Product key for unknown product.

[Guest]

I removed the CD from a sleeve with the orange product key sticker on the back.
Is there anyplace I can type in the product key and find out what product
it is for?

 

[Guest]

To the best of my knowledge there is no way to track software by product key,
or at least not one that is sanctioned by Microsoft for public use (they
probably have a list somewhere). Having said that, how many Microsoft
products do you have? You should be able to track it easily enough... unless
(no accusation intended) you found a CD envelope with a Microsoft product key
on the back and were hoping to have a free license of something...

Mitch

 

[Guest]

I am a dealer. I have many, many software packages, some purchased, some NFR
copies from Microsoft, distributors, etc. I was organizing several trays of
CDs and found this among all the old backup stuff. It could be for Win95,
Win98, Win98SE, XP home, XP pro, Office97, Office XP pro, Office 2003, Server
2003, NT, etc. I AM NOT A CROOK!!!! But I am confused.

Denny Sharpe

 

[Guest]

Yikes. Firstly I am glad I mentioned that I was not accusing you. Yeah,
unfortunately you have a bit of a problem. Is it a newer 25 character key,
or an older one?

You could try installing each package and seeing if it worked, but that is
probably a waste of energy and a last resort. You could try contacting the
Microsoft License Division, but I would say that is a shot in the dark.

Good luck to you!

Mitch

 

[Glenda P.]

If you think it might be the product key for the operating system, try
running Everest Home Edition
free from ( http://www.lavalys.com/ ) and see if you can match the product
key to one on the report.

 

[Guest]

Yes Mitch... It is 25 characters. I was unaware of the "license division",
until now. Thank you for that and I may have to resort to it. I'd rather
solve this minor dilemma now than later when the inevitable emergency occurs.
Denny

 

[S.Sengupta]

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[Guest]

Thank you Mitch, and Glenda, and S. Excellent suggestions from all three of
you. But I guess I'll have to keep digging down here for the final answer
since I don't seem to have that license installed on any of my own computers.
Thanks though.
Denny

 

[Al Smith]

I am a dealer. I have many, many software packages, some purchased, some NFR

copies from Microsoft, distributors, etc. I was organizing several trays of
CDs and found this among all the old backup stuff. It could be for Win95,
Win98, Win98SE, XP home, XP pro, Office97, Office XP pro, Office 2003, Server
2003, NT, etc. I AM NOT A CROOK!!!! But I am confused.

Denny Sharpe

:

Boy, those Microsoft guys. They ought to think about printing the
product numbers right on their CDs sometimes. It would eliminate
hundreds of thousands of hours of lost productivity and millions
of dollars in personal expense to users every year. But what would
be in it for Microsoft? Customer satisfaction? Bwhhahahahahaha!

 

[Michael Stevens]

Boy, those Microsoft guys. They ought to think about printing the
product numbers right on their CDs sometimes. It would eliminate
hundreds of thousands of hours of lost productivity and millions
of dollars in personal expense to users every year. But what would
be in it for Microsoft? Customer satisfaction? Bwhhahahahahaha!

Since the Product Key is not hard coded to the CD, there is no. need to add
it to the CD. Even if they did, there are also hundreds of thousands of
hours lost to the users that lose the CD and the Product Key. I guess they
would then have the ability to streamline their negligence by only having to
lose the CD rather than the CD and container with the Product Key. LOL
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Boy, those Microsoft guys. They ought to think about printing the
product numbers right on their CDs sometimes. It would eliminate
hundreds of thousands of hours of lost productivity and millions of
dollars in personal expense to users every year. But what would be in it
for Microsoft? Customer satisfaction? Bwhhahahahahaha!

And do you lock your car but leave the keys dangling from the keyhole,
free for anyone to take and use?

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[SteveK]

I removed the CD from a sleeve with the orange product key sticker on the
back. Is there anyplace I can type in the product key and find out what
product
it is for?

Next time get a pen and note which CD belongs into that sleeve....

 

[Ron Bogart]

In

Boy, those Microsoft guys. They ought to think about printing the
product numbers right on their CDs sometimes. It would eliminate
hundreds of thousands of hours of lost productivity and millions
of dollars in personal expense to users every year. But what would
be in it for Microsoft? Customer satisfaction? Bwhhahahahahaha!

I remember thinking a few years back that I would simplify things and write
my CD-Keys on the CD's and get rid of the sleeves (CD's kept in a larger
Book). I was so happy with myself until I went to install something and had
to pop the CD out in the middle of an install to find the CD Key. 6 of
one - half a dozen of the other. Either way MS does it - half the people
call them idiots the other half thinks it is alright. How can ya win?

 

[Andy Bonanno]

Denny, since you are a dealer, have you tried looking through your inventory
for a sleeve with a similar sticker on it and then just see what CD is in
that sleeve? Or if that doesn't work, try making note of the CD's you have
without sleeves and then use the process of elimination to identify which
CD's don't belong in that sleeve.

Andy

 

[Alex Nichol]

I removed the CD from a sleeve with the orange product key sticker on the back.
Is there anyplace I can type in the product key and find out what product
it is for?

No. But doesn't it say on the sleeve?

If it has been installed on your machine, get the free Aida 32 - see in
the Everest item at
www.aumha.org/freeware/freeware.htm

which is an excellent general System Info tool, and its Software -
Licenses page will tell you about them - mostly

 

[Al Smith]

Boy, those Microsoft guys. They ought to think about printing the product numbers right on their CDs sometimes. It would eliminate hundreds of thousands of hours of lost productivity and millions of dollars in personal expense to users every year. But what would be in it for Microsoft? Customer satisfaction? Bwhhahahahahaha!

And do you lock your car but leave the keys dangling from the keyhole, free for anyone to take and use?

Not since that last time.

But seriously, I don't see why the key can't be on the damned CD.
The person who buys the CD also buys the key. How many times have
you read posts about somebody who's lost the key? I've read
hundreds. This applies to all software makers, not just Microsoft.
If the key was on the CD it would eliminate a huge number of
headaches, and real hardship, for a lot of people.

I know the first think I do when I copy a software CD is use a
sharpie to write the key (whatever sort it may be) right on the CD.

 

[Bob I]

The sticker is applied to the envelope seperately, and the cd is
silkscreened in a "volume" process, so you would get the number on the
CD. And IF you put the sticker on the CD, it throws it out of balance,
because of the weight. And wouldn't the cd be in the tray when it wants
the dang number anyway?