How to use Ubuntu LiveCD to get Windows Product Key from hosed system
@lkraemer, I posted it here because lots of people use the Ubuntu LiveCD to troubleshoot Windows problems. I thought I could get help here… and I was right. However, your response was very Microsoftian: lots of talk, but nothing useful.
@juanoleso, et al…
Because of your help, I was able to learnthe location of the Windows Registry files:
(C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\)
I also had found Magic Jellybean KeyFinder (MJBKF) in my searching previously, but was unaware that it would work on a hive that was not the current one, like some other programs of similar purpose. With information from you folks, I made some attempts. Here’s what worked…
1. I copied the config folder (mentioned above) to my USB drive using Ubuntu to get access to the hard drive.
2. On another Windows machine, I installed MJBKF and plugged in the USB drive.
3. MJBKF didn’t work if I pointed it to the config folder. So I thought to duplicate the directory structure it might normally see in Windows.
4. I created a windows folder, and then created a system32 folder in it.
5. I then moved the config folder into the system32 folder.
6. MJBKF worked fine when I pointed it to the newly-created windows folder. I was able to get my Windows XP Key!
L