Lost Product Key

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brad
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Brad

Help! I am in the midst of reinstalling Microsoft Windows
Server 2000 and I have lost the jewel case containing the
product key. I recall at one time that there is
a "Generic" product ID, but I cannot remember the sequence.

Also, if I registered this product at one time with
Microsoft, wouldn't they be able to get it to me?

Thanks for any useful information.
 
Greetings --

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker
that says "Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory
installed) license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer
affixed to the exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.

To recover a lost Product Key:

If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact whomever sold you the
OS; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of the
Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.


Bruce Chambers

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having both at once. -- RAH
 
Edit the Registry (If you are the legal owner)
Start | Run... | type "Registry" (without the quotes) | press enter,
navigate to HKLM | Software | Windows | click Current Version, look in right
pane to find ProductKey or ProductID if OEM. Double click it, copy the
entry, close the window, paste the number in notepad or write it down. Close
your Registry. (Messing with a registry can be worse than messing with
Mother Nature)

If you have purchased the system and are the legal owner, but the name is
not correct, you can edit the registry to change this information.
Navigate to;
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
and edit the Reg_Sz strings:

"RegisteredOrganization"
"RegisteredOwner"


Help! I am in the midst of reinstalling Microsoft Windows
Server 2000 and I have lost the jewel case containing the
product key. I recall at one time that there is
a "Generic" product ID, but I cannot remember the sequence.

Also, if I registered this product at one time with
Microsoft, wouldn't they be able to get it to me?

Thanks for any useful information.
 
AFAIK the product key that is recorded in the registry only
describes the product. It cannot be used to re-install it.
 
"Pegasus \(MVP\)" said:
Nice one - and it works!
Click to expand...

If there's a will there's a way...... ;0)

It also allows changing the keys with other OS's....Win2k on the
otherhand they have not quite figured out yet....Besides the sysprep
option I have not seen any other way to change a Win2k Pro key.
 
Guess I left that part out.
Thanks for correcting my oversight..

don
-----



AFAIK the product key that is recorded in the registry only
describes the product. It cannot be used to re-install it.
 
-----Original Message-----
Help! I am in the midst of reinstalling Microsoft Windows
Server 2000 and I have lost the jewel case containing the
product key. I recall at one time that there is
a "Generic" product ID, but I cannot remember the sequence.

Also, if I registered this product at one time with
Microsoft, wouldn't they be able to get it to me?

Thanks for any useful information.
.
Click to expand...

After reading through the other posts I don't think that
they understood that you are in the middle of a fresh
install and gave you ways to retrieve a key from a
currently running system, which unless you have another
server running nearby is not of much use. I have has
issues regarding other legitimatly lost keys in which the
manufacturer of the software after being contacted wants
you to fax a copy of the the front cover of the orginal
documentation or some other crazy thing like that even if
you have registered your copy of the software with the
company. If you are anything like me, if I could find the
original docs then most likely my jewel case is sitting
right next to it. So the following link is for you hoping
you are a legitimate owner and trusting you mainly because
I have been in a similar position www.astalavista.com.
Try using some of the search engines on the page to help
you in you issue. It has always helped me.(both times I
lost keys) And the suggestion to keep all of your keys in
a spreadsheet is an excelent one, it's what i do now as
soon as I get new software.
 
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