# Finding Software Product Key - Recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765 "2010-02-12T19:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/1 "2010-02-12T19:53:45Z")
Dell loves to put the Windows Product Key label on the bottom of laptops. After a couple years of wear & tear the label is unreadable. :rolleyes: Google shows several utilities that will extract the key from the registry. I suspect some of these are malware trap. Can someone recommend something they’ve used and know is malware free? Also, this laptop has Adode Premier and After Effects installed. I have the original CD’s, but no key. Is there a utility to extract Adobe product keys? Or a manual method to get them? I’m replacing the hard drive and that means reinstalling everything. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/2 "2010-02-12T19:56:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Dell loves to put the Windows Product Key label on the bottom of laptops. After a couple years of wear & tear the label is unreadable. :rolleyes: > > Google shows several utilities that extract the key for download. I suspect some of these are malware trap. > > Can someone recommend something they’ve used and know is malware free? > > Also, this laptop has Adode Premier and After Effects installed. I have the orig CD’s, but no key. Is their a utility to extract Adobe product keys? Or a manual method to get them? > > I’m replacing the hard drive and that means reinstalling everything. Magic beans will do it. My general rule of thumb for download utilities, if some big-name site like CNet lists it, it’s very likely safe. Just follow their links. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/3 "2010-02-12T20:00:01Z")
ok, I had wondered about CNet and Softpedia. I wasn’t sure how closely they checked for malware. If they’re considered reliable, I’ll make a point to get shareware from them. Found Magic Beans Thanks! > **[KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean](https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/)** > > The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/4 "2010-02-12T20:05:42Z")
I haven’t used Magic Beans but Belarc Advisor will do this. It’s free and reliable. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/5 "2010-02-12T20:10:10Z")
Wow, 😉 I’m looking at their web site. They say Belarc lists all the software on the pc. Does it get the keys too? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/6 "2010-02-12T20:13:36Z")
I know it gets the keys for Windows and Office. I don’t know if it will do so for non-Microsoft software. Edited to add that it’s a really small download and runs in a browser window, so there’s minimal risk in trying it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/7 "2010-02-12T20:32:38Z")
Many Thanks! Everybody. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/8 "2010-02-12T22:30:39Z")
So I take it that the product key no longer appears in the System control panel like it did on XP? ---
**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/9 "2010-02-12T22:37:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Edited to add that it’s a really small download and runs in a browser window, so there’s minimal risk in trying it. How does this mean there is minimal risk? IE is notorious for security holes and the size the file is irrelevant, it could be a small trojan that starts downloading the real meat secretly in the background. Now, I’m not accusing the particular piece of software you’re talking about as being a trojan or malware in general, I just take issue with your statement. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/10 "2010-02-12T23:27:13Z")
I said that it runs in a browser window. That does not mean that you must run it in Internet Explorer. In fact the product page says that it “runs on Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and many others.” ---
**Author:** ![Terry\_Kennedy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@Terry\_Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/11 "2010-02-13T01:09:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Dell loves to put the Windows Product Key label on the bottom of laptops. After a couple years of wear & tear the label is unreadable. :rolleyes: > > Google shows several utilities that will extract the key from the registry. I suspect some of these are malware trap. > > Can someone recommend something they’ve used and know is malware free? Note that since at least Windows XP, Dell (and some other large OEMs) use a special system where the OS install CDs they supply check to make sure the system is a Dell (or whatever) and installs / activates without the need for a license key. On those systems, any Windows “key” returned by software will be a generic key, not good for installing a retail copy of Windows. However, if you install using the Windows CD that came with the system, you should be all set. For applications, the product key isn’t on the case sticker, and may be your specific key, or could be a generic one - depends on the product. Adobe has been pretty good about allowing reinstalls - the worst I’ve heard is someone needing to send them a scan of the original product package or CD before they’d issue a new key. ---
**Author:** ![jormundgondir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@jormundgondir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jormundgondir)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-software-product-key-recommendations/528765/12 "2010-02-14T05:06:59Z")
What Terry said: nothing in the registry on your machine as the OEM installed it will have any relevance to the sticker on the bottom of the machine, and the OEM key won’t be any good for you to try and use either. Your best hope is that you have a copy of the install disks that came with the machine when you got it, which will most likely be able to reinstall Windows with the OEM key. Dunno about Adobe, sorry!