Windows XP Key

I have lost my Key. The computer is still up and running and I'm not having any problems. But before I do have problems, is there a way to find my key? Is it in the registry someplace?

thanks
Ray

 

>> I have lost my Key. The computer is still up and running and I'm not having any problems. But before I do have problems, is there a way to find my key? Is it in the registry someplace? thanks << homepc

Hi Ray,

Major Geeks Forum Member and developer Matt Chugg's freeware utility called Keyfinder Thing 3 3.16 will find and retrieve the Windows XP product key; that is, if you have Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 installed. And it will find several other installed program product keys as well.

If you do not have (or want to have) Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 installed you could also try the freeware utility called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder which will retrieve the XP Product Key used to install windows from your registry. It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Windows Vista, Office 97, Office XP, and Office 2003.

Good Luck!

 

Great! Thanks!! Worked Fine!

 

Just as a matter of interest homepc which utility did you use and how did it work out for you, I am considering another version of Keyfinder Thing (A 'lite' version if you will which doesn't require such a heavy dependancy as the .net 2.0 fx) I am also constantly updating it to support new software so if this is the one you used and you have some ideas for inclusion please feel free to let me know.

 

>> I am also constantly updating it to support new software so if this is the one you used and you have some ideas for inclusion please feel free to let me know. << matt.chugg

Hi Matt.

More and more apps/utilities are using Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 and 2.0 these days. I know because I was recently cleaning out and older PC that I use primarily for testing (the HD was filling up a bit) and I removed .Net Framework entirely and several applications and utilities did not function afterwards. Not the majortiy, of course; but more than I originally thought would be affected by the removal of .Net Framework.

As to the inquiry in your post; if you're asking about which apps you might want to to consider adding to the next version of your excellent Keyfinder Thing program; listed below are some of the shareware applications which I've tested in the last 4 or 5 months.

Most (if not all) of them required some sort of "product key" or full activation serial number to activate for "full use" or to further enable their use; after the trial period expired. Although I must admit that I can't say for sure that they all had product keys, because I generally only test the vast majority of shareware trialware programs and utilities; for the duration of whatever their designated 'trial period' is.

Ad-Aware SE Professional 1.06
Add Remove Plus v5.1
AllToTray 4.6.3
AntiCrash Pro 1.6.1
BSPlayer Pro v2.10
Buzof Annoying Windows Eliminator
Clean Disk Security 7.56
Creata Screensaver
DFX For Winamp 7
Disk CleanUp 2000 4.9
Download Accelerator Plus Premium 8
Evidence Eliminator v5
Ewido Anti-malware 3.5 Fast Defrag Pro 2.3
Folder Lock 5.2 FolderView 2.2
Glary Utilities v1.5 HARE
Add-on (for Anti-Crash) Hide Files & Folders
Hide Folders XP 2
Instant LOCK 2.5
Internet Download Manager v5
Its Time v2.8e
Kerio Personal Firewall v4
Lock Files + Folders XP
Lock My PC
Media Monkey
Memory Internet Optimizer
Mp3 Wav Studio v6.1 Nero 7
Ultra Edition O&O Defrag Professional Edition 8
PC Accelerator 2007 Pro v1.1
PC Pitstop Optimize v1.5
PC Tools Privacy Guardian 4.1
PCBoost 3
Pointstone Internet Accelerator 1.31
Quintessence of Wisdom 2.3 GOLD Edition
Ram Turbo 1.5
Record Anything 2.8
Registry Booster Registry Clean Expert 4.2
Registry Defragmentation 8.1
Registry Mechanic Registry Repair v1.6
Secure Clean PC 2.2
Super Cleaner 2.9
System Cleaner 4+
System Cleaner 5
System Mechanic Professional 6+
Total Uninstall 3.62
Tracks Eraser Pro 5.7
TuneUp Utilities 2006
Tweaks & Tools for Windows XP 1.72
UltimateZip 3.0
WinGuard Pro
Winamp 5.21
Windows & Internet Cleaner Pro 5.6
XP Repair Pro 2006 3.1
Your Uninstaller! 2006 Pro v5

Note: Of course, I don't expect you to add all of these products (lol); but many of these are popular and having the ability to search for and retain the product keys or serial numbers would come in handy. As far as I know; the latest version of your fine freeware product Keyfinder Thing 3 3.16 currently finds more product keys than any other (shareware or freeware) application that I've tested.

Here's hoping that your future versions will become as popular and widely used as some of the other standard installed freeware apps available out there on the web (such as CCleaner, for instance)!

Good Luck!

 

Thanks compuable i'll go through the list, the only issue is installing them with a serial so I can hunt it down, and most companies arn't in a hurry to give me a free copy lol. I'll add them to the list.

The next version will support all office 2007 beta products, SQL server 2000, and more support for office xp.

Also I am adding support for 64 bit application as they changed the registry setup for x64 stuff.

 

>> Thanks compuable I’ll go through the list, the only issue is installing them with a serial so I can hunt it down, and most companies aren’t in a hurry to give me a free copy lol. I'll add them to the list. matt.chugg <<

Oh anytime Matt. My pleasure, really!

Speaking of "hunting things down" after installing software...

Because I test so many different programs when they come out or are updated or upgraded (little hobby of mine) I like using the program called Total Uninstall because it monitors any changes that were made to the system before during and after the installation process of any "newly installed" software program or utility. It's probably the best $30 bucks I ever plunked down for any "monitor type" of utility that I've ever used. Especially when I consider all of the hassles that came with the numerous installs/uninstall that I've performed over the years; prior to using it!

Anyway basically, here's how it works: I launch the "new program installation" (from the TU interface) by dragging the new applications' setup file out of its folder and drop it anywhere on Total Uninstall's main window. Total Uninstall will then open the "Install" screen and auto-fill needed information to begin the monitoring process and then select the system areas to be monitored.

The program then creates a sort-of "snapshot" of my system before it installs the new software and an additional snapshot after install completes. The drag and drop automatically fills in the necessary fields; however I also have the flexibility to manually tick, untick or change or delete of this information to fit my needs.

It then compares the two snapshots and displays all changes in a graphical tree view, marking all values and/or files that have been added or changed as well as some before/after details. Total Uninstall will save these changes and if I decide to uninstall the application (something I almost always do after testing), it will reverse all changes retroactively to the previous state. These registry changes can also be "exported" so they can be re-applied, if need be.

Note: I wonder if you might be able to utilize this application's comparison of the two install/uninstall 'snapshots' processes in order for you enable you to detect where the various product keys or serial numbers you are searching for that are stored in the registry?

About the only possibly “negative” thing I can think of regarding this handy app is that alas; Total Uninstall doesn't work for already installed programs. In this case I have to rely on the dedicated uninstaller and on some type of registry cleaner (CCleaner is pretty good at this) in order to try to "clean up" and remove whatever the leftover traces in the system and registry. Consequently, if the program is older I generally "reinstall" it again and allow the Total Uninstall app to monitor it.

The very best thing about it is that (so far, at least) there is hasn't been any "conflict" at all between Total Uninstall and any other application because the monitoring process is passive and doesn't intercept any system functions to get the system changes.

I like it also TU also because it allows for performing a thorough and more complete, cleaner uninstall without having to rely on ADD/Remove or the "usually inept" developers’ supplied uninstall.exe; or whatever other method that comes with some of these programs and utilities that I test. The latter two methods (Add/Remove and/or uninstall.exe) more often than not, leave numerous useless congestive files behind or create unwanted "changes" to the system after uninstalling the "regular way."

The program is available here at MajorGeeks and it comes with a 30-day trial; so if you decide to test it out, I'd suggest entirely reading the included HELP file (or even make a portable copy of it on a USB flash drive) in order to get the most out of it. The primary site also has a small forum; however I've never used it so I can't really vouch for how good the support is. But come to think of it the fact that the onsite forum is so small and apparently is rarely visited likely attests to how good the program performs...

Good Luck!

 

That might help but I normally need to install it to get the icon, normally once i've installed it its pretty easy to find the key, its just a case of having a key to instal it with to find in the first place.

 

Alternatively, Belarc Advisor will retrieve ALL your installation keys as a default action, when checking your PC for installed applications...

 

Sorry, Belarc Advisor does NOT show all keys. It does not even show Microsoft Office 2000 and Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business keys, as installed on my PC. I just checked it out again. Bazza

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Maybe you need a NEWER version? I shouldn't have said ALL, becuase I cannot vouch for that, I should say MOST, and it picked up all keys for software I have installed with a key, including OfficeXP (Ofcourse not 2k)

 

Hi Bigbazza,

Perhaps Luthius should have said all except office 2000? Seriously, it's believed that the office 2000 product keys aren't saved on the computer after their use in installation. There are no applications we're aware of that can recover them.

 

Belarc guy is right, Office 2000 isn't supported by any of the keyfinders.

 

Thanks matt, BelarcGuy and others. I thought I had one installed that detected Office 2000. I guess I was mistaken.

I have my keys entered in a Word file for safekeeping as well as saving the boxes that the software comes in. As the Irish say "To be sure, to be sure". Bazza

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