Hello,

I rebuilt my PC a while back. I used a new hard drive so that I didn't
have to worry about backing up all of my data/pictures/whatever before
reinstalling XP. As I was reinstalling the software that I used, I
realized that I couldn't find the license key to something that I was
trying to install on the new instance of XP. Is there anyway to open
up the old registry off the old hard drive look for the license key
there? I can't find any sites that explain how to open an old
registry. They all deal with opening registry backups and the like.
Anyone have any suggestions? I'd appreciate them.

Thanks.

luapllirrom wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I rebuilt my PC a while back. I used a new hard drive so that I didn't
> have to worry about backing up all of my data/pictures/whatever before
> reinstalling XP. As I was reinstalling the software that I used, I
> realized that I couldn't find the license key to something that I was
> trying to install on the new instance of XP. Is there anyway to open
> up the old registry off the old hard drive look for the license key
> there? I can't find any sites that explain how to open an old
> registry. They all deal with opening registry backups and the like.
> Anyone have any suggestions? I'd appreciate them.
>
> Thanks.

Mount the old disk to the current Windows XP installation and use the
Registry Editor's Load Hive feature. Easy to follow example here:
http://www.rwin.ch/xp-live/regedit.htm

John

John John wrote:
> luapllirrom wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I rebuilt my PC a while back. I used a new hard drive so that I
>> didn't have to worry about backing up all of my
>> data/pictures/whatever before reinstalling XP. As I was reinstalling
>> the software that I used, I realized that I couldn't find the
>> license key to something that I was trying to install on the new
>> instance of XP. Is there anyway to open up the old registry off the
>> old hard drive look for the license key there? I can't find any
>> sites that explain how to open an old registry. They all deal with
>> opening registry backups and the like. Anyone have any suggestions?
>> I'd appreciate them. Thanks.
>
> Mount the old disk to the current Windows XP installation and use the
> Registry Editor's Load Hive feature. Easy to follow example here:
> http://www.rwin.ch/xp-live/regedit.htm
>
> John

Woof! I was NOT aware you could do that! Thanks for a great tip IMO! Good
reference link too; made it pretty obvious to use.

Pop`

"Poprivet" wrote
> John John wrote:
>> luapllirrom wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I rebuilt my PC a while back. I used a new hard drive so that I
>>> didn't have to worry about backing up all of my
>>> data/pictures/whatever before reinstalling XP. As I was reinstalling
>>> the software that I used, I realized that I couldn't find the
>>> license key to something that I was trying to install on the new
>>> instance of XP. Is there anyway to open up the old registry off the
>>> old hard drive look for the license key there? I can't find any
>>> sites that explain how to open an old registry. They all deal with
>>> opening registry backups and the like. Anyone have any suggestions?
>>> I'd appreciate them. Thanks.
>>
>> Mount the old disk to the current Windows XP installation and use the
>> Registry Editor's Load Hive feature. Easy to follow example here:
>> http://www.rwin.ch/xp-live/regedit.htm

> Woof! I was NOT aware you could do that! Thanks for a great tip IMO!
> Good reference link too; made it pretty obvious to use.


Here's another reference from Doug Knox site:
http://www.dougknox.com/
Win XP Tips
Advanced Registry Editing

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]