ShowKeyPlus

Guys I lost my original key afterwards which I stupidly entered a wrong key and lost my Original windows 8.1,Don't ask me how i did it -_-

Trying to get my old orignal key back
But trying to go to C:\Windows\System32\Config folder in the ShowKeyPlus. I'm getting error software hive is in use
Can't help myself plssss help me out
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-re...ws-old-folder/

Superfly said:

You can't access the registry that is in use (i.e on C:)

If you do not have the windows folder backed up somewhere else, you'll need to boot from USB. If you have a Macrium or similar rescue disk copy the System32\config folder somewhere - then you'll be able to re-direct to that instead - or better still try running one of the PESE iso's - it has ShowKey on it.
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

BTW: You won't get anymore info than you already have...

Thanks went for third option ...Bro tell me is that PESE iso a mirror image of the windows folder? Because its 800 mbs download.
If its something else a little more help would be appreciated thank you

Juggernaut said:

Thanks went for third option ...Bro tell me is that PESE iso a mirror image of the windows folder? Because its 800 mbs download.
If its something else a little more help would be appreciated thank you

When you first start showkey, it scans (effectively) the active C:\Windows\System32\Config folder and displays what is there. That's what it does on it's own by default - and also the computer's BIOS/firmware. Going in through a back door such as PESE and loading C:\Windows\System32\Config folder that way is not going to reveal any new information.

As Superfly explained, the retrieve key from backup function is for finding product keys stored in Windows backup images - not the Windows that is installed and running. If you have a Windows.old folder you can look in there for a backup of your old Windows that you could possibly retrieve a product key from. If you have a Macrium Reflect Free image backup, you could mount that image and possibly retrieve a product key from that. If you have an image created by Windows built-in backup and recovery, you could mount that VHD file and possibly retrieve a product key from that.

But if you don't have a backup image of the previous OS to look in - all you are going to get is what showkey produces when it first starts up.

NavyLCDR said:

When you first start showkey, it scans (effectively) the active C:\Windows\System32\Config folder and displays what is there. That's what it does on it's own by default - and also the computer's BIOS/firmware. Going in through a back door such as PESE and loading C:\Windows\System32\Config folder that way is not going to reveal any new information.

As Superfly explained, the retrieve key from backup function is for finding product keys stored in Windows backup images - not the Windows that is installed and running. If you have a Windows.old folder you can look in there for a backup of your old Windows that you could possibly retrieve a product key from. If you have a Macrium Reflect Free image backup, you could mount that image and possibly retrieve a product key from that. If you have an image created by Windows built-in backup and recovery, you could mount that VHD file and possibly retrieve a product key from that.

But if you don't have a backup image of the previous OS to look in - all you are going to get is what showkey produces when it first starts up.

Bro I was getting around that but it seems that I different approach to getting a new windows is working well so far.

Do you think I'm good my windows 8.1 is going to expire on 8th next month.Damn and yeah I can't find the windows.old folder its nowhere to be found.PS Can you simply explain to me in very noob terms that the Iso image is for a divert purpose because the software hive is busy with my current windows ..aye?