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Retrieve a lost CD-Key from the registry

February 28, 2003 by | 3 Comments

The CD-key entered during installation is stored in the registry (and cannot be found on the install CD). One can extract the CD-key of an existing installation, though in the later versions of Windows the CD key has become encrypted. But KeyFinder can decrypt it and recover it no matter what.

In WinNT4 one can find it as pure text:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows NT \CurrentVersion]
ProductID=

Note if the ProductId has the format "12345-nnn-nnnnnnn-12345" then "nnn-nnnnnnn" is the CD-Key.

In Win2k/WinXP the key is located here but is encrypted:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows NT \CurrentVersion]
DigitalProductId=

If the Win2k/WinXP was installed unattended then the cd-key might be found here:

%SystemRoot%\System32\$WINNT$.INF

Related Change WinXP CD Key using WPA

Updated: 23 September 2007

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Comments:

  1. Bhootnath says:
    9 October 2007 at 16:35

    I need a tool which is able to change the serial key on the installed win2003 server.

    Reply
  2. snakefoot says:
    10 October 2007 at 1:51

    Bhootnath
    I need a tool which is able to change the serial key on the installed win2003 server.

    Believe that Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is able to change the cd-key for Win2k3

    Reply
  3. krunal says:
    16 December 2008 at 10:09

    just display that how to change key in winxp

    Reply

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