Product key from registry

suriya6in · 11-27-2002, 04:32 AM

hi

Is it possible to find the CD key of any installed OS or any installed application like office or exchange server etc., from the Windows registry?
Or any other way to find it from the system?

Thejavaman1 · 11-27-2002, 08:46 AM

What is the program, you might be able to get it out...

mouse · 11-28-2002, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by suriya6in
hi

Is it possible to find the CD key of any installed OS or any installed application like office or exchange server etc., from the Windows registry?
Or any other way to find it from the system?

Some programs display the key in their "about" section (Word should do that) and some will display it on a splash screen when you start them up (Dreamweaver for example).

pharma · 11-29-2002, 03:41 PM

some programs store their product keys at the registry.

ionsurge · 12-02-2002, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mouse
Some programs display the key in their "about" section (Word should do that) and some will display it on a splash screen when you start them up (Dreamweaver for example).

Word doesnt display the serial number in the about box, because Microsoft believe that people who do not have a licensed copy of office, will use it on their machine, after seeing it at work or at school, and registering their version office using that serial.

So instead, it is usually encrypted and made into a product ID, which is a string of numbers,

Ionsurge.

mouse · 12-03-2002, 04:41 AM

My university PC displays Word's product key in the about section, maybe it's a freak edition...

ionsurge · 12-03-2002, 07:07 AM

Your product key should be a string of numbers, e.g.

Quote:

12345-12345-12345-12345-12345

and not

a1b2c-3d4e5-f6g7h-8i9j1-0k11l1

You get it? That is what you should see, for all versions of Office. If you can see the serial, I would seriously question the programs authenticity...

Ionsurge.

suriya6in · 12-03-2002, 02:35 PM

Then where are the product key will be stored when we enter while installation?

ionsurge · 12-03-2002, 04:38 PM

It will either be encrypted somewhere in the executable file, or it may be generated when you install the program, where you put in your serial number. That is the most likely one that will be of a factor.

Ionsurge.

pharma · 12-03-2002, 06:53 PM

That was quite interesting...

Anyway, why do you need to know where does the CD goes after you install your OS or program?

ionsurge · 12-03-2002, 07:58 PM

Somewhere safe, in a drawer, or CD Rack?

Ionsurge.

Roelf · 12-03-2002, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ionsurge
Somewhere safe, in a drawer, or CD Rack?

Ionsurge.

or maybe back to the owner of the cd

WA · 12-03-2002, 09:51 PM

If you have a legitimate copy of a product, it should be easy to re-obtain the key, either through the vendor's customer support or otherwise. I feel a little uncomfortable about this topic, so I'm closing it.