" account?
I installed annother XP on the machine and everything seems fine.
I would go with a new installation except for one serious problem: I can't find the product key. I have the booklet and the product CD, but I put the little strip with the product key somewhere safe... when I bought the machine a couple years ago... before I moved last year.
I have seen the KB art about getting the product key from a running windows install, but I need to know:
Is it possible to extract the product key from an installation that won't run?
(If it is impossible, let me know and I will focus on finding the little strip of paper instead.)
Any suggestions for tools that will help me Repair the installation would also be appreciated.