Question for Win7

[Daryl Greene]

Back when I had Win95/98 I knew where to find nearly everything. Right now I would like to ask if anyone knows where to find the file that stores all the cd keys and such in XP/Vista/Windows7?

Also, is there a way to transfer some of that info from one to the other? I installed Windows 7, but I don't want to have to install all my apps to get them to work. I was hoping to be able to transfer the key info from XP to Ver.7.

Tried to run UT 2K4 from Ver.7, but it says that the key is invalid and I know a lot of the others will do the same. Any ideas?

[Olin Coles]

It sounds like you are referring to the Windows Registry. When programs and applications are installed, they have critical file location and reference data written to the Windows Registry. The Registry is not a play for the inexperienced, as one mistake can possibly render the system unusable.

[Daryl Greene]

Well, back when I had win95/98 there was an actual file that the info was contained in, I just can't even remember what it was back then. It wasn't the registry though. It is possible that the registry is where it all is now and the file I am looking for was dispensed with.

[Olin Coles]

Well, Windows still uses a WPA file for registration, but it's become a lot more complex.

[Daryl Greene]

So, where do I find it?

[Spectrum]

http://www.download.com/Magical-Jelly-Bean-Keyfinder/3000-18487_4-10079600.html?tag=mncol works for windows XP donno if it works for windows 7 though.
In the worst case you could always get a new copy from microsoft.

[Daryl Greene]

Spectrum, Thanks for the effort, but it isn't that I need to find my Windblows key. It is that there was a file (not the registry) that used to have ALL the product keys in it for ALL the software installed on the system. What I wanted to do, if possible, was to find the file in XP (if it is still is used) and see if I couldn't transfer some of my product keys so I didn't have to reinstall them. I just want them to work under Win. 7 so I can test how they perform with this new OS.

The reason is that I checked after I installed Win. 7 and it says that the key is invalid and to reinstall. But, I expect it might screw something up with XP if I do a reinstall to get it to work under Win. 7. Also, I don't want to install these programs in multiple locations either.

[David Ramsey]

Spectrum, Thanks for the effort, but it isn't that I need to find my Windblows key. It is that there was a file (not the registry) that used to have ALL the product keys in it for ALL the software installed on the system.

I don't think there ever was such a file. Admittedly, it's been a decade or so since I did any Windows development, but I've never heard of anything like that-- it would be a massive security hole (of course, that kind of describes the whole XP OS, doesn't it?)

AFAIK there's no standard way for a product to store its activation key. Most do so in the Registry, and in most cases the key is encrypted, but the developers are free to do anything they want.

[Olin Coles]

Way to resurrect a dead thread, David. ;p

There actually is a file, but I'm not going to discuss that sort of thing here since only illegitimate copies of Windows mess with it.

[David Ramsey]

Interesting. We certainly didn't use it for whatever version of OmniPage Pro/Windows I was working on in the late 90s...

[Daryl Greene]

Well Olin, you obviously didn't fully read my first question then. I was merely looking for a way to TRANSFER some of the keys and such FROM XP TO WIN7. I wanted to see if I could get the software to work without having to REINSTALL the software. I was using a dual boot and just wanted to see if I could set it up to use it from the directory the programs are ALREADY in. Has nothing to do with legitimate/illegitimate software. Simply wanted to know where the info was stored. If I merely wanted to steal that info, Belarc advisor will do that just fine.