Cant go into windows!Asking for product key!

[John_G]

Hey, yesterday I dowloaded 2 programs kazaa and internet explorer. When I turned off my computer and then later turned it on everything was normal until when windows usally asks my username and password to get into window, a box popped up asking my name and company name. Once I filled that out, a second box popped up it was a standard "agree to our terms" page, so I clicked the box to agree. Then a 3rd box popped up asking for my producy key, which I have lost over the years. I do have windows ME and 2000. I tried to put in those CD's when starting up but they did nothing. Do I have to reformat my computer? If so, how do I do that? Thanks for the help.

[AnnMarie]

Welcome to CTH John_G. I havent a clue what happened but you can retrieve your Product Key from DOS. Do you have a Win98 bootdisk? If not, you can download one from here (http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm). Once downloaded, doubleclick on the file and follow the prompts. Have a fresh floppy disk handy.

Once you have created the bootdisk, go here (http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/SoftFixes.htm) and copy pk.bat to the floppy. Powerup with the bootdisk in your floppy drive and follow the instructions.

[John_G]

I've tried that, I think the only other way is to reformat the computer. How would I do this?

[Pancake]

If you format you will still need a product key to reinstall Windows.

[John_G]

Pancake I have a key for windows 2000. Anyways I formated the computer and follow the instructions but now am stuck. When I start it up it says
" Invalid system disk"
"Replace the disk, and then press any key". Where can I download the program I need to put on a disk to start windows. It said I needed a "windows startup disk". Where can I get one?

[Pancake]

AnnMarie gave you the site for 98 boot disc in her post at , 05:04 PM

[JanM]

Having had the same problem but having the right product key (which was not recognized) I found this solution: Ever installed an application, patch, update, or driver and then reboot your computer and it runs erratically or doesn't bootup at all? Well, Windows 98 has a Registry Restoration program built into it.

To restore the Registry and system to a "pre-install" state, simply reboot and hold down the CTRL key or F8 key so that you get the Windows 98 boot menu. Then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt only and hit Enter .

When you come up with the C:\> prompt change to the C:\windows\command directory. Once there type scanreg /restore , hit Enter , and the system will run the Windows Registry Checker and come up with a list of 5 backed-up Registries and their corresponding backup dates. Choose the date that is nearest to the pre-install date, press Enter , and that Registry will be restored to the system.

It didn’t work using the oldest date and having read the complex way of restoring that you suggested, I tried it again on the ‘nothing to lose’ principle. There were two other dates – both year 2006!! Having tried the 2004 dates I tried the least likely - and voila, my son’s old but faithful PC appears to be working as fine as ever it was, with the last word doc of a few days ago present and intact.

I haven’t seen this fix anywhere else before and it seems a valuable one - I hope it's not too late.

Regards

[JanM]

You never have a wish without also having the ablity to make it come true - you may have to work for it however. R Bach.Having had the same problem but having the right product key (which was not recognized) I found this solution: Ever installed an application, patch, update, or driver and then reboot your computer and it runs erratically or doesn't bootup at all? Well, Windows 98 has a Registry Restoration program built into it.

To restore the Registry and system to a "pre-install" state, simply reboot and hold down the CTRL key or F8 key so that you get the Windows 98 boot menu. Then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt only and hit Enter .

When you come up with the C:\> prompt change to the C:\windows\command directory. Once there type scanreg /restore , hit Enter , and the system will run the Windows Registry Checker and come up with a list of 5 backed-up Registries and their corresponding backup dates. Choose the date that is nearest to the pre-install date, press Enter , and that Registry will be restored to the system.

It didn’t work using the oldest date and having read the complex way of restoring that you suggested, I tried it again on the ‘nothing to lose’ principle. There were two other dates – both year 2006!! Having tried the 2004 dates I tried the least likely - and voila, my son’s old but faithful PC appears to be working as fine as ever it was, with the last word doc of a few days ago present and intact.

I haven’t seen this fix anywhere else before and it seems a valuable one - I hope it's not too late.

Regards

[Miz]

You said you reformatted the hard drive but did you reinstall an operating system? If Windows 2000 is the one you have the product key for, have you reinstalled it?

The error you're getting is usually due to a floppy disk that is not a boot disk left in the floppy drive. If that's the case, and you have installed Windows, just remove the floppy from the drive, press any key on the keyboard and it should boot on up.

[John_G]

Problem solved... Now I cant use the internet...I post a new thread for that.