Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder Question

[Zilbandy]

I've got two laptops that we bought at the same time a couple of years
ago. They are identical Compaq Presario 2209's. I saw a post here
about the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder Program, so I downloaded it and
ran it on both machines just for curiosity. The results confuse me.
The result of the keyfinder program produces a different 25 character
key than the cd key located on the MS sticker on the bottom of my
computers. My question... which would be the correct key should I ever
need to reinstall from the original cds supplied with each system. In
reality, I'll probably never have to worry about it since I maintain
multiple Acronis True Image backups for all my computers. Just
wondered if anyone has any thoughts on this.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I've got two laptops that we bought at the same time a couple of years
ago. They are identical Compaq Presario 2209's. I saw a post here
about the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder Program, so I downloaded it and
ran it on both machines just for curiosity. The results confuse me.
The result of the keyfinder program produces a different 25 character
key than the cd key located on the MS sticker on the bottom of my
computers. My question... which would be the correct key should I ever
need to reinstall from the original cds supplied with each system. In
reality, I'll probably never have to worry about it since I maintain
multiple Acronis True Image backups for all my computers. Just
wondered if anyone has any thoughts on this.

If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is that of the drive image
used at the factory and not your specific Product Key; therefore, it
probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
re-installation. Should you ever need to re-install the OS, use the
Product Key from the CoA label affixed to the computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[JS]

As Bruce said it's the factory key code versus the one on the bottom which
you would use for a re-install.
Out of curiosity do both laptops show the same key code since they are as
you said are identical?

JS

 

[Guest]

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Have you tried the above to find your Key(s), any difference..?
The Magic Jellybean Keyfinder can cause AV warnings, I have found it useful
though, to correct Windows registration info..

Oh and nice catch, I did mean to type "cable select" the other day, mental
typo, I guess..
Cheers
j;-j

 

[Zilbandy]

As Bruce said it's the factory key code versus the one on the bottom which
you would use for a re-install.
Out of curiosity do both laptops show the same key code since they are as
you said are identical?

Yes, Magic Keyfinder reports the same number for both computers. I
didn't notice that before. Now it all makes sense.

 

[Zilbandy]

Oh and nice catch, I did mean to type "cable select" the other day, mental
typo, I guess..
Cheers

I'm having a lot of "mental typos" lately. I hate getting old. LOL

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I've got two laptops that we bought at the same time a couple of years
ago. They are identical Compaq Presario 2209's. I saw a post here
about the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder Program, so I downloaded it and
ran it on both machines just for curiosity. The results confuse me.
The result of the keyfinder program produces a different 25 character
key than the cd key located on the MS sticker on the bottom of my
computers. My question... which would be the correct key should I ever
need to reinstall from the original cds supplied with each system. In
reality, I'll probably never have to worry about it since I maintain
multiple Acronis True Image backups for all my computers. Just
wondered if anyone has any thoughts on this.

Your machines were probably installed from images and have the wrong
key in them.