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Retrieving VS 2008 product key from a windows.old regestry account

Long story, but as a student Microsoft gave me some free software through a program called Dream Spark. Well now I've relaoded my windows and can't find the old product key, and usually I've been able to obtain one from the Dream spark web site, but tonight it won't let me on. So to save some hassle calling them tommorow and straightening out that I'm still an active student blah blah blah, I'm trying to find the key in the old regester that win7 backed up to windows.old. Anybody know where I'd find that old registry and then where to find the key?

tenaj-207

You'll want to use Magical Jelly Bean (http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/). Download it and run it then click on Tools > Load Hive. Browse to c:\Windows.old\System32\Config\Software (no file extension). This will let you mount your old registry hive and find your key.

-Jeff

jodyfaison

ASKER

thanks, I have used the bean before... I'll try this right now and be right back to you...

jodyfaison

ASKER

ok, having some trouble...
bean loaded right up and found my latest stuff, but when I go to hive and take to the path where I found the software file but it won't really open the file but the folder... hmm
here's the path:
E:\Windows.old\Windows\system32\config
then software and software.rrr and software.sav are in that folder, but when I try to let it open that folder, it fails. I tried moving the software file (no extension) to folder by itself, still fails.

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tenaj-207

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jodyfaison

ASKER

Oh, cool. I logged in in Live under an old email, and was able to get valudated... so VS 2008 is being installed. Thanks for your help though.