Unbootable PC need serial key

teaboy5 · 28 Dec 2008 at 19:27

Hello

I am reinstalling windows for a friends whos pc has crashed and is unable to boot.

I need to be able to find the serial key from it, but i am unable to get it to boot.

The sticker is not on the case and he hasn't got any CD's belonging to the PC as its a few years old and he has lost them all.

Anyone got any ideas?

alex24 · 28 Dec 2008 at 19:31

There are many keyfinders out there, but not being able to boot is a problem. Does it not even start in safe mode?

Technically without the COA it's not good.....

The only other thing I can think of is putting the HDD in another PC and using some sort of remote registry access to do it, but this goes beyond my experience i'm afraid, i've never had this problem since I stick the COA to my builds.

Perhaps there is a boot cd that can do this? Maybe erd commander, worth a google.

swinnie · 28 Dec 2008 at 19:31

Slave the disk in yours (or another) machine, and use the Magical Jelly Bean Key Finder.

Once loaded, use Tools > Load Hive and locate the slaved disk. This will give you all the information you need.

Kennysevenfold · 28 Dec 2008 at 19:50

if it wont boot into safe mode its a hardware problem and a simple reinstallation wont cure it,

you will have to at least get into safe mode to find the license key in the regestry.

swinnie · 28 Dec 2008 at 19:52

Kennysevenfold said:
if it wont boot into safe mode its a hardware problem and a simple reinstallation wont cure it,

you will have to at least get into safe mode to find the license key in the regestry.

The Magical Jelly Bean Program I recommended above, can pickup a key from slaved hard drives.