Etal said:
Etal said:
Joe said:
hi can anybody help? my son has lost his cd case with the product key
for age of mythology the titans. he already has this installed into
his computer but i need to reformat his computer as it is a huge mess
but he wont let me incase he looses his game. can anybody help? is the
product key number in a file somewhere already in his computer? Thanks
in advance
Easiest way to resolve this problem is to buy a new copy of the
software.
That said you MIGHT be able to find a copy of the product key in your
system registry. Click Start > Run... (or press Win Key+R) and type
in "regedit" and click OK.
From here press F3 and search for something like "mythology"
Whatever it finds you may have to hit F3 a few times until it finds
the actual space where the product key is kept in the regsitry.
I'm only 50% sure you'll find it here, if you don't then the first
suggestion holds, buy the software again.
When installing Windows one uses a *Product-Key* , but then a derived
*Product-Id* is presented in the 'System' Control-Panel applet and
similar places.
ms uses the same deal for AoM. It's a 'ProductId' and a
'DigitalProductId' that are stored in the Registry (and displayed
inGame).
In parting I recommend keeping a list of your product keys. I
actually have a CD binder that I keep some CDs along with print outs
of CD-Keys. They are basically currency when it comes to gaming.
Proof of ownership, etc.
Note: I also don't have Mythology installed, so maybe someone who has
the game can point out where the key is kept in the registry.
the 'DigitalProductId' and 'ProductId' are (for me) stored under:
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Age of Mythology\1.0]
and
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Age of Mythology Expansion
Pack\1.0]
As i remember it, the Keys under 'Microsoft Games' are deleted when
uninstalling the game(s), so if one exports these keys from the
current Windows-install and re-imports them on a new machine before
installing the games again, it .. just .. might work. I haven't tried
this so *i'm not at all sure* if this will work or not.
Warning!
This got me curious so i tested it and it *does NOT work* for me. The
'AoM Gold Ed.' Installer still insists for me to enter the 25-character
Product Key. Sorry.
After snoozing.. So, since there is a working install - don't use
the installer. I haven't tested it and i will not do it now, but
i think the following should work.
1) Backup the Registry-keys created when originally installing
the game.
2) Backup the files installed when game where installed.
and
3) Redeploy the above after reinstalling Windows.
Besides the reg-keys mentioned in my previous post, and the files
under the chosen install-directory, for me there where three
font-files installed to backup, with their corresponding
reg.-entries as follows;
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
"Arial Unicode MS (TrueType)"="ARIALUNI.TTF"
"GiovanniITCTT Book (TrueType)"="GIO_BK.TTF"
"Perpetua (TrueType)"="PER_____.TTF"
There are some other Reg-keys created like the key for
uninstalling the game and others that i hope aren't necessary.
For example i think these empty reg.-keys (SafeDisc-DRM) will be
recreated when rerunning the games.
[HKLM\Software\C07ft5Y\aom] and [HKLM\Software\C07ft5Y\aomx]
Optional:
If desired backup previous Per-User SaveGames, from somewhere
like under 'My Documents\My Games\'.
If desired backup previous Per-User GameSettings, from
[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\...] in the registry.
Absolutely no guarantees, and of course you'll still be SOL next
time you need to use the installer to reinstall the game.
Hopefully the CD-case will turn up during spring-cleaning.
