Formatted C: and tried to reinstall - don't have product key :( HELP!

Hi,

I was helping a friend (or so they thought) and formatted the hard
drive on an old laptop of theirs before they were sending it to Sierra
Leone. I managed to format the drive, and created a boot disk and have
got it to the final stage of re-installing Windows98, however I need
the product key apparently and my friend doesn't have it.


Does anyone have any ideas? We wanted to send this machine out to help
people but without a working version of windows it's near useless. If
you have any suggestions we'd really appreciate it.


thanks,


s

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I was helping a friend (or so they thought) and formatted the hard
drive on an old laptop of theirs before they were sending it to Sierra
Leone. I managed to format the drive, and created a boot disk and have
got it to the final stage of re-installing Windows98, however I need
the product key apparently and my friend doesn't have it.


Does anyone have any ideas? We wanted to send this machine out to help
people but without a working version of windows it's near useless. If
you have any suggestions we'd really appreciate it.


thanks,


s

Oh dear, that key was in the register before the format took place.

Galen

Hi Galen,

Is there any other way round it?


Galen Somerville wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I was helping a friend (or so they thought) and formatted the hard
drive on an old laptop of theirs before they were sending it to Sierra
Leone. I managed to format the drive, and created a boot disk and have
got it to the final stage of re-installing Windows98, however I need
the product key apparently and my friend doesn't have it.


Does anyone have any ideas? We wanted to send this machine out to help
people but without a working version of windows it's near useless. If
you have any suggestions we'd really appreciate it.


thanks,


s

Oh dear, that key was in the register before the format took place.

Galen

How old is the laptop....perhaps there is a sticker on it with the product key.
Look on the sides and bottom.

Can you contact the laptop maker and explain the situation, and see if they will
send you a new product key?
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi Galen,

Is there any other way round it?


Galen Somerville wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I was helping a friend (or so they thought) and formatted the hard
drive on an old laptop of theirs before they were sending it to Sierra
Leone. I managed to format the drive, and created a boot disk and have
got it to the final stage of re-installing Windows98, however I need
the product key apparently and my friend doesn't have it.


Does anyone have any ideas? We wanted to send this machine out to help
people but without a working version of windows it's near useless. If
you have any suggestions we'd really appreciate it.


thanks,


s

Oh dear, that key was in the register before the format took place.

Galen

wrote in
oups.com:

Hi,

I was helping a friend (or so they thought) and formatted
the hard drive on an old laptop of theirs before they were
sending it to Sierra Leone. I managed to format the drive,
and created a boot disk and have got it to the final stage
of re-installing Windows98, however I need the product key
apparently and my friend doesn't have it.


Does anyone have any ideas? We wanted to send this machine
out to help people but without a working version of windows
it's near useless. If you have any suggestions we'd really
appreciate it.


thanks,


s


other reply. I don't think 98 machines had stickers with
serial numbers of the software.

OP: Google for "win 98 key" (no quotations) and you will get a
bunch. One or all will work.

General advice. I always write the serial/product number ON the
original CD with a standard (not extra fine) Sharpie in case I
lose it or something like what happened to you happens.

wrote:

however I need the product key apparently and my friend doesn't
have it.

For distribution with new PC's

Windows 98se

HKJ2Y T4MGT 8JY8K K8WYC FM73T

other reply. I don't think 98 machines had stickers with
serial numbers of the software.


Some of my Win98SE machines had the software serial no on the case.
Others had the sticker, but just loose and not stuck on the case.

Ross

(To get email address ROT 13)

HKJ2Y T4MGT 8JY8K K8WYC FM73T

hallelujah, win 98 guy with an actual 'answer' and problem 'solve' to
the posters question....... someone who isnt scared of micro' or
the gst's of this world.

well done win98guy!

hallelujah, win 98 guy with an actual 'answer' and problem 'solve' to
the posters question....... someone who isnt scared of micro' or
the gst's of this world.

well done win98guy!


and if his key fails, i have one that wont, and i'm not afraid of gst or
micro either.
there is another power on this planet that far outweighs gst and micro,
of that power, i am afraid, but only in awe.