From: "Geo" 

keyfinder works fine, the number it displays is the key that was used to
install windows. If it's different than the one on the bottom of your
laptop then write it down so now you have 2 keys .

Geo.

"Gary Britt"  wrote in message
news:44a7f659$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> Argggg.... matey. 
>
> I'm assuming the keyfinder.exe program that hasn't been updated since 2003
> just doesn't properly unencrypt the key number or is something else at
play
> here?
>
> This is a laptop purchased last October from Gateway through HSN and has
> never been in for re-install or repair and has never been restored or
> reinstalled by me.  The keyfinder.exe CD Key is completely different from
> the COA Key on the bottom of the laptop??
>
> Gary
>
> "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
> news:44a7efca$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > Pirate!!!!
> >
> > 
> >
> >
> > "Gary Britt"  wrote in message
> > news:44a7ef3f$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> >>I tried the keyfinder.exe program that supposedly shows your windows
> >>product key and it showed a key that is completely different from the
key
> >>on the sticker on the bottom of my laptop?
> >>
> >> Gary
> >>
> >> "/m"  wrote in message
> >> news:1ldfa29d9rlnc0hnha6tapske44m61vju7{at}4ax.com...
> >>> On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 09:45:30 -0500, "Geo"
 wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>"Adam Flinton"
 wrote in message
> >>>>news:4221a503$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Esp if the virus makes it so no new number will
work. Imagine the
> >>>>> "phone
> >>>>> queues" of a global nature where people are
calling to re-init
winxp.
> >>>>
> >>>>all it needs to do is change the serial number to a
random number. I
> >>>>don't
> >>>>think anyone realizes just easy it would be to
completely hose the
whole
> >>>>product activation thing. Microsoft has designed
windows to watch to
see
> >>>>if
> >>>>it was tampered with (that setting that changes
workstation to server)
> >>>>and
> >>>>they have now designed their strategy for updates to
depend on stuff
> >>>>that
> >>>>can be changed by software that executes on the users machine.
> >>>>
> >>>>I've always thought this was a really nasty security
issue, first they
> >>>>wanted the stupid serial number stickers on the outside of the
computer
> >>>>where anyone can see them, write them down, and post them to the
> >>>>internet
> >>>>thus getting your key blacklisted. Second even if you remove the
sticker
> >>>>there are programs like
http://www.nthelp.com/40/productid.htm which
can
> >>>>simply read the number and display it so you can copy it down.
> >>>>
> >>>>Imagine what would happen if the next big virus
changed this setting
to
> >>>>one
> >>>>of the blacklisted serial numbers. It would basically
mean users have
to
> >>>>reinstall to fix the problem and if you happen to have
an OEM version
> >>>>which
> >>>>now isn't going to let you reinstall without calling well...
> >>>>
> >>>>So when is MS going to realize that software piracy is a law
enforcement
> >>>>issue and why it's a bad idea to take the law into
your own hands?
It's
> >>>>so
> >>>>easy to frame users so that MS thinks they are running pirated
windows..
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I don't think they are ever going to realize that.
> >>>
> >>> /m
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

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