Re: Locating Windows Application Installation Keys

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

Hello eSolTec, Inc. 501(c)(3),
C-Services is correct. These groups are completely public and community supported.

When you are told something by someone with greater knowledge and experience than you, it is wisdom to listen to them, even if you don't like how it's said.

-Boo

You are partially correct. This is a publicly monitored newsgroup by
Microsoft Professionals to answer questions that are proposed by MSDN
subscribers. Just goes to show you, you don't know what you're talking
about.

"GhostInAK" wrote:

Hello eSolTec, Inc. 501(c)(3),

By the way, this is NOT a moderated group. THis is a public
newsgroup available via NNTP at no charge.

-Boo

I don't believe that I have been rude or stupid. This is a moderated
newsgroup and I've paid my money to Microsoft to ask the questions.
Maybe if someone would take this pointer. Not everyone wants your
opinion. I'm asking professionals about finding information about
what I'm looking for. I'm not a programmer by trade, I'm a
technician and I'm building this application to aid me and other
techs in resolving issues of people installing spyware, adware and
other malicious programs in people's computers that require a
reformat, rather than attempting to rundown the culprid. Calling
someone stupid because they don't think like you is really imature.
If you don't want to help, please don't comment. If you do, thank
you for your help and assistance.

The smart person, knows when to ask for help. It's the dumb one's
that explore and end up finding something way over their heads and
end up drowning. Thank you for your two cents, you and Seth both,
but I'll pass on playing in something I don't know and am unfamiliar
with.

"GhostInAK" wrote:

Hello eSolTec, Inc. 501(c)(3),

I'm with Seth. Go find the key entries and if you can't decipher
them, then come askin for help. But to come in here asking where
something is just because you don't want to spend the time
yourself, and are unsure of what you will find were you to look
yourself is just plain rude, not to mention stupid.

-Boo

Seth,

Again, thank you for your comments. I think the reason I'm asking
this question, is that most programs I'm aware of encrypt the key
in the registry, so finding the key is not difficult, but
decrypting it is. The Windows Key for example, is about 200 lines
of code to find, and decrypt it for reinstallation use. I thought
if anyone knew, it would save me time and frustration of finding
or attempting to find the keys. I also know some programs people
will know where the keys are, and others will not. I was also
wondering if there is a way to programmatically find any
installation key, so if it became necessary to reinstall the
software and I couldn't find the key, I would be able to retrieve
it from my program.

"rowe_newsgroups" wrote:

That's what I'm trying to find out, where the keys are.

Not to be rude, but isn't this something that you couldn't figure
out on your own if you took the time to open up regedit and do
some exploring? I always referred to this as "node hunting." If
you're sure it's in there somewhere then start exanding the nodes
and looking for the value. Also the "Find" option on the menu may
be something that would help.

Thanks,

Seth Rowe

eSolTec wrote:

Seth,

thank you for your comments. That's what I'm trying to find out,
where the
keys are.
--
Michael Bragg, President
eSolTec, Inc.
a 501(C)(3) organization
MS Authorized MAR
looking for used laptops for developmentally disabled.
"rowe_newsgroups" wrote:
Windows Installation Key or COA from the registry

Question: If you know they are somewhere in the registry, why
not open up regedit and hunt down the directory yourself? Then
use the Microsoft.Win32.Registry namespace in your program to
do whatever you need to do.

Thanks,

Seth Rowe

eSolTec wrote:

Thank you in advance for any and all assistance. I'm looking
for a way to programmatically retrieve the following if
possible:

Windows Installation Key or COA from the registry
Windows installed applications, like:
MS Office 97-2003
MS FrontPage
MS Word
MS Works
MS Excel
MS Power Point
MS Access
The latter is if an office suite is not installed. I don't
want
to
change
anything, just be able to programmatically retrieve this
information and
other keys if possible for backup and reinstallation, should I
need to format
my computer(s) and can't locate the software keys.
--
Michael Bragg, President
eSolTec, Inc.
a 501(C)(3) organization
MS Authorized MAR
looking for used laptops for developmentally disabled.


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