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finding CD key in registry

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Name: Mechanix2Go
Date: September 15, 2004 at 03:02:31 Pacific
OS: w2k
CPU/Ram: PIII 933 / 256
Comment:

Maybe this belongs in 'programming' or 'security', but I'm using w2k, so here goes.

I found a neat utility which finds the CD key.

But if I search the registry for the key it's not found.

So I assume that the key is in the registry in 'scrambled' form. Correct?




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Response Number 1
Name: Krystyna
Date: September 15, 2004 at 03:16:37 Pacific
Reply:

Hi Mechanix2Go

W2K does not keep a copy of the ProductKey in the registry but just the ProductId
( this is the number that is generated on install based loosely on the CD Key )

You will find the ProductId at these two registry locations.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Krystyna


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Response Number 2
Name: Mechanix2Go
Date: September 15, 2004 at 04:22:24 Pacific
Reply:

Hi Krystyna,

So how, or where, does keyfinder.exe get the key?

M2

Mechanix2Go@Golden-Triangle.com



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Response Number 3
Name: Krystyna
Date: September 15, 2004 at 04:44:03 Pacific
Reply:

Hi M2

I've never been able to get any of those keyfinder programs to locate the Product Key for W2K.

Works good for Win 9x though !!

Krystyna


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Response Number 4
Name: Mechanix2Go
Date: September 15, 2004 at 07:03:00 Pacific
Reply:

Hi Krystyna,

If you want, you can try the one I have. Works great.

M2

Mechanix2Go@Golden-Triangle.com



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Response Number 5
Name: wanderer
Date: September 15, 2004 at 12:54:08 Pacific
Reply:

magicjellybean also does a great job on w2k and Xp


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Response Number 6
Name: Krystyna
Date: September 16, 2004 at 00:08:12 Pacific
Reply:

Hi M2

Okay thanks... have you got the download URL for your keyfinder.

Hi wanderer

I've tried the MagicJellyBean before, and it never finds anything in W2K, but okay for Win 9X !

Regards
Krystyna
;-)


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Response Number 7
Name: wanderer
Date: September 16, 2004 at 14:53:03 Pacific
Reply:

I know I'm down to 32k of personal memory so I downloaded the keyfinder and ran it on my W2K box. Found the key instantly.

Might want to try that again.

here's the url
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml


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Response Number 8
Name: Krystyna
Date: September 16, 2004 at 19:50:56 Pacific
Reply:

Hi wanderer

I'll be damned...the Magical Jelly Bean found my CD Key !!
This is the first time it has ever worked.
Hmmmmm...

Thank you for the URL.

Kind regards
Krystyna


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Response Number 9
Name: wanderer
Date: September 17, 2004 at 09:12:51 Pacific
Reply:

Glad it worked for you. Could have been a newer version then the one you had worked with before.


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Response Number 10
Name: JPW
Date: September 18, 2004 at 15:14:03 Pacific
Reply:

Windows 9X/ME hides the Product Key in the Registry HKEY_LOCAM_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version : in the Right Pane look for the string called Product Key.

Windows 2000/XP hides the Product Key in the Following folders:
W2K it will be in C:\WINNT\System32\$winnt$.INF (Look in this INF file)
XP it will be in C:\Windows\System32\$winnt$.INF (Look in the INF file for the Product Key).


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Response Number 11
Name: Krystyna
Date: September 18, 2004 at 19:38:59 Pacific
Reply:

Hi JPW

I looked in my $winnt$.INF file, but no joy !
Here are the contents of that file...

[setupparams]
skipmissingfiles = "0"
[data]
unattendedinstall = "no"
floppylessbootpath = "no"
producttype = "winnt"
standardserverupgrade = "no"
winntupgrade = "no"
win9xupgrade = "no"
win31upgrade = "no"
sourcepath = "\device\cdrom0\"
floppyless = "0"
msdosinitiated = "0"
dospath=D:\

So the vexing question is...where did Magical Jelly Bean find the info ?

Krystyna


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Response Number 12
Name: wanderer
Date: September 22, 2004 at 14:13:32 Pacific
Reply:

I beleive it is encrypted since a text search of every file on my drive for my key came up with nothing.


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Response Number 13
Name: Shadowryo
Date: September 29, 2004 at 12:32:47 Pacific
Reply:

I Found it just fine in win2k at
(Upgraded from 9x)
file:///C:/windows/System32/$winnt$.INF
(Non-Upgrade)
file:///C:/WINNT/System32/$winnt$.INF

-------------cont. /\
[UserData]
FullName = "Shadowryo"
ComputerName = "Jo"
productid = ""
[Unattended]
NoWaitAfterTextMode = "1"
NoWaitAfterGuiMode = "1"
ConfirmHardware = "No"
KeyboardLayout = "US"
unused = "unused"
ProgramFilesDir = "C:\Program Files"
CommonProgramFilesDir = "C:\Program Files\Common Files"
[ServiceStartTypes]
Browser = "3"
---------------cont. \/


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