Windows 95

It is not stored on the CD-ROM (at least not inreadable format). It's only printed either on the manual or on CD cover.

If the product ID prompt is in the form of 3 digits - 7 digits, there is no real protection using product id. All the is required is that the addition of the last 7 digits is divisable by 7. for eg. 111 - 1111111 would work as as 1 + 1+ 1 +  seven times is 7 which is divisible by 7, once. If you have the OEM form of ID this will not work. Remember, do not use method to violate any copyright.
 
     

I'm a tad confused.  So I am not able to reinstall Windows 95 without the product ID number?  There must be some way to obtain the number through c:\windows in dos or is that not true?  I don't want to completely reformat my hard drive and lose everything.  That wouldn't work either because I would still need to know the correct product ID number off the CD Rom.  Any further help??

Why not go back to the same question you asked back in January?
(It's in your customer profile.)
https://www.experts-exchange.com/topics/comp/os-ms-windows/setup/windows95/Q.10037321
Won't that answer still help?
Ralph

No you can install / reinstall 95 with any valid product number. Ive just read in another question at EE, that with the OEM form, if the 7 digits after the word OEM add up to 7 this also works.
 

Smitty,
  Can't you go into safe mode and access your details ?
  If you can get into safe mode, then you could probably fix your system without having to reinstall ?
  You could get the serial numbers from :

http://edmundo.dca.udg.mx/hack/Serial/index.html

'..for educational purposes only ?' - hmmmmmmm....
 
Tim
 

In order to reinstall WIn'95 you must use the same number you used to install it in the first place.  I always use 12345678900.  That is very easy to remember.

goto:

START->SETTINGS->CONTROL PANEL and select the "System" icon and you'll find the serial number on the second paragraph (under registered to:)

gfreeman:  You obviously didn't read my problem.  I'm not able to access the OS which means I also can't get into START>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL.  

I've tried going to C:\Windows and then typing in REGEDIT /E REGISTERY.TXT but I continue to get a message back that states:  Unable to open registry (14) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT   This method worked back in January but it's not working this time.

As AKB stated, I have to use the same number as I did before when Windows 95 was installed but I can't locate the manual to see what it was.  Windows 95 will not reinstall with just any number if it's already on the hard drive.  Going into Safe Mode doesn't help because I still get the same errors and it will not boot into Safe Mode.

Hopefully someone can find a solution so I'm able to obtain my Windows 95 product ID number off my hard drive via dos.

The easiest way to get around this problem is to ask a friend for their number.  Assuming that you both have liscenses (we want to be legal), any Windows 95 Product ID will work.

Schandor

Schandor:  Any Windows 95 product ID number will not work.  When Windows 95 is already on your hard drive it requires you to insert the same number as what's already there or it will not allow you to continue with the installation.  I need to obtain that number somehow via dos since I'm not able to access Windows 95 right now.

it is not possible to get the number you require from your computer.

your only legal option is to purchase win95 licence only, this will have number you can use for reinstallation. if disk is oem you must purchase oem licence.  In uk licence can be purchased second hand but unopened/unused. cost 20pounds around 30 dollars.

your other option is to reinstall using a mythical number as detailed in earlier comments/amswers.

It "is" possible to get it via dos because it was done back in January with the method I desribed.  The only problem this time is that I get an "Unable to open registry (14)" message.  I have tons of business and personal programs and files on there so I'll keep looking for a way to reinstall Windows 95.

Smitty,
Depending on your version of Win95, and if you have at least 100Mb free on your haard disk, there is a method that may work for you to re-install.
You will need to be able to copy the Win95 directory from the CD to your hard drive.
Let me know if you want it.
Ralph

Have you tried backing up 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT' and then renaming 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DA0' to
'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT'.
Then try the REGEDIT /E RESISTRY.TXT

You may have to do the same with USER.DAT and USER.DA0

This may help if your registry files are actually corrupted.

-Tom

Tom,

There is no SYSTEM.DAT, USER.DAT, SYSTEM.DA0 OR USER.DAO in my Windows directory.  I did locate a SYSTEM.NU and a USER.NU plus there was also a SYSTEM.--- in there too.  Now, do you think it would be possible to delete the file which contains the Windows 95 product ID number so I could reinstall the OS?  If so, which file would that be?

Smitty,
Would you care to respond to my last comment?
Ralph

Sorry Ralph, I would love to hear your suggestion.  At this point I'm willing to try anything. I do have 100 MB free.

I've always thought that the registration number can be bypassed by CANCEL easily.... Try http://www.otol.fi/~hapa2/listat.htm

Smitty, try this and let me know if you need more.
Ralph

1) Make a new directory on your hard drive. (i.e.  C:\Win95)

2) Copy the \Win95 directory from your Win95 CD to the new directory on the hard drive.

3) Use extract.exe to extract the file SETUPPP.INF from PRECOPY2.CAB

4) Open LAYOUT.INF in a text editor. (Notepad will do this)
Search for the string "SETUPPP.INF".
You should find: setuppp.inf=2,,4550

Change the 2 to a 0 to read:

        setuppp.inf=0,,4550

        Save the changes.

5) Open SETUPPP.INF in a text editor. Search for "ProductType".

        Change it to read:  ProductType=1

        Save the changes.

6) Now run setup to re-install without a CD Key number.

If you are running Windows 95 - any version - and there is no System.dat or User.dat, and there is not System.da0 or User.da0. You may as well "deltree" the Windows directory and reinstall Windows 95 and all your applications. These two files are the Windows 95 registry. If they don't exist, you cannot retain your old software settings anyway.

You will *NOT* want to format your hard drive, just deltree the Windows 95 directory (usually C:\WINDOWS) and then reinstall Windows 95 and reinstall all your programs back to the same old directories. Your data will remain in tact and you will simply have the time involved.

-Tom

Ralph, I'm definetly making progress.  I tried your suggestion and was able to reinstall Windows 95 without a product ID number.  Here's the new problem:

When the Windows 95 splash screen come on and it says, "Windows is now searching for any plug and "pray" devices" you may have, the computer freezes.  It does allow me to go into safe mode though.  I tried reinsalling several times with the same results.  It continues to freeze before finishing setup.

Any further suggestions to solve this?  

You could have possible corruption on the HDD, either at a hardware or software level. Some instances of software corruption are not solve until the Windows directory is been deltreed. You've done that so I suggest getting another HDD to test (this way you don't have to format your original drive) and reinstall Windows. If it works, start checking out your original HDD for physical errors.

Please post your autoexec.bat & config.sys files here.
Ralph

I didn't do the deltree yet.  Instead I tried rmarotta's suggestion of reinstalling without having to use the product ID number.  That way I wouldn't have to reinstall all of my Windows programs again.  I may end up having to do that if this doesn't work.  I'll post my autoexec.bat and config.sys in just a bit.

Here's my autoexec.bat and config.sys files:

CONFIG.SYS

device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe
dos=umb,high
files=50
stacks=20,256
device=c:\cd625\vide-cdd.sys /D:mscd001

AUTOEXEC.BAT

prompt $P$G
c:\windows\command\msdex.exe /D:mscd001 /V
path=c:\windows;c:\windows\command;c:\bitware;c:\dos
set midi=synth:1 map:E mode:0
set sound=c:\progra~1\creative\ctsnd
set blaster=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6

Try this:
Rename both files so they won't load when starting Windows.
Will Windows continue to load correctly now?
Ralph

Might you take out any plug and plays and then add them once 95 is up and running?

regedit /e key.reg [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]

Smitty,
We need some feedback from you.
Ralph

Sorry it has taken so long to get back.  I was out of town for a period of time and now I'm trying to get everything back in order.  My system is back up and running except for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express which I keep getting error messages about my proxie settings.  I don't have any proxie settings that I know of with my ISP.  Anyway, that's another question at another time.  Rmarotta your assistance definetly helped the most so I want to make sure you receive the points you deserve.  Please respond with an answer so I can clear this question out of the system.  Thank you very much.