ScreechPowers
July 7th, 2005, 11:09 PM
I recently had a problem with a computer of mine that has everything of mine on it. I have nothing backed up, as it was going to be the backup for another new computer, but I had only started moving stuff onto the new one. Something caused it to 'lose' my product key. Windows will not start. It acts as it would on the first install, asking me for the 25 digit product key. I can't use that 'regedit' thing, because windows won't start, and it also seems to have a problem in safe mode, but that would seem to be unrelated. I can get into DOS. I tried typing "FIND 'PRODUCTKEY' SYSTEM.DAT", but it did not give me the number. I also tried TYPEing all of system.dat and searching myself, but the number is plain gone. Even Microsoft Support couldn't help me. Is there a way to change system.dat to have the product number in it without knowing the number? I don't have the origional cd, either, so that was my last chance to get it. Everything is already installed, and has been for years, and Windows 98 is entirely off the market. My only hope is to change something such that the computer believes that I have already entered the number, but I am not familiar with what else should be in system.dat, and would prefer not to modify it without knowing for sure what I am doing. If anyone can help, please let me know.