Lost win 98 product key

gfiehler · 07-23-2005, 09:05 AM

I have a computer that has been running w98 for over 5 years, yesterday I shut it down for the night, this morning when I turned it on it went to windows 98 setup and is asking for the product key. I haven't had to do this since I bought it 5 years ago. I have moved 4 times since then, and I thought I kept the manuals that would have the key, but if I did its buried in a box somewhere. How can I get a key for this, or at least get to my hard drive so i can get my data? All suggestions and help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

~~whodat~~ · 07-23-2005, 10:45 AM

if you have the disk, you might get the key off of windows explorer on the disk
scratch that.. that was 95

Volt-Schwibe · 07-23-2005, 11:07 AM

i've never heard of windows 98 doing this....

there should be no reason for this, and we are not going to be able to help further.

you will need to purchase a new license.

(unless you can boot it into safe mode and use jellybean to find the key)

also, the key is not in any of your manuals, it's on the windows 98 cd case.

johnwill · 07-23-2005, 11:37 AM

To access the data, you should be able to connect the hard disk as a secondary on another computer and copy the files. For what I hope is obvious reasons, we can't give you a W98 key...

Stu_computer · 07-23-2005, 12:25 PM

Start the computer with a W98bootdisk At the command prompt A:>

Type C:\windows\command\scanreg /restore and press Enter.

The first date (file with highest #) should be okay, so select it and restore.

That should get you back to your desktop.

Remember to get your key# cause you never know when you might need it.

(if it doesn't work with the first file, do it again with the next file.)

Real_Bullet · 07-23-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaltSide

i've never heard of windows 98 doing this....

there should be no reason for this, and we are not going to be able to help further.

you will need to purchase a new license.

(unless you can boot it into safe mode and use jellybean to find the key)

also, the key is not in any of your manuals, it's on the windows 98 cd case.

Windows 98 Product key is on the Manual/book that comes with the CD. Least I think all of windows 98 is like that unless the 1st year copies were on the CD case, Windows 95 CD Key however was on the CD Case now.

I dunno why it would be doing that though, work like that and then just go to setup and ask for product key. I never heard of it before unless alot of the windows files got deleted.

Although now as for purchasing a new key, I dunno exactly if one can be purchased now since 98 aint no longer on the market, and ebay 98 still goes for like $50-$80, the price you pay you could get Windows 2000 or ME.

~~Leroy77~~ · 07-23-2005, 02:07 PM

If your computer shipped with 98 your manufacturer should have put a sticker somewhere on the case with the product key on it.

Real_Bullet · 07-23-2005, 02:12 PM

I aint sure manufatures starting putting stickers on the case until ME/2000 came out, and maybe late versions of NT. I could be wrong I just dont recall it, back when 98 and all was out with name brand cpu's and such you got the entire package, the CD, Book, and everything and your left on your own.

But you know I know pirating is bad, but I dont see the harm in those key generators being used for 95 and 98 since those products are no longer sold in retail and the only way to obtain a CD key is 2nd or 3rd party sellers like ebay.

Chevy · 07-23-2005, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Real_Bullet

I aint sure manufatures starting putting stickers on the case until ME/2000 came out, and maybe late versions of NT. I could be wrong I just dont recall it, back when 98 and all was out with name brand cpu's and such you got the entire package, the CD, Book, and everything and your left on your own.

But you know I know pirating is bad, but I dont see the harm in those key generators being used for 95 and 98 since those products are no longer sold in retail and the only way to obtain a CD key is 2nd or 3rd party sellers like ebay.

Keygens = Pirating = Theft = Not endorsed in any way here.

For a legitimate license, check out this site. It's a retail box - which means is can be resold. The HP branded OEM packs they advertise, however, cannot be resold (according to M$ EULA) - so I wouldn't bother with those.

07-23-2005, 09:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
gfiehler Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1 OS: XP, 98	Lost win 98 product key I have a computer that has been running w98 for over 5 years, yesterday I shut it down for the night, this morning when I turned it on it went to windows 98 setup and is asking for the product key. I haven't had to do this since I bought it 5 years ago. I have moved 4 times since then, and I thought I kept the manuals that would have the key, but if I did its buried in a box somewhere. How can I get a key for this, or at least get to my hard drive so i can get my data? All suggestions and help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

07-23-2005, 10:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	if you have the disk, you might get the key off of windows explorer on the disk scratch that.. that was 95 Last edited by whodat : 07-23-2005 at 10:48 AM.

07-23-2005, 11:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,222 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	i've never heard of windows 98 doing this.... there should be no reason for this, and we are not going to be able to help further. you will need to purchase a new license. (unless you can boot it into safe mode and use jellybean to find the key) also, the key is not in any of your manuals, it's on the windows 98 cd case. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? New Members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. Power Tip: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature> Last edited by Volt-Schwibe : 07-23-2005 at 11:11 AM.

07-23-2005, 11:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	To access the data, you should be able to connect the hard disk as a secondary on another computer and copy the files. For what I hope is obvious reasons, we can't give you a W98 key... __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-23-2005, 12:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stu_computer Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,091 OS: Windows	Start the computer with a W98bootdisk At the command prompt A:> Type C:\windows\command\scanreg /restore and press Enter. The first date (file with highest #) should be okay, so select it and restore. That should get you back to your desktop. Remember to get your key# cause you never know when you might need it. (if it doesn't work with the first file, do it again with the next file.) __________________ If I replied I subscribed and will be following your progress. Last edited by Stu_computer : 07-23-2005 at 12:34 PM.

07-23-2005, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
~~Leroy77~~ Permanently Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 236 OS: Windows XP Pro/2000 Pro	If your computer shipped with 98 your manufacturer should have put a sticker somewhere on the case with the product key on it.

07-23-2005, 02:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Real_Bullet Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lumberton, MS Posts: 487 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic My System	I aint sure manufatures starting putting stickers on the case until ME/2000 came out, and maybe late versions of NT. I could be wrong I just dont recall it, back when 98 and all was out with name brand cpu's and such you got the entire package, the CD, Book, and everything and your left on your own. But you know I know pirating is bad, but I dont see the harm in those key generators being used for 95 and 98 since those products are no longer sold in retail and the only way to obtain a CD key is 2nd or 3rd party sellers like ebay. __________________ I can speak Chinese, PPHUBK'YU.