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Thread ID: 23561	2002-08-19 05:09:00	Product Key - can you find it in the software you use?	robo (205)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
72352	2002-08-19 05:09:00	Hi I was just reading through a previous thread where Mike helped a new person out. I got the impression that once you key in a Product Key (using Microsoft speak here but similar for most vendors) that you can't see what it is. Is that true? Once you key it in it is gone forever, or is it hidden so you can't see it? What if you do lose it and want it for later reference or reinstall? Are OEM Windows installations in the same boat? I can see a number in Win98 under the registration in Control Panel, System. robo.	robo (205)
72353	2002-08-19 05:21:00	Well, I'm told it's stored in the registry or in an INI file somewhere. If you want, you can always search (Not for Win/Office XP) the net for "Serial Progname" and that has come up, I used to have a bogus winzip, but it's a real key now!!! otherwise, my friends use "Keygen Progname" and "Register Progname" or lastly "Hack Progname" It's illiegal, but If you've lost your key, it's prolly okay as long as the cops don't find it... Don't come back to me if u r imprisoned, but that prolly won't happen :s Chilling_Silence BTW, Moderators, this is not meant to be something for pplz to live by, just an answer to that question mike had, I wouldn't reccommen it in any other case!!!	Chilling_Silence (9)
72354	2002-08-19 05:26:00	Hmmm .... on the other hand what do you do if you have a CD-Key/reg number but not the CD? According to Symantec (Norton Antivurus, pcAnywhere, etc) you go and buy a new copy. GRRRRRRRRRRR X-(	antmannz (28)
72355	2002-08-19 05:29:00	Don't get me started on this stuff costing the owner of the software and doing sod all to protect the developer. I am only asking in terms of whether there is an easy way to find out your legitimate key that you entered yourself. No dodgy ambitions here. robo.	robo (205)
72356	2002-08-19 05:34:00	I can definately see my product key in the registry (wind98) using the method I described in the post you are refering to. I can also see other details such as product-id, version number and stuff like that. My windows is an oem version installed on a new pc. Quite handy to know in case my paper copy goes awol.	blondie (1248)
72357	2002-08-19 05:38:00	There are progs out there (Very hush-hush style) but I don't know of any that'll do it for ya specifically searching the registry. I know it can be done, I saw a prog on the net once, came across it whil looking for DAMN NFO Viewer.... Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
72358	2002-08-19 05:38:00	Hi Robbo, in most cases you can find regsitration keys easy enough (& Im not talking keygens ;-) ). For Windows, it usually has key values under the following path in the registry & in here there is a key called ProductID. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion Most vendors record their product keys in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE area of the registry although sometimes its in binary so you could never decipher it. The majority of software vendors leave the reg key visible after successful installation - normally under a Help-about section within their program. Hope I dont sound too dodgy - I just have a curious nature :-)	parry (27)
72359	2002-08-19 06:09:00	There can be differences between what you see as a ProductID and the actual ProductKey....(which is whats on the CD case)	godfather (25)
72360	2002-08-19 06:27:00	oops, you are quite correct Godfather. Same path in the registry but ProductKey instead of ProductID. I have found many of my programs have the registration code (not ID) clearly visible in Help-About screens (for older programs anyway). If you have registered online I can understand losing a key but not from the CD itself.	parry (27)
72361	2002-08-19 06:28:00	My product key and my product-id are totally different. The product key is exactly the same as on the certificate of authenticity. Got no idea where the product-id comes from though, but it has got oem in the middle of it.	blondie (1248)
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