Question

W95 serial number

Asked by: keithbraithwaite

Hello
I need to install an old version of W95 to check out whether an old version of a  sequenceur program will run on it.
I thought I had noted down the serial number on small labels on the CD but it turns out that the number isn't right...
Is there some way of finding the serial number (not much hope I suppose) or, for such an old OS is there some way of getting round the problem or getting a number from Microsoft?
Thanks in advance
Keith

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Asked On
2005-03-07 at 05:06:43ID21340402
Tags

serial

,

number

Topic

Windows 95 and 3.x

Participating Experts
5
Points
500
Comments
14

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Answers

 

by: ccomleyPosted on 2005-03-07 at 12:32:15ID: 13480538

If I remember correctly, you can make your own number up, it's something like any seven digit number where the digits add up to seven. Brain's a bit rusty, sorry...

What's the *format* of the number on the C that isn't working?

 

by: keithbraithwaitePosted on 2005-03-07 at 12:46:34ID: 13480714

That sounds like a very interesting idea. The only number I'd written down on the CD was 31292
I should say that it's an OEM number with OEM between the first two groups of numbers and then a third group.
Can't even remember how many numbers there were in each group!
Anyone out there got an old W95 CD who'd like to send me an OEM number to try?
What you say does remind me that once when I actually installed all those old W95 sets I did once type in the number for a different CD and was amazed that it worked...

If I get it working I don't think I'll ruin Microsoft - and a relative newcomer to MS Operating systems will probably get the bug and move on to more recent Microsoft OS's

Someone out there dig me up a number to try?
Thanks in advance
keith

 

by: kcarrimPosted on 2005-03-07 at 23:02:35ID: 13483962

You will need to copy all the Windows installation files to your hard drive first. Then in the same folder you copied the files to, create a new file Msbatch.inf
Add the following:
[Setup]
ProductType=1
(press Enter)
(press Enter)

Save the file and install Windows.

When Windows has completed installing go to the Registry Key in RegEdit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion and get the value of the Data "ProductKey",  for Windows 95, it will be "ProductID".  Save the information, this is your Windows CD Key.

 

by: keithbraithwaitePosted on 2005-03-07 at 23:37:27ID: 13484075

I take it that Windows will install without a serial number if I do that install with all the files on the HD and create the Msbatch file?
I'll try that during the day
Many many thanks
Keith

 

by: kcarrimPosted on 2005-03-08 at 00:05:05ID: 13484145

Yes, it allows you to install without serial, but you will find the serial in the registry. Save it for future.

 

by: keithbraithwaitePosted on 2005-03-08 at 11:14:12ID: 13489306

I'm putting all the files in the WIN95 folder on to the HD - which other files need to be put up?
Do I transfer the install.exe and run that once I've created the Msbatch file?

 

by: keithbraithwaitePosted on 2005-03-08 at 12:08:06ID: 13489790

The install worked fine - many many thanks. In fact that really answers my problem - the points are yours.
However when I got into the Registry the ProductId number was xxxxxxxxxxxxxx with just the last five digits showing!
Is the number visible anywhere else?

 

by: MrArubaPosted on 2005-03-08 at 13:08:41ID: 13490356

use belarc (www.belarc.com) it will give you a complete inventory of your system and it will show your OS serial number

 

by: kcarrimPosted on 2005-03-08 at 22:43:11ID: 13493508

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry. It has the options to copy the key to clipboard, save it to a text file, or print it for safekeeping. It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Office 97, and Office XP. This version is a quick update to make it work with Windows Server 2003.

Download here > http://www.magicaljellybean.com/downloads/kf141.zip

 

by: keithbraithwaitePosted on 2005-03-09 at 02:17:41ID: 13494419

Super the Jelly bean... Only problem is that it just pulls out what is in the Register and as I said in an earlier posting when looking in the register where kcarrim told me to look for it I didn't get the compete number. Jelly Bean just gave me the same thing: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 77569
In fact I suppose it is fairly obvious that when doing a "cheat" install the number isn't in there.
The important thing is that I did get W95 installed and I was able to test the music sequencer application.
I'll leave the question open for a while just in case there are any other ideas that come up for finding the number. If not I'll split the points - there are some very useful things that I've noted down there.

 

by: kcarrimPosted on 2005-03-09 at 03:44:24ID: 13494811

If anyone posts a cd-key, it should be removed because it would be illegal.

The cd-key can be entered in the Msbatch.inf file.
Please see this > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;263281

 

by: keithbraithwaitePosted on 2005-03-09 at 05:40:54ID: 13495526

Sorry about that - I wouldn't have thought anyone was very interested in Windows 95 any more...
I've been to the Microsoft page and we are trying to get ourselves set up as OEM agents.

When you say:
"The cd-key can be entered in the Msbatch.inf file."

... that's if you know the code? or any series of figures.
What is the format of the codes for W95 - the last figure one has 5 figures - are all three groups the same?

 

by: nedvisPosted on 2005-03-09 at 17:52:41ID: 13502307

 

by: nichols660Posted on 2005-09-27 at 12:47:54ID: 14970000

Would that MSBatch.inf thing be illegal? I have a Windows 95 Companion CD that came with the computer, and I'm using a few setup files from another version of Windows.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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