Vista NTUSER.DAT in win7. HELP!

SlugForAButt · 15 Jan 2010 at 17:42

I'm trying to get the license key from a laptop that won't boot (Vista).
I've got ntuser.dat from the laptop but when I try to view it in my Win7 machine's registry I can't see the subkeys Windows NT>Current Version under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE :confused:

I'm hoping someone more clued up than me can help me out, or do I need to load the hive on a Vista machine?

SlugForAButt · 16 Jan 2010 at 12:32

Unashamed bumpage.

C'mon guys, there's a big hearty thankyou for anyone that can help. What more incentive could you need?

ns400r · 16 Jan 2010 at 13:16

You won't see the Windows license key in the registry as plain text, it is encrypted.
Try Jellybean!

Raumarik · 16 Jan 2010 at 13:53

I believe this is what ns400r is on about, used it a few times in the past, pretty sweet:

http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

SlugForAButt · 16 Jan 2010 at 20:25

Yep, I understand that it will be encrypted. But I can't seem to see Current Version at all, this contains the encrypted key I think.
Tried xcopying Windows contents to a flash drive and pointing Jellybean at it with no success, does this mean I'm going to have to slave the laptop HD onto a Vista machine? The only person I know that still uses Vista is my 60yr old mother who won't be too happy about me ripping the side off her 3 month old £1000 machine. :eek:

ns400r · 16 Jan 2010 at 22:28

Q: Can I retrieve the product key from a non-booting Windows installation?
As long as both Windows versions are 2000, XP, 2003, or Vista, you can use the Load Hive function. You will have to slave the drive and point the Keyfinder to the non-booting Windows directory.