Is there any way to get the product key from the registry?

[optoman]

I through out the outer packaging by mistake. I wrote down the key but I want to make sure it is the right one.

Is there a way to search the registry in XP for the key?

 

[mee987]

unfortunately, no. I have heard of people wanting to do this but no one ever finds a way to get it back. to be sure, I just did a registry search for the first 5 characters of my winxp cd key and it came up without any results

 

[optoman]

I did the same and it was a no go. I hope the number I have now is the correct one. We will see when I reformat this weekend.

Thanks

 

[bhof]

"Belarc" did show the key when it checked my win98 se system. It is a free program for win9x and nt, sorry I don't know if it will help you with xp. Might be worth a try

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,8078,00.asp

If you go to the d/l site it does say it works with xp. Nice little utility!

 

[Dale]

doesnt seem to show the key on XP(least on mine) still a neat utility
though, thanks for the tip

..Dale

 

[optoman]

bhof - Didn't work on mine either. I wonder if microsoft erases the number after you register.

 

[JellyBaby]

More likely it's encrypted somewhere.

 

[Bleep]

bhof:
Greal link to a great little prog. THANKS
Bleep

 

[bhof]

I tried Belarc on my win2k pro system, and it also didn't expose the key there. Sorry can't suggest anything further, not interested in trying xp as yet. <G>. Still takin baby steps with win 2k.