[Hitman666]

To anyone who's having this problem, heres what I did. I went on to my other computer that also has windows 98, went into run, typed "regedit" and then clicked the plus sign on the following, "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", "SOFTWARE", "MICROSOFT", "WINDOWS" and then click on "CURRENT VERSION". Somewhere on the right it will be a product key.

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DO TELL...IM IN THE SAME EXACT PREDICAMENT...Im sittin here looking at my screen asking me for my product code...and Im sitting here looking at all my windows Jewel cases...of ALL my windows products, the only Key missing is my windows98se....and YES, it's a legal copy, lol.

If you read my reply, the second one on this thread, you would know the places your product key could be.

[Tyger]

DO TELL...IM IN THE SAME EXACT PREDICAMENT...Im sittin here looking at my screen asking me for my product code...and Im sitting here looking at all my windows Jewel cases...of ALL my windows products, the only Key missing is my windows98se....and YES, it's a legal copy, lol.

If you read my reply, the second one on this thread, you would know the places your product key could be.

[kre_per]

Hi there. Im new to this site and i have found a little program that can pull the cd key off of you cd. So if you have a buddys house you can go to and try it out. Definatly think about trying it. Heres the link www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Im about to try it right now so i hope it works ill post back if it does.
Uhh.. sorry if i broke any rules by posting this link.. i dont know them.

... mere minutes later... well it seems to work if you havent wiped your drive but this doesnt help me with my task of fixing my lap top. well its a handy tool nehoo.

Edited by kre_per, 09 August 2005 - 01:49 PM.

[Tyger]

Hi there.  Im new to this site and i have found a little program that can pull the cd key off of you cd.  So if you have a buddys house you can go to and try it out.  Definatly think about trying it.  Heres the link www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Im about to try it right now so i hope it works ill post back if it does.
Uhh.. sorry if i broke any rules by posting this link.. i dont know them.

... mere minutes later... well it seems to work if you havent wiped your drive but this doesnt help me with my task of fixing my lap top. well its a handy tool nehoo.

The CD key isn't in your CD. It's just handed out in serial order by MS, placed on the the Getting Started book or the machine case per the mfrs. request. It's an encrypted 128 bit code based on the product number and a serial number. It's generated by an encryption algorithm by the pidgen.dll. In your computer pidgen produces a list of PKs and the list is compared to the one you put in. If your PK is on the list you are allowed to complete the installation. I suspect your "software" is phony and just has one PK which MS probably knows about by now.

Correction: The jelly bean finds it in the registry at the HK-Local machine location.

Edited by Tyger, 09 August 2005 - 02:17 PM.

[dr.huynh]

I don't believe in piracy, but if Microsoft, a multi-billion dollar corporation, doesn't want to help the common man who loses their CD-key of a legitimately purchased copy of Windows 98 or any other Microsoft operating system, then I say what the heck. Who's with me?

We are not, and you have no idea if this persons claim is legit. That is why we do not offer this kind of assistance.

[Retired Tech]

Not sure whats wrong with this one, as a suggestion

Microsoft will replace the product key

• Replacement of CD or Product Keys

To replace a CD or Product Key, you must contact PSS. To locate the appropriate phone number for your product, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.micro...;EN-US;CNTACTMS

[deodar]

Hmm,well my policy is never to answer questions re serials or passwords.
I'll breach the policy now by agreeing with some posters.Microsoft are
very helpful & friendly,.they will activate windows XP after a hardware
upgrade,email serials & codes and even send you Easter Eggs by prepaid
courier! IMH Experience.They even supply as much software to trial as I
possibly can use.I return the favour ,I hope, by detecting Pirates and
Pirated Software, which is sooo easy.I can't imagine installing Windows
and legitimately not having the key.

[Ryan]

I can't imagine installing Windows and legitimately not having the key.

How about after you move, and have misplaced the Certificate of Authenticity? On older systems, it wasn't attached to the case like they are now. Or how about if you built the system yourself, and went out and bought the retail version of a newer OS? Or went out and bought an Upgrade version of a newer OS? In both of those cases, I believe that the CoA will be a separate piece of paper.

If it wasn't 3:14, I would be able to think of more instances where somebody might have a legit reason for not having the key.

-Ryan