pigmelt Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) my step son gave me his old gatewaycomp, and os but lost the cd key. is there any way to retirve this key form the cd itself? it is an older machine about 6 yrs. only a 700 mhz processor. Edited September 23, 2005 by pigmelt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mx² Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 Is there a sticker on the Gateway about Microsoft Windows? It usually has the CD key on it. I'm not sure about Win98 though... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 have you checked the case. usually there is a COA(sticker), that has the key on it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigmelt Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 have you checked the case. usually there is a COA(sticker), that has the key on it<{POST_SNAPBACK}>there are no stickers on the case or in the case, they were stuck on the inside of the os manual, i think he lost the manual. thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JDoors Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 From Troubleshooting "Invalid Product Key" support page:"If you are unable to locate your product key, or your product key label is damaged, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For more information, please see the following Microsoft Web site: " The page apparently had a phone number to call but unfortunately as they no longer support 98SE the link is invalid. Looks like they took down many 98SE pages as I tried others with no success (though it's possible there is a problem with their servers). If they won't support their own product I would not hesitate to use the Internet to find a "work-around" of any type (yeah, that includes not-entirely-Kosher ones). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Machinewar Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 my step son gave me his old gatewaycomp, and os but lost the cd key. is there any way to retirve this key form the cd itself? it is an older machine about 6 yrs. only a 700 mhz processor.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>If it still has the OS on it try this http://www.angelfire.com/va3/vic3/winkeys.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blim Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 IF the machine is running, do this: (and I know the registry is a scary place, don't worry, you're only looking at the registry, not touching anything!)Start > run > type regeditThis will open the registry editor. From there, navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersionClick on the CurrentVersion folder, and on the right pane there will be a key that says ProductKey. There will be a 25 digit key (both numbers and letters), copy it down.I used this to make sure we had the right key before reinstalling windows, and it worked! If you still can't find it, then:Edit > FindType ProductKey in the find box and click Find Next.Thanks to Macmarauder, he found this info! And if you have the Windows Manual, the key is on the front of it.Liz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigmelt Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 IF the machine is running, do this: (and I know the registry is a scary place, don't worry, you're only looking at the registry, not touching anything!)Start > run > type regeditThis will open the registry editor. From there, navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersionClick on the CurrentVersion folder, and on the right pane there will be a key that says ProductKey. There will be a 25 digit key (both numbers and letters), copy it down.I used this to make sure we had the right key before reinstalling windows, and it worked! If you still can't find it, then:Edit > FindType ProductKey in the find box and click Find Next.Thanks to Macmarauder, he found this info! And if you have the Windows Manual, the key is on the front of it.Liz<{POST_SNAPBACK}>thanks but the other problem is i cant get the machine to boot up yet. havent had time to work on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearskin Posted September 24, 2005 Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 well sometimes if a person is realty nice, there is a certain "bear" that might provide them with a key. you might try sending a private message to a certain "bearskin" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Honda_Boy Posted September 24, 2005 Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 (edited) hmmm my cow box never needed a CD key with the OS it came with (ME). but now i use 98se. mine also had the serial number of windows aka the Key, on the side, but i never needed it Edited September 24, 2005 by Honda_Boy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Machinewar Posted September 24, 2005 Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 (edited) my step son gave me his old gatewaycomp, and os but lost the cd key. is there any way to retirve this key form the cd itself? it is an older machine about 6 yrs. only a 700 mhz processor.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>You can try a repair install of 98SE and see if that helps. Here are instructions.Windows 98, 98SE, and Me Repair InstallationBoot from CDSelect Start PC with CD ROM SupportChange to Optical Drive A:\>D: [Enter] where D: is optical driveChange to Win98 directory (win9x for ME) D:\>CD\WIN98 [Enter]Run Setup D:\WIN98>setup [Enter]Windows setup will perform a repair install.Settings, files, programs, drivers, etc. will be retained. May need to reinstall Win 98/Me updates.Note: Do not allow Windows to automatically install, it won't work.I dont think it will ask for the Pin. no.. If you can get it to boot after that then you can find the key Edited September 24, 2005 by Machinewar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigmelt Posted September 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2005 my step son gave me his old gatewaycomp, and os but lost the cd key. is there any way to retirve this key form the cd itself? it is an older machine about 6 yrs. only a 700 mhz processor.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>You can try a repair install of 98SE and see if that helps. Here are instructions.Windows 98, 98SE, and Me Repair InstallationBoot from CDSelect Start PC with CD ROM SupportChange to Optical Drive A:\>D: [Enter] where D: is optical driveChange to Win98 directory (win9x for ME) D:\>CD\WIN98 [Enter]Run Setup D:\WIN98>setup [Enter]Windows setup will perform a repair install.Settings, files, programs, drivers, etc. will be retained. May need to reinstall Win 98/Me updates.Note: Do not allow Windows to automatically install, it won't work.I dont think it will ask for the Pin. no.. If you can get it to boot after that then you can find the key<{POST_SNAPBACK}>thanks everyon the system is ok now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted September 25, 2005 Report Share Posted September 25, 2005 did you find a key, or did you use a method to retreive it, just curious? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigmelt Posted September 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2005 (edited) did you find a key, or did you use a method to retreive it, just curious?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>"found" a key. thanks again. got he olld pc running long enough to get the key from the reg. Edited September 29, 2005 by pigmelt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Fantasy Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Small freeware program can find Windows Product Key instantly.The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry. It has the options to copy the key to clipboard, save it to a text file, or print it for safekeeping. It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Office 97, and Office XP.http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Makai Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 IF the machine is running, do this: (and I know the registry is a scary place, don't worry, you're only looking at the registry, not touching anything!)Start > run > type regeditThis will open the registry editor. From there, navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersionClick on the CurrentVersion folder, and on the right pane there will be a key that says ProductKey. There will be a 25 digit key (both numbers and letters), copy it down.I used this to make sure we had the right key before reinstalling windows, and it worked! If you still can't find it, then:Edit > FindType ProductKey in the find box and click Find Next.Thanks to Macmarauder, he found this info! And if you have the Windows Manual, the key is on the front of it.Liz<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Lol! Blim giving registry advice. Time to give up the newbie title. I'm curious, does Everest work on older os's? I don't have any older systems to try it out on. (TT_75?) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
handplane Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 I'm curious, does Everest work on older os's? I don't have any older systems to try it out on. (TT_75?)Try Here Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Makai Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 I'm curious, does Everest work on older os's? I don't have any older systems to try it out on. (TT_75?)Try Here<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks handplane! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheTerrorist_75 Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Everest Home Edition no longer shows your software or keys. To be able to do this you need to purchase their Ultimate edition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrBill Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Everest Home Edition no longer shows your software or keys. To be able to do this you need to purchase their Ultimate edition.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>You can try Belarc as it does show them...http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JDoors Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 ...http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tried it, it's quick & easy, compared the results to the key on my Windows manual and it's correct (not that I thought it'd be wrong or anything ... ). (The Wisconsin mirror failed to download, the owner's site worked fine.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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