Expert: Lorry - 8/2/2009

Question
my computer was so far past being able to be fixed i tried use the windows 98 disc to redo everythin it did almost everything so it cleared my hard drive and it asked for the product key well it keeps saying the product key is invalid and its buggin me even tho the product key is ON the side of my computer...

Answer
Hi Thomas,

Have to ask, could you be mistaking the letter O, for the number 0? The same for B and 8.

Product Key Number Does Not Match

If you reinstalled Windows over top of itself the Product Key must be entered. If the new Product Key does not match the number originally entered the process will stop and the software cannot be reinstalled without entering the original number.

They only way to solve this is to enter the number that was originally used when Windows was originally installed. You should be able to start Windows in Safe mode in order to find the original number. Use the right mouse button to click My Computer, and then click Properties on the menu that appears. The number you should enter should be listed.

From: http://www.winbookcorp.com/_technote/WBTA12000546.htm

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v2.0.1 can find the number for you. Check it out at:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Hope this helps!
Lorry