Lost 25 Digit Activation Key, Win2000 CD, Etc.
Paul Stephen
help me.
One day, I believe my home care person threw out a package
that contained my Windows 2000 CD, manual,
product/activation key, etc.!
I had made a backup of the disk, however, and had written
down (scrawled) the 25 alphanumeric installation code.
Well, today I went and put in that code and it appears I
wrote something down wrong as the setup program won't
accept it.
I do have Win 2000 still installed on my hard disk.
Is there any way I can go through the registry and find
this key?
If not, what do I do?
Obi Wan
glad to give you a hand.
"Paul Stephen" <pste...@mb.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:8b2501c25510$07475bf0$9de62ecf@tkmsftngxs01...
Bruce Chambers
The Product Key is not stored anywhere (in usable a format; it's
encrypted) in the registry or elsewhere on the hard drive. Nor is it stored
anywhere on the installation media.
If it was a retail license, it's stored somewhere on the CD packaging on
a bright orange sticker that says "Do not lose this number." If it was an
OEM (factory installed) license, it's stored on a label that the PC
manufacturer affixed to the exterior of the PC case.
To recover a lost CD key:
If it was a retail license, call Microsoft at (800) 426-9400 with proof
of purchase. If it was an OEM (factory installed) license, contact the PC's
manufacturer.
HTH&GL,
Bruce Chambers
__
Always store beer in a dark place. -- RAH
"Paul Stephen" <pste...@mb.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:8b2501c25510$07475bf0$9de62ecf@tkmsftngxs01...
Jim Byrd
In news:unfuf33...@corp.supernews.com, Bruce Chambers typed:
> Greetings --
>
> The Product Key is not stored anywhere (in usable a format; it's
> encrypted) in the registry or elsewhere on the hard drive. Nor is it stored
> anywhere on the installation media.
>
Hi Bruce - Are you trying to protect MS's investment by having folks do the "right" thing, or are you just unaware that the above statement is incorrect, at least for some Win2k systems? In either case, I would recommend that you not include the above statement when responding to posts of this sort. Regards, Jim Byrd
Warren C. E. Austin
If, and only if, your version of Windows'2000 is an OEM (not Microsoft
Boxed-retail), then there is a possibility that the Key-code has been
written to the file "$winnt$.inf", without the double-quotes (""), which
in some (but not all) OEM versions is written to the "System32" folder
nested inside the Windows (or WINNT) directory.
You will need to boot to MS-DOS (if your machine is not a dual-boot,
then use a Windows'9x/ME boot- or rescue-disk, and boot from Drive A:)
and using DOS-Edit open the file. The entry you want will be found
under the Heading:
[UserData]
productid = "..."
Warren C. E. Austin
Lanwench
or a copy, he's right.
It's on the jewel case or cardboard sleeve, not on the CD itself, and it's
encrypted in the registry. It is most likely not going to be found anywhere
useful on the HD.
If it's a retail version, MS can help. If it's OEM, the manufacturer can
help. Nuff said.
Or are you objecting to "Greetings --" ? <g>
"Jim Byrd" <jrb...@spamlessattbi.com> wrote in message
news:Ov92BKUVCHA.3764@tkmsftngp08...
Paul Stephen
>If, and only if, your version of Windows'2000 is an OEM
(not Microsoft
>Boxed-retail), then there is a possibility that the Key-
code has been
>written to the file "$winnt$.inf", without the double-
quotes (""), which
>in some (but not all) OEM versions is written to
the "System32" folder
>nested inside the Windows (or WINNT) directory.
>
>You will need to boot to MS-DOS (if your machine is not a
dual-boot,
>then use a Windows'9x/ME boot- or rescue-disk, and boot
from Drive A:)
>and using DOS-Edit open the file. The entry you want
will be found
>under the Heading:
>
>[UserData]
>productid = "..."
>
>Warren C. E. Austin
>
>
Paul Stephen
No such luck -- key was not in that file.
Paul
>.
>