Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows 3.x/9x/ME => Topic started by: Cityscape on June 28, 2009, 02:19:03 PM
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I'm trying to install my Windows 98SE but my CD key has been lost. Is there a way to find out what my CD key was? A program or something? Without the key i can't install it.
Help?
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yes; download a program called product key explorer; if your copy of SE is legal and has been registered with microsoft, it should detect it.
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It hasn't been registered with MS. I never register any software i buy.
Anything else i could do to get my key back?
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Why was it removed in the first place?
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Why was it removed in the first place?
was what removed?
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normally the only software you should register is Windows. Thats the only software i register; a reason why would be a situation like this. here's what i would do;
Launch REGEDIT by selecting Start/Run, typing REGEDIT in the text box and pressing Enter.
To find the Windows CD Key: find Windows, click the "current version" with the + sign, don't click the +sign, click on the words "current version". The product ID and the product key will appear. It's all the numbers and letters that you see.
· Highlight, Press Control C to copy the CD key to the clipboard, then paste it someplace where you can reuse it. Some experts advise compiling all your keys to a text document, then printing it out for safekeeping.
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err... what does this have to do with "registering" windows...
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Launch REGEDIT by selecting Start/Run, typing REGEDIT in the text box and pressing Enter.
To find the Windows CD Key: find Windows, click the "current version" with the + sign, don't click the +sign, click on the words "current version". The product ID and
I don't have 98 installed, that's my problem!
I get through setup until where it needs a key, but my paper with the key printed on it is gone. I need to know how to recover my key without 98 installed.
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I don't think you can.
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:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(
I'm doomed then!!!
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don't worry, their could be someone on this site that does know, but unless it is on your computer or you can find it, I don't think you can.
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Why are you installing 98 in the first place?
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I don't have 98 installed, that's my problem!
I get through setup until where it needs a key, but my paper with the key printed on it is gone. I need to know how to recover my key without 98 installed.
without 98 installed you cannot recover the product key simply because there is nothing to recover. What will you recover it from? All 98 CDs are the same- they don't use unique product keys.
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without 98 installed you cannot recover the product key simply because there is nothing to recover. What will you recover it from? All 98 CDs are the same- they don't use unique product keys.
So then any other 98SE key will work?
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So then any other 98SE key will work?
yep.
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Now i'm curious, which Windows started having unique product keys? Me, 2000?
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XP
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None.
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Most programs don't have unique product keys either.
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The unique keys are so that the computer can be identified, not the disk the software came on.
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The unique keys are so that the computer can be identified, not the disk the software came on.
not really, it's more a license key then anything. Once you activate a PC with that Key, however, it becomes somewhat tied to the hardware (mostly the network cards MAC address and other tidbits from the other components). So of course it would be this "activation number" that is unique to each PC. One can legally install XP on one machine, activate it, format that drive and install it to another computer; however depending on the scenario activation might not work without a phone call; basically it "reassociates" the product key with the new machine.