Windows ME install Product key

I have just replaced a hard drive for a friend on an
older Dell system runing ME. I used the "re-install ME"
disc that came with the system, and it went in fine. It
is asking for the product key, it cannot be found in all
the docs that he has left. Any idea's??

Thanks

Assuming that the old disk still works or more importantly hasn't been
reformatted or wiped clean, either:-

Substitute the old disk back as the C: drive and run WinMe, (even in Safe
Mode), then you need to search the registry (using regedit.exe - find) for
the following:- "ProductKey" (no quotes). It should give you the 25-digit
code you need.

On the other hand, if you can't get WinMe running at all, but the rest of
the data on the old disk is good, boot using the WinMe Startup (floppy) Disk
and select 4) Minimal Boot

At the A:\ prompt, type the following with a Return after each line and
NOTE the SYNTAX

c:
windows:
attrib -s -h system.dat
edit

you will now be in the DOS editor, Select File (Alt key) and then Open (use
your cursor keys to navigate to) C:\Windows

scroll down the files to 'system.dat' and open it.

Use Search to find 'productkey'

You should see your Product Key code to the right.

HTH

Mart


"Ron" wrote in message
...
I have just replaced a hard drive for a friend on an
older Dell system runing ME. I used the "re-install ME"
disc that came with the system, and it went in fine. It
is asking for the product key, it cannot be found in all
the docs that he has left. Any idea's??

Thanks

-----Original Message-----
I have just replaced a hard drive for a friend on an
older Dell system runing ME. I used the "re-install ME"
disc that came with the system, and it went in fine. It
is asking for the product key, it cannot be found in all
the docs that he has left. Any idea's??

Thanks

.Call Dell support