Product Key - message "value not set" in Regedit

I have the OEM Win98se CD with no product key anywhere. The OEM has gone out
of business. I tried to get the key from
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr ent Version but under the
heading NAME is a symbol with ab in it, followed by [Default], and under the
heading DATA is (Value not set). How do I get the product key, please?

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 19:55:02 -0800, "1SillyBilly"
wrote:

I have the OEM Win98se CD with no product key anywhere. The OEM has gone out
of business. I tried to get the key from
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rent Version but under the
heading NAME is a symbol with ab in it, followed by [Default], and under the
heading DATA is (Value not set). How do I get the product key, please?

That's where it normally is, in the right pane.
Try using the Search feature in Regedit for ProductKey (one word).

If you have a System.1st file in the root it may be in there. Boot
to Dos and enter: Edit System.1st. Use the search feature for
ProductKey. Use the Alt key to access the menus and use Alt+X to
exit. It's a binary file but what you want is in text. It's a copy
of the Registry from when Windows was last installed. The key is not
in there in all Win98 SE versions.

Happy New Year everyone,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.epix.net/~bwatt/

Try the product key

--
Jon Hildrum
DTS MVP

www.hildrum.com
"1SillyBilly" wrote in message
...
I have the OEM Win98se CD with no product key anywhere. The OEM has gone
out
of business. I tried to get the key from
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr ent Version but under
the
heading NAME is a symbol with ab in it, followed by [Default], and under
the
heading DATA is (Value not set). How do I get the product key, please?

Thanks to Bill & Jon for the speedy reply. When I first ran regedit.exe
nothing appeared in the right pane corresponding to any selection. When I
performed a search for ProductKey, there were many entries in the right pane
including my ProductKey.


"Jon_Hildrum" wrote:

Try the product key

--
Jon Hildrum
DTS MVP

www.hildrum.com
"1SillyBilly" wrote in message
...
I have the OEM Win98se CD with no product key anywhere. The OEM has gone
out
of business. I tried to get the key from
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr ent Version but under
the
heading NAME is a symbol with ab in it, followed by [Default], and under
the
heading DATA is (Value not set). How do I get the product key, please?