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lost product key - updated



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 27th 04, 04:26 PM
lynn
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default lost product key - updated

Ok, I tried the steps below and when I get to Current
version, I click it and then there are many headings to
choose from but none of them are product key. Product key
is no where to be found in the list. Please, please
help. I have an online class this semester and I am
getting behind. Thanks!


Lynn" wrote:

I turned on the computer and before it gets to the

windows
start up screen all of a sudden it is telling me that
Norton Antivirus needs to be uninstalled and

reinstalled.
After I click ok to that error messagea box pops up and

is
asking me to enter my CD key for windows 98. If I click
cancel it tells me that Windows 98 cannot start my
computer and will shut down. I have somehow misplaced my
cd key so I can't even bypass this screen to get to the
deskstop. I located an article on Microsoft.com that

says
to perform the following steps, but I want to make sure

it
is correct because it refers to Virtual PC in the article
and I have no idea what that is. Here are the steps:

1. start registry editor (regedit.exe)
2. locate
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\MIcrosoft\Windows\Cur rentVersi

o
n\ProductKey
3. Write down value of key
4. quit registry editor

Please help. I need to get this computer running ASAP.


Turn on the computer and press the Ctrl key as soon as 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 finished booting into Safe Mode use Start -
Run - REGEDIT
and follow the procedure you described to locate the
Product Key.

Also launch your Norton Antivirus and see what the date is
for the
virus definition files. I suspect that your problem is
being caused
by a virus infection and that means that your virus
definitions may be
out of date. They should/must be dated 19 May 2004.

One final thing to do in Safe Mode is to use Start - Run -
MSCONFIG
and turn off all repeat all items in the Startup group
(temporarily).
Then shut down the computer and restart it normally. It
may start up
okay.

NOTE:::::::
Do not be concerned about the appearance of the screen
when the
computer is running in Safe Mode and above all else do not
try to
change it. Your normal video appearance will return when
you do a
normal startup. If you try to "fix" it in Safe Mode all
you will do
is to lock the Safe Mode video settings into place for use
on a normal
startup.

Post the results back here. If the computer will not
start in Safe
Mode or there are other problems with any of the steps I
described
above then there are some alternatives available that we
can try.

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."
..


  #2  
Old May 27th 04, 04:53 PM
Ron Badour
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default lost product key - updated

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

"lynn" wrote in message
...
Ok, I tried the steps below and when I get to Current
version, I click it and then there are many headings to
choose from but none of them are product key. Product key
is no where to be found in the list. Please, please
help. I have an online class this semester and I am
getting behind. Thanks!


Lynn" wrote:

I turned on the computer and before it gets to the

windows
start up screen all of a sudden it is telling me that
Norton Antivirus needs to be uninstalled and

reinstalled.
After I click ok to that error messagea box pops up and

is
asking me to enter my CD key for windows 98. If I click
cancel it tells me that Windows 98 cannot start my
computer and will shut down. I have somehow misplaced my
cd key so I can't even bypass this screen to get to the
deskstop. I located an article on Microsoft.com that

says
to perform the following steps, but I want to make sure

it
is correct because it refers to Virtual PC in the article
and I have no idea what that is. Here are the steps:

1. start registry editor (regedit.exe)
2. locate
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\MIcrosoft\Windows\Cur rentVersi

o
n\ProductKey
3. Write down value of key
4. quit registry editor

Please help. I need to get this computer running ASAP.


Turn on the computer and press the Ctrl key as soon as 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 finished booting into Safe Mode use Start -
Run - REGEDIT
and follow the procedure you described to locate the
Product Key.

Also launch your Norton Antivirus and see what the date is
for the
virus definition files. I suspect that your problem is
being caused
by a virus infection and that means that your virus
definitions may be
out of date. They should/must be dated 19 May 2004.

One final thing to do in Safe Mode is to use Start - Run -
MSCONFIG
and turn off all repeat all items in the Startup group
(temporarily).
Then shut down the computer and restart it normally. It
may start up
okay.

NOTE:::::::
Do not be concerned about the appearance of the screen
when the
computer is running in Safe Mode and above all else do not
try to
change it. Your normal video appearance will return when
you do a
normal startup. If you try to "fix" it in Safe Mode all
you will do
is to lock the Safe Mode video settings into place for use
on a normal
startup.

Post the results back here. If the computer will not
start in Safe
Mode or there are other problems with any of the steps I
described
above then there are some alternatives available that we
can try.

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."
.




 




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