# Where are my (computer) keys? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977 "2019-07-12T17:11:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/1 "2019-07-12T17:11:53Z")
I’m transitioning to a new computer. Microsoft for Macs 2011 doesn’t seem to have made the migration. Assuming I can migrate it, where can I find the key? I also have Hoyle’s Casino, and that needs a key as well. ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/2 "2019-07-12T17:23:28Z")
You might contact the makers of Hoyle Casino and ask for a product key giving them your data ---
**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:** [July 12, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/3 "2019-07-12T17:28:10Z")
On the PC side, there are programs like Belarc Advisor that will retrieve software product keys from the registry. I don’t know if there are similar programs on the Macintosh OS. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/4 "2019-07-12T17:28:21Z")
The key is with the original CD for Office. This is where I give you my lecture about software licenses: [Rant] When you buy a piece of software, what you are paying for is the license - the numbers that come with the CD or DVD or download. The medium itself is almost worthless. You should protect those numbers as if they were worth hundreds of dollars, because they are. I recommend storing them in an encrypted vault, like 1Password. Enter them the minute you get the software. [/Rant] ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/5 "2019-07-12T17:37:42Z")
For future reference: I have a folder called “Software” on my computer. Every time I download any software, I put the .exe file in a folder for that software/app along with a Word or Notepad document listing any key, serial number, customer service email address-- whatever. When I update, if there’s a new .exe, it goes in there, too. Saves a LOT of headaches down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/6 "2019-07-12T17:40:42Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The key is with the original CD for Office. Unfortunately, I’m not sure where the CDs are! > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > For future reference: I have a folder called “Software” on my computer. Every time I download any software, I put the .exe file in a folder for that software/app along with a Word or Notepad document listing any key, serial number, customer service email address-- whatever. When I update, if there’s a new .exe, it goes in there, too. Saves a LOT of headaches down the road. Good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/7 "2019-07-12T17:55:08Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The key is with the original CD for Office. > > This is where I give you my lecture about software licenses: > [Rant] > When you buy a piece of software, what you are paying for is the license - the numbers that come with the CD or DVD or download. The medium itself is almost worthless. You should protect those numbers as if they were worth hundreds of dollars, because they are. I recommend storing them in an encrypted vault, like 1Password. Enter them the minute you get the software. > [/Rant] Heh, you sound just like me. 🙂 I’ve said that to people so many times over the years. You should behave like that license key **is** the software. If you don’t keep track of it, you risk losing that software forever and need to repurchase it if you want it again. (Some software that you register for and/or buy online will provide you a link to re-download it or will provide your key on request but don’t count on it.) A key is generally a short(-ish) alphanumeric code. Keep track of them in a single secure document that’s backed up to somewhere else and you’ll never have to worry about it again. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/8 "2019-07-12T17:57:10Z")
Microsoft Office Mac is tied to a particular hardware configuration. You must re-authorize it when upgrading Hard Drives or RAM or a new CPU. This is why having the key is so important. The key is NOT stored on the computer! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/9 "2019-07-12T18:29:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > On the PC side, there are programs like Belarc Advisor that will retrieve software product keys from the registry. This was going to be my suggestion as well. ETA: I just checked my flash drive where I had some of the reports I made before recycling some PCs, and it turns out the tool I’ve used most recently is called “System Information for Windows (SIW)” and I got it from [PortableApps.com](http://PortableApps.com). There is another app called Speccy that might do the same trick, also from [PortableApps.com](http://PortableApps.com) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/10 "2019-07-12T18:31:43Z")
If you can’t find the key, you might try FreeOffice (or LibreOffice or NeoOffice or OpenOffice). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/11 "2019-07-12T18:35:23Z")
FWIW, here’s what I got when I Googled “SIW for Mac”: [https://alternativeto.net/software/siw---system-information-for-windows/?platform=mac](https://alternativeto.net/software/siw---system-information-for-windows/?platform=mac) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/12 "2019-07-12T19:02:10Z")
[Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 Download 1 Person Compatible on Windows 10 and Apple macOS](https://smile.amazon.com/Microsoft-Office-Student-Windows-Download/dp/B07H4XBM1R) [Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 Activation Card by Mail 1 Person Compatible on Windows 10 and Apple macOS](https://smile.amazon.com/Microsoft-Office-Student-Windows-Activation/dp/B07FVRYLSW) Not entirely sure what’s going on here. The first link is a download that you can use immediately, and the second link is a download you can activate when you get a code in the mail? > [@](#): > > **Question:** Is this compatible with macOS Mojave? > > **Answer:** Compatible with Mojave, but not with documents from older versions of Office So I can’t use the new software to open an Excel file I made with Office for Mac 2011? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/13 "2019-07-12T19:18:05Z")
I found the Hoyle box/booklet/CD and entered the code. It started right up… only it’s too big for the screen. I had to Force Quit to get out of it. No huge loss. It’s Office that I really need. I’ll have to do some more searching. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/14 "2019-07-12T20:34:40Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The key is with the original CD for Office. > > This is where I give you my lecture about software licenses: > [Rant] > When you buy a piece of software, what you are paying for is the license - the numbers that come with the CD or DVD or download. The medium itself is almost worthless. You should protect those numbers as if they were worth hundreds of dollars, because they are. I recommend storing them in an encrypted vault, like 1Password. Enter them the minute you get the software. > [/Rant] I just installed Office **2000** on the 4th (or 5th) computer I’ve owned. One of the past times I changed computers, I put all my software CDs in a binder. The box for Office 2000 went in the front pocket of the binder. I am thanking my earlier self for being organized (for once). I’m wondering how long this is going to work though - there were several errors during installation that didn’t prevent installation from happening, but who knows when Microsoft realizes that if they rename just one more DLL it will finish breaking all those old copies of 2000 that keeps them from getting more money. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-computer-keys/836977/15 "2019-07-12T21:40:44Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > If you can’t find the key, you might try FreeOffice (or LibreOffice or NeoOffice or OpenOffice). This. For the vast majority of users, the OpenOffice suite is a good enough substitute that if you have to start over with a new installation, it is perfectly adequate. It will open all previous microsoft files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc…) and will save your files in microsoft formats. OpenOffice can be a bit troublesome if you are trying to import or write your own macros (openoffice does not support visual basic), but other than that, it is fine. OpenOffice does have its own macros and scripting language, but it is different from visual basic. Oh, one other thing about OpenOffice. If you post a question on a help board to help you solve a problem, DO NOT say, “With Excel, all I had to do was …” or the only advice you will get is “well, if you’re such a MicroSoft Loverboi, why don’t you just use Excel!!!11!@.” Yeah, that is a bit annoying, but if you just avoid any mention of MS or their products, you’ll be fine.