I had recently formatted my system only to find out i have lost the cd key to my original cd. i had used the option to enter the product key later. Yes, i know its a stupid thing to do but i bought the cd in 2008 from a retail store and i lost the original packaging. the actual label on the cd is

includes service pack version 2002 .@2004 microsoft corporation reserved.

There are some numbers on the back side of the cd in the inner ring.

i cant for the life of me figure out how what is the use of the genuine cd i have with me when i cant seem to activate it.

what exactly is the advantage of having the original cd in your possession in situations like this?.

i have tried the unattend.txt and it doesnt contain the correct key. and there does not exist any winnnt.sif file in the cd.

where on the cd or in it can i find the product id information i stay in india . and my attempts at trying the microsoft support site keeps getting me directed to page which says they had stopped support for windows xp in 2011.

lets say by some miracle i do contact microsoft. what information would i have to provide them? and would they be giving me the product key for my cd key from their database? or a new key?