How to get the key for Windows 98 disk

[timbo59]

I have an older laptop that I'd like to install Windows 98 on for the sake of playing some old games. I just bought an old laptop with Win 98 on it and it accepted some of the games, but not all. I figured maybe I could put Win98 on the other laptop and see if it would fare any better accepting the games that wouldn't work on the other unit.

Only problem is that I can't find the key for it anywhere - the disk has been stored in a paper sleeve for years in my study, long after I stopped using it. I have a Windows 2000 disk - same problem. Both are genuine copies. Is there some way I can get the keys, maybe by contacting Microsoft?

 

[COLGeek]

MS won't have that info. Keep in mind both W98 and W2K are long past being supported. Without the physical product key/COAs you are out of luck. There is no product key info contained in the installation media.

 

[boosted1g]

You can try to buy a disk with product key from internet/ebay.

With that said if one laptop fails to play the game with win98 there is very little chance another one will.

 

[aoresteen]

Try Magic Jelly Bean to recover ther key code from the laptop that you have runing w98. Then use that key when installing on the other laptop.

 

[Deleted member 1898488]

another solution is using http://halfdone.com/ukd/
its for finding missing drivers but will show you your key from the dropdown menu.

 

[ragnar-gd]

Magic Jelly Bean

 

[COLGeek]

Magic Jelly Bean, and similar products, can only find the product key only when it has been entered on a working system. There is no product key to pull from the installation media.

Just something to keep in mind, folks.

 

[aoresteen]

Magic Jelly Bean, and similar products, can only find the product key only when it has been entered on a working system. There is no product key to pull from the installation media.

Just something to keep in mind, folks.

Understood. But the OP said that "I just bought an old laptop with Win 98 on it and it accepted some of the games, but not all." That to me implies that the laptop is RUNNING, hence the use of Magic Jelly Bean to salvage the install code.

 

[Carnaxus]

I thought Win98 didn't have an activation key?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

I thought Win98 didn't have an activation key?

The activation system you are referring to didn't make an appearance until Windows XP. However, prior to that one still had to enter a 20 character license code during installation. Installation would not proceed without it. The reason for the current activation system is that under the old system the same key could be used on an unlimited number of machines with no ill effects as the systems didn't contact the "mother ship" to verify key usage.