How can I tell if a Windows XP install is home or professional?

Question

I have a non-booting system with Windows XP, I have access to the system partition (by booting with Ubuntu, or even by mounting the HDD in a working Windows machine).

How can I tell, by analyzing the system partition, if the installed SKU of Windows XP is home or professional?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 21 '11 at 17:07

5

Go to the Windows\System32 folder, and look for EULA.txt. Scroll to the last line, and it will tell you what media and what version was originally installed

answered Jul 21 '11 at 17:07

Canadian Luke

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"I have a non-booting system ..." – William Jackson Jul 21 '11 at 17:09
1

I read that after... So I edited my respone – Canadian Luke Jul 21 '11 at 17:10

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 21 '11 at 16:55

1

Use a tool such as Magical Jelly Bean KeyFinder to load the registry from the disk while connected to another windows PC. Use the Tools --> Load Hive... function to switch to the external disk.

answered Jul 21 '11 at 16:55

Mike Insch

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It doesn't work... it says "Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 / Product Part No.: A22-00001 / Installed from 'OEM' media" followed by the product key. No mention of Home or Professional... – Wizard79 Jul 21 '11 at 17:05
Hmm, odd - could've sworn it also showed the edition for XP (it certainly does for Vista / 7) ... Apologies for the red-herring :( – Mike Insch Jul 21 '11 at 17:21

How can I tell if a Windows XP install is home or professional?

2 Answers2