[SOLVED] Virtualbox- moving a windows install

**c1aytonnet** · November 14th, 2007

I have a Lenovo N100 that came preinstalled with Win XP pro. I have converted mostly over to Kubuntu, but there are a few windows only apps that I have to have access to every once in awhile. I am the perfect candidate for virtualization. However, Lenovo only provides recovery discs, not a fresh copy of XP pro. How can I use my license for XP pro to stick it on a virtual machine? (I do have XP pro media, if that helps, from another computer)

**paul.matthijsse** · November 14th, 2007

Hello, I would use the XP from your other computer with the license number (or how that is called, I don't use Windows any more) from the Lenovo box.

**c1aytonnet** · November 14th, 2007

Where do they hide the license number in the registry these days?

**eDRoaCH** · November 15th, 2007

I can never remember where it is in the registry, but there are many programs that can get it for you. My personal favorite is Belarc Advisor (google for Belarc) gives you a great list of everything your system has any any MS keys you may want to write down.

**paul.matthijsse** · November 15th, 2007

Originally Posted by koolguynet

Where do they hide the license number in the registry these days?

On the cd box/case I guess?

**c1aytonnet** · November 15th, 2007

I ended up having to use a spare copy of XP pro I had laying around. Lenovo does not include the Product Code since they use recovery discs (hard drive images). I was able to recover the product code through the registry using software from www.magicjellybean.com, but it turned out to be an OEM key which won't work with retail media.

Right now XP pro is running in VirtualBox. I am happy with it, but a little pissed that I had to use my license on a work laptop. Whatever...I wasn't using it anyway. Thanks for the help!