Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
edit:
September 5th, @01:33PM
| [Vista] Recover key from product ID?
A friend of mine gave me their computer after they got a mac "Cos windows is too hard to use!". They gave me the vista install disc that came with the computer, but wrote down the product id, not the actual license key, and the install disc is just in a plain white envelope, not a plastic box like the kind that have the license key in the box. There's no license sticker on the computer, my friend thinks there never was, I think they peeled it off at some point.
They'd wiped the hard drive with SecureWipe, so I can't recover the install to get the ntuser.dat file and recover the key, as google says one can do to recover the key from a non-bootable install. Is there any way to recover a key when all you have is the product key? I know there is software (for XP anyway) that if you type in a key, it will tell you what the product ID will be. Is there software that will convert the other way?
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
ChiTang
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-23
Alhambra, CA
| Is it a name brand PC?
If it is name brand, the CD may be a restore CD/DVD.
There was a thread about 3 weeks ago, a site allows you the email in the product ID, for $30.00, they will email you back the actual key. If you don't want to pay, they will still give you the info but you have wait 3 days. I am trying to locate that post and can't find it so far. I must be getting old and blind.
Bottom line: you have to find out what is on the CD first.
--
I used to be indecisive, now I am not sure. |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| The DVD is a regular vista install DVD. Sadly, no hidden keys on it.
I'll try to google for the site that recovers keys from product IDs. a 3 day wait would be fine, it's already been weeks I've been trying to solve this myself.
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
Its a Secret
Rabidly yours
Premium
join:2008-02-23
Kelowna, BC | reply to Hel
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
Try this: »www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ |
|
DGDTrathole
join:2000-05-07
Newmarket, NH |  what good will that do if they wiped the hard drive??? |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| reply to Its a Secret
Thanks, but there's nothing on the hard drive for mjb to read, even if plugged into another computer. Unless MJB now has an option to enter a product ID and get back the key, which it doesn't seem to.
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
Its a Secret
Rabidly yours
Premium
join:2008-02-23
Kelowna, BC | Sorry, I skimmed your post too quickly, I'm a dork... 
--
"In the future, that which is not mandatory will be illegal" |
|
ChiTang
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-23
Alhambra, CA | reply to Hel
Re: [Vista] Recover key from product ID?
If it is name brand, may call manufacturer for a set of restore CD at minimal cost.
--
I used to be indecisive, now I am not sure. |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| said by ChiTang  :If it is name brand, may call manufacturer for a set of restore CD at minimal cost. Sadly, no, it was built by a local computer store. The computer store says they keep no records of license keys, which seems reasonable. Their suggestion was to buy a new Vista disc, but this is Vista Ult, and a new disc is awfully expensive!
said by Its a Secret :Sorry, I skimmed your post too quickly, I'm a dork... No worries! I was kinda hoping you were suggesting it cos there was some new feature of it that'd give a license key from a product ID. *smile*
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
ChiTang
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-23
Alhambra, CA
| The potential problem that I see is that the so call "product ID" written on the disc. Is it really the product ID or just a bunch of alphanumeric characters.
Did they make a mistake in copying the number?
Did they actually copy it from the right number?
Even if you can find a way to decipher the product ID, you may not have a genuine product ID to begin with. You can wait for a better solution or buy another copy. It is your money, hence it is your call.
--
I used to be indecisive, now I am not sure. |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| said by ChiTang :Did they make a mistake in copying the number? Did they actually copy it from the right number? You can wait for a better solution or buy another copy. It is your money, hence it is your call. I'm pretty sure they did copy the right number, and it's in the correct vista product ID format. I am definitely not buying another copy. If I can't recover the license, the hardware will get linux put on it and used for I don't know what, since I've already got a linux file server, firewall, and desktop. But this is a small enough and powerful enough computer to use as a media center, and since the Vista is Ultimate, I figured I'd do just that.
If I can only recover this darn license!
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
ChiTang
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-23
Alhambra, CA
| IMO, Linux is not a bad choice. I swear that I saw a thread in DSLR about a website in England that you email the producy ID, they will email you back the key. $30.00 for immediate delivey, free if you wait for 3 days. I just can't find it anymore.
If the poster of that thread see this, will you be kind enough to jump in and post the link of that website?
--
I used to be indecisive, now I am not sure. |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| said by ChiTang : I swear that I saw a thread in DSLR about a website in England that you email the producy ID, they will email you back the key. $30.00 for immediate delivey, free if you wait for 3 days. I just can't find it anymore I know there's a site that will decode a windows password for those prices and time frames, after you run a file burnt to CD or copied to a floppy. I've googled for a similar license recovery site, but am not finding it. Thanks tho, I'll keep looking for it!
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
cocothebean
You Are My Nightmare
Premium
join:2002-11-16
Carson City, NV | reply to Hel
I believe this is the site your looking for!!!
»www.dagondesign.com/articles/win···ecovery/ |
|
ChiTang
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-23
Alhambra, CA | OP does not have the Digital Product ID, only the Product ID.
--
I used to be indecisive, now I am not sure. |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| reply to cocothebean
Yeah, I don't have ntuser.dat, unfortunately. I have a pen and paper copy of the product ID, that's all.
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
JimmyCarter1
Premium
join:2008-09-02
GURU-USA
edit:
September 5th, @02:14PM
| reply to Hel
Hel said:
They gave me the vista install disc that came with the computer.
Hel, if this statement from you is true and the guy that built it used an OEM Vista DVD you don't need the Product ID or the product key to install it on an erased hard drive. After it is installed it will see the correct hard drive and MB and activate right away.
If it does anything other than what I just said it is suspicious. You don't pay retail price to put Vista on a computer when you can buy the OEM DVD way way cheaper from Newegg or any other suppliers. |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| said by JimmyCarter1 : the guy that built it used an OEM Vista DVD It seems to just be a retail vista disc. I tried to install with it and it asked for a key, and that was the point that I realized the thing my friend wrote down was only 20 characters instead of 25. I've got no idea why it'd be a retail disc rather than an OEM, but it is.
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
JimmyCarter1
Premium
join:2008-09-02
GURU-USA
| Ok, than here is what I would do since you are sure it is the Vista DVD that came with the computer.
Install it without putting any product key in and after it is installed click on activate and get on the phone with microsoft and give them the numbers you have and they will activate it for you if you are telling them the truth.. |
|
Hel
Goddess Of My Own Little Universe
Premium
join:2002-04-11
Washington, DC
clubs:
| said by JimmyCarter1 :Install it without putting any product key in and after it is installed click on activate and get on the phone with microsoft and give them the numbers you have and they will activate it for you if you are telling them the truth. They will? I've never heard of them activating from a product ID. Have you done this? It strikes me as unlikely they would. I'd rather not spend the time to install and the time on the phone and have it not work out. But if you've done this, then I'll go for it.
--
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."-Sinclair Lewis 1885-1951 |
|
