Is there anyway to recover a lost product key on-line, for free, and
not have to wait for a stupid CD in the mail or anything like that??

vixenstar wrote:

If all you have is a lost product key - why do you need a new CD?

The product key is the *important* bit when it comes to the Windows XP OS.
You want to keep that safe. The CD - make a copy of ot and throw the
original in a drawer/safe. Put it in your bank vault. Whatever. The
Product key - that will work with just about any Windows XP CD of the same
type/version (OEM, Retail, Upgrade, MSDN, Volume AND Home, Professional,
Tablet PC, Media Center, x64) as the one it was matched with originally.

If you still have Windows XP installed and functioning - you can use
software to get the product key it was installed with. If it is an OEM
computer (Dell, IBM, etc) there is the possibility the key you get might not
match the CD you were given, although I believe that has become less
frequently a fact. Belarc Advisor, Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder, etc.

Otherwise - in order to get another key for no cost - you have to have proof
of purchase and you likely have to have a pretty good story too. heh