System Restore and Software Keys

I'm only posting this because I know that folks like me will often come here and search for a thread on a topic if they have a problem. So this might help someone who was in my boat....

I had a legit copy of Office 2003 on my desktop; then I transfered it (allowed by the EULA) to my laptop. Long story short, I found that I needed the original key to update Office at the MS site--unfortunately, after I had already uninstalled the original program from my desktop (being ethical and all, I didn't want to violate the EULA).

I was explaining my predicament to my wife, in much the same attitude that a mechanic comes in and explains to wifey why he's been having such a hard time in the garage with the car (as in, not really expecting a solution to come forth). My wife asked me if I didn't think that System Restore might work. Bingo--I restored it back, and then Magic Jelly Bean key finder found the encrypted registration keys there, and gave me the key.

So--if you once had a legit copy of a program on your computer, and you need the key for it, you might give System Restore a shot. Magic Jelly Bean can do the rest. Of course, you would have to make sure that your system actually has a restore point from the time you had the software installed on your system.

Now to any expert reading this---is System Restore essentially a Registry backup? I've never thought of it like this--I've known its a type of backup for the system itself, not our files...but does it essentially copy the registry every 24 hours?

 

From the EULA,

1.1 Installation and use. You may:
(a) install and use a copy of the Software on one personal computer or other
device; and
(b) install an additional copy of the Software on a second, portable device for the
exclusive use of the primary user of the first copy of the Software.

Now I just read section 14, which said that you can transfer the software to another computer as long as you remove it from the first; but I totally skipped over section 1.1.

Man you learn something new every day. Well that's ok I'll slap it back on then. I sure do have the key for it

EDIT: OK I just understood the significance of the "exclusive use" language. I almost always work on the laptop; the desktop would almost never be me, and I sure couldn't tell my wife that she had to use Open Office on that same machine while I got to use MS Office 2003 (I can just imagine the conversation!!). So looks like its still going to be Word 2000 on the desktop.

 

Pete I agree it very well might pay--but I always get that MIGO affect with EULAs--My Eyes Glaze Over.

Besides, its just so much quicker and easier to click

 

It just dawned on me, that the "exclusive use" language refers to the portable device--my laptop, which I do use exclusively. So after all that, yes, I can keep Office 2003 installed on my desktop, which won't be used exclusively by me, but since it was the original hardware, it doesn't have to be.

Man, Pete--one of these days I will take up your suggestion and read those darn things.... reading never hurts