Hi Jay1-ga
I know you are worried right now so I understand why you forgot to
tell us if you were doing an over-installation of Win98 or a clean
install after reformatting your drive. Anyway, here are several ways
on how you can get your key back -- provided you were doing an
over-installation and you still have windows 98 in your computer. You
can use the solutions I've provided for you below. Simply press the
"Shift" key before clicking on a link so it will open a new window or
right-click on the link and choose "Open in New Window" for your
convenience.
Magical Jelly Bean Software
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
"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, .NET, Office 97, and Office XP. This version adds
support for multiple installations of Office and the ability to change
the Windows XP, 98, and ME installation key."
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml
In case you're forced to work in DOS mode:
Avenir Technologies, LLC.
FreeLists.org
Re: Windows 98 CD Key
FIND.EXE/I "ProductKey" %winbootdir%\SYSTEM.DAT
http://www.freelists.org/archives/computertalkshop/08-2002/msg00019.html
To make it easy for you, here are other key finders you can try:
Windows Key Finders
http://www.angelfire.com/va3/vic3/winkeys.htm
The above solutions will surely help you and would easily be applied
if you own a second computer on which you installed your Windows 98. A
copy of your key can be found onthe manual that came with your CD. In
case you also lost the manual and did formatted your hard drive, these
links will give you an idea of what to expect:
DUX Computer Digest
"Lost Product Key"
http://www.duxcw.com/dcforum/DCForumID7/402.html
Wayne's Computer World Windows 98 Forum
Re: Reinstalling Windows
http://www.the-it-mercenary.com/forums/Windows98/posts/1318.html
Your last option will be to visit Microsoft Support at
http://support.microsoft.com/
Search strategy:
lost product key in Google Web search
://www.google.com/search?q=lost+product+key&cat=&hl=en
retrieve lost "product key" "windows 98" cd dos in Google Web search
://www.google.com/search?q=retrieve+lost+%22product+key%22++%22windows+98%22+cd+dos&sa=Google+Search&cat=&hl=en
I hope this helps you. Should you have any comments/questions, please
feel free to post your clarification before rating this and I'll
attend to you as soon as possible. Thanks for asking.
Best regards,
Feilong |
