Use VBS script and WSHShell.RegWrite

Option Explicit

' [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Symantec\CCPD-LC\KStore\00000082\00000002\00000002]
' "Key"="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
' REF:  http://www.winguides.com/scripting/library.php?id=6

Dim CDKEY
Dim WSHShell, RegKey, ScreenSaver, Result


CDKEY = InputBox("CD Key","Please enter the CD Key and press Ok. Press Cancel to Exit.","")

' keep asking till your CDKEY is valid or user exits.
While Not IsCDKeyValid(CDKEY)
  CDKEY = InputBox("CD Key","Please enter a valid CD Key and press Ok.","")
wend


Set WSHShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
RegKey = "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Symantec\CCPD-LC\KStore\00000082\00000002\00000002\"
WSHShell.RegWrite regkey & "Key", CDKEY
Set WSHShell = Nothing
Msgbox("Done")


Function IsCDKeyValid(CDKEY)

  CDKEY = Trim(CDKEY)  

 'enter validation functions here
  If Len(CDKEY) = 0 Or Len(CDKEY) = 10 then
    IsCDKeyValid = True
  else
    IsCDKeyValid = False
  end if

End Function

looks good.

i'd do this myself if i could...but could you remove the valid cd key check? it isnt necessary because i want to be able to accept a variety of legit keys, and the application itself will check the validity of the key upon startup.

if you could do that i'd say this question is closed. thanks for your help.

Many thanks. It's perfect!