get the license number from the command line

[bdunn]

Recently somebody brought me a system that was soo badly corrupted that I could not get into the window interface to get the license number to re-install. she had the CD provided by compaq but not the manual or number. I tried unsuccessfully poking through an attempt at exporting the registry. After giving up I called compaq with the hope that based on the hw serial number they could help me. He wouldn't do that for me but did tell me how to get the number by myself.

When I got to the command line I typed EDIT USER.EXE and did a search on -OEM- and there it was. Next reboot I used it to re-install

[Darren Wilson]

good tip for win95 but what about win98 & it's 25 character code THAT DOES NOT SHOW itself in system properties??????

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Who got game???? I know I do!!!!!!!

visit me @ http://www.ace-computers.co.uk

[CompuDocs]

Good Tip!

[dsolodow]

Trying to edit user.exe to find that is unsure... I always use the command line regedit myself... If you can't remember the switches, write a batch file that does it...

[oldman]

you can export registry if you can't brings windows up then search for "productkey"
other wise just run regedit from windows and then search "productkey" there then write it down on customer invoice so you have it next time they mess it up

[madmax2]

attrib -h -r -s system.dat and user.dat, edit system.day edit user.dat, search for 'oem' bingo!

[lysergic]

For 98 edit system.dat from a command prompt and do a search for productkey. Brings it right up. And also works with 95.

Anyone know how to pull an Office key out of the registry?

[Krandia]

I just go to C:\ and type Edit User.dat
and do Search on ProductID if Win 95
or Productkey for Win 98

It comes right up and Hilighted

[pcshark]

Here's an easier trick: use the DIAG.EXE that is posted in the Utilities | Diagnostics area of Windrivers. It's a 33K DOS-prompt application (you can run it when booting from a diskette) that gets several pieces of info out of the current registry, including the Product ID, registered user and company, Windows directory, source directory, etc. Yet another must-have utility from Windrivers (-:

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R. Bret Walker, CNE

[Messyhead718]

Is there any way you can extract the auth. code for win98 from the CD. I got a the CD with my computer but it had no manual or certificate with it. I've now formatted the hard drive to re-install windows and i don't have the code. The women who built my PC gave me a code but it is the wrong one and she isn't much help.

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MeSsY