product key

for some reason, one time my computer went crazy and now
it won't restart unless i reinstall windows 98 and I
don't have that stupid number any more!!! what am i
supposed to do????? someone please help me. thanks.

"Sallie" wrote:

for some reason, one time my computer went crazy and now
it won't restart unless i reinstall windows 98 and I
don't have that stupid number any more!!! what am i
supposed to do????? someone please help me. thanks.

Will it start in Safe Mode?

If so then you can locate the product key in the registry.

To start Windows 98 in Safe Mode turn the computer on and press the
Ctrl key immediately when the first information of any kind shows on
the screen. Hold it down until the Windows Startup Menu appears and
choose Safe Mode from the menu.

When it has started up in Safe Mode use Start - Run - REGEDIT and then
within Regedit use Edit - Find to locate the character string
ProductKey in the registry.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

The W98 ProductKey is generally found on the Windows user manual, the
certificate of authenticity, a sticker on the PC or a sticker on the sleeve
or jewel case the Windows CD came in. The 25-digit key is 5 groups of 5
alpha/numeric characters. The Key might be available from the system:

If the system is working in either safe or normal mode:

Open regedit.exe to this key and look in the right pane for the entry
ProductKey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion

If the system is not working, start the computer with a floppy startup disk.

At the A: prompt, type: C:\Windows\Command\Find /N "ProductKey"
C:\Windows\System.dat
(Note: ProductKey must be typed in upper and lower case letters as shown
and there is a space after: "Find" after: "/N" and after:
"ProductKey"

If the hard drive has been formatted or replaced, US customers can contact
Microsoft at: 1 800 642-7676. They will issue retail and OEM product keys
after verifying data located on the W98 CD.


--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Sallie" wrote in message
...
for some reason, one time my computer went crazy and now
it won't restart unless i reinstall windows 98 and I
don't have that stupid number any more!!! what am i
supposed to do????? someone please help me. thanks.