A Jaunt with CD-Keys.

Today, reinstalling my software and games and what not, I have encountered time and time again requests for CD keys, many of which I have misplaced and the like. I am going to explain my solutions to lost cd keys. (It would be best to not lose them; do not put the cases in a “safe” place where you “cannot forget them,” and do not throw them on the ground either.)

Usually, the EULA agreements prohibit installing software on more than one computer; however I find it very beneficial to install certain games on an auxiliary machine to serve as a record and in order to avoid situations in which you cannot play the game at all; ie, you have misplaced your cd case.

I have looked through the registry for various games (on Windows) and found how you can find your cd-key if the game is installed on that computer.

Star Wars Empires at War

• Open the Registry
• Navigate in the Registry to “My Computer –> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE –> SOFTWARE –> LucasArts –> Star Wars Empire at War –> 1.0″
• There is an entry “CD Key” of type REG_SZ. Your CD Key is listed in the “Data” column.

Star Wars Empire at War Forces of Corruption (Expansion)

• Open the Registry
• Navigate in the Registry to “My Computer –> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE –> SOFTWARE –> LucasArts –> Star Wars Empire at War Forces of Corruption–> 1.0″
• There is an entry “CD Key” of type REG_SZ. Your CD Key is listed in the “Data” column.

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