It has to be somewhere

Hey all
Is there a way to get the cd key off a software program? I looked in the setup files, and it says product key and a whole bunch of numbers and letters but none of them work, it is way to long... even tried shortening it, and cutting it off.
I bought my husband a game, tiger woods pgs tour 2005. When I installed it, it said the product key was on the back of the cd case....NOT! There was a small print on the two page flyer instruction booklet that got lost in the shuffle. Microsoft invaded my computer a couple days ago plastering message everywhere that I have been a victim of counterfeiting. It got to the point my pc didn't boot...... had to clean install my xp. Lost everything, including the game that already had the cd key installed.
There are so many programs to get the code for windows products, is there any for this type?
\Thanks

 

Hi!

Have you tried contacting the retailer and telling them the key was NOT on the CD case?

Maybe it's just me, but I believe I would be way more concerned about my copy of Windows being counterfeit than the key for the game.
But that's just ME.

 

>> Is there a way to get the cd key off a software program? There are so many programs to get the code for windows products, is there any for this type? AlwaysEnuff <<

The short answer is: No, there is no such program. Unfortunately; there actually are very few freeware products out there that can identify the hidden product keys for anything other than MS Windows products. As you said; there are numerous programs that can “fish out” Microsoft related keys such as Winkey Finder 1.70 Beta and CD Key Reader, however there is no single utility that can find ALL your various software keys.

The problem with developing such a "ProductKey finder/identifier" utility is that the majority of manufacturers of software products generally 'hide' the location of the product key in different places. Another problem is that many product key protected programs require additional information (besides the key) like an e-mail address or a specific user name. Consequently it would be difficult to develop such an "all-knowing" utility application that could seek out the various different product keys (and any other needed information) in the registry and other places and list them for the user to easily view, copy and store somewhere else.

Your best bet would be to store ALL of your software keys in either a word document named something like "Shareware Keys" or you could store the keys within a password utility. One program that is freeware that I use to store all of the program Product Key codes, support e-mail addresses, etc. as well as other passwords is called Access Manager 2 which protects the main program interface with a password prompt when it opens. I also keep the file generated from Access Manager on a separate CD for back-up.

As for the Tiger Woods software key; (as Toni mentioned earlier) you might try contacting whoever sold it to you and explain your situation to them. In many cases shareware product developers will send you either the key or a replacement key if you lost it; providing you can prove that you purchased the software, of course. This is not always the case, but it’s worth a try.

Good Luck!

 

I was.... That was taken care of. I put the original copy back in that came with my system.
Thanks

 

thank you for your help. I purchased it at walmart, I will have to search for the sales slip. thanks again