Hi.

I just bought a legal copy of Windows NT 4.0 Workstation to run on my
old PC thru Yahoo! auction. I received the CD and confirmed that it is
a genuine legal copy from Microsoft.

However, the original owner told me that he has lost his CD key and
told me to search on some serials/cracks site for a CD key to install.
But since I've a legal copy, why not I install it using my own legal
CD key instead of using some pirated  serial number/CD key?

The CD comes in a paper envelope and there is a sticker on the bottom
right in the format "XXXXXX-XXX" (6 digits, a dash and 3 digits). I
also found another numeric string in the format "XXXX Part No.
XXX-XXXXX" under the copyright message printed on the CD surface. I
also found the CD serial numeber engraved on the CD inner ring (near
the hole in the center) "IFPI 8F88 R0010P1 XXX-XXXXX." That is all I
have.

In addition, is the CD key stored somewhere on the NT installation CD
itself (perhaps a file?) which I can go recover?

The current technique of using some utility to recover CD key is based
on the assumption that I've a running system installed with a copy of
NT using the same CD key. Since this is a new purchase, I totally
don't have the luxury of recovering the key from a working system.

I'm thinking of contacting Microsoft for the CD key. But since I'm a
2nd hand owner and in addition, support for NT4 has been discontinued,
will Microsoft care to help me out with this?