At 05:15 PM 12/31/2000, gary r. tennesen wrote:
>   A customer copies CD directory of cd d:\win98\*.* to c:\w98 in order to
>speed installation and a variety of other reasons.
>
>Customer runs c:\w98\setup months later when a re-installation of Windows is
>needed and cannot use his serial number.  My guess is that it wants THE
>original serial number from before since about 10 serials have been tried
>all stating that they are invalid while in fact, they are valid.
>
>The time I've seen this in the past, we've had to delete the entire
>c:\Windows directory and reinstall.  Afterwards, any one of the other serial
>worked.
>
>Is there any other way around this?

Yes...

The serial number is listed in the SYSTEM.DAT file found in C:\windows
and the key is:  PRODUCTKEY

If windows is still functioning, use your Regedit and do search for:
    PRODUCTKEY

If windows has been corrupted and you cannot start it, then
boot to a floppy disk and use EDIT.COM found on your bootdisk
to search the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT file for the keyword:
    PRODUCTKEY

The serial number is there.

     Bob Wright
The NOSPIN Group

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