Product Key in Win 95?

The old IBM computer that I have been playing with recently was given to me.It has an OEM version of Win 95 installed. System Properties shows two numbers that appear to be product keys but only have 20 characters instead of 25 like 98 and XP.

Question 1 Does Win 95 product code only have 20 characters?

Question 2 Why would there be two numbers shown?

Magical Jelly Finder confirms the product key to be the first number listed.

Thanks in advance for any info.

golfman2

 

The product ID number is 20 characters. This is shown in System properties.

The product key number is 25 characters. This is the number you input when installing the operating system.

Don't know why you have two showing.

 

Dopey, thanks for the info.

golfman2

 

You're welcome.

Have a nice day!

 

In Windows 95, the number you need to enter is the on with the letters OEM in it

 

dansoza---are you sure that the 20 character productid is what is needed to install Win 95? I have tried several software programs that show the "product key" in all other Windows versions and they all return the 20 character code with oem in it. Also, a registry search for "product key" does not return anything.

I have been afraid to try to do a clean re-install of 95 without a 25 character product key. If I wipe out what I have, I would not be able to re-install without the proper key.

Thanks for the response.Looking forward to hear if you can confirm. Thanks again.

golfman

 

There are 20 characters in the product key. Open regedit and go to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

Look for 'ProductKey' in the right pane - that's the number you need for a clean install.

 

PLansdowne---When I go to the regedit location you directed, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion

there is no entry for "Productkey ". There is "ProductId" which is the 20 character set in the form xxxxx-oem-xxxxxxx-xxxxx. There is "ProductName "which is "Microsoft Windows 95" and "ProductType" which is "7 "

Is the 20 character ProductId with "oem" in it the key I need to reinstall?

Thanks for taking time to help with this problem.

golfman2

 

Yes, that's the one you need.

 

PLansdowne--- Thanks very much for the info.

golfman2

 

Seems like there are two opinions. Is everyone really really sure about this?

It might be important as I do have the 95 disk, but the key has been lost, and I'll need it if I ever want to do a re-install...

Let me know what happened...

-heads

 

Windows 95 requires the 20 character product key number for a total reinstall.

Windows 98 requires the 25 character product key number for same.

Sometimes it get confusing when using two or more operating systems that are closely compatable. I posted an unfortunate error earlier.

Fortunately most of the people involved here at BBS are willing to correct the error, for which I know many are grateful including myself.

So I stand corrected and post that all are in agreement here.

 

Thanks for the clarification...