Serial keys for software programs, more accurately called product keys or installation keys, are needed before you can install almost any popular software program.
Serial keys or key codes are often required during the first part of a program's installation or sometimes after using a program for a certain period of time.
So what do you do when you can't find that special installation code but you need to install the program again?
All retail software uses a serial number or key of some form. The installation often requires the user to enter a valid serial number to proceed. A serial can also be referred to as a 'CD Key'. When you search for Freehand 9 Serial for example, you may find the word 'serial' amongst the results.
Without a doubt, a key finder program - a special kind of software tool - is the best way to go if you're lost a serial key for one of your software programs, so long as it's still installed or recently was.
Product key finder programs are software tools that automatically search your computer for the serial keys stored in the Windows Registry or elsewhere on your computer.
For example, when you installed your operating system and other software, the product keys used during their installations were stored, probably encrypted, inside a specific registry key.
See our article on free product key finder software programs for a ranked and reviewed collection of these very handy tools, all of which are free to download, install, and use.
Now, you could manually look in the registry for the serials and install keys yourself, but they can be very hard to find. Not only that, the stored keys are usually encrypted, making what you dig up there completely useless anyway.
Most product key finder programs were originally designed to find the serial numbers and key codes for operating systems like Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, etc., but many of them find serials and keys for many other programs, too, like office suites, video games, and more.
Even if you think, or know, the program you've lost the key for isn't installed on your computer anymore, you should still try one of the higher rated product key finder tools in our list.
Sometimes,a program will leave the registry keys that contain that program's serial key in the registry even after it's uninstalled, which is why this is worth a try. This isn't usually the case when the program was removed with a dedicated software uninstaller, but it's still worth a try.
If that doesn't work, you're left with digging around for the box the software came in, the email that accompanied the download, etc.
Unfortunately, at this point, your only legal option is to buy a new copy of the program.
In your search for help with lost serial keys, you've probably come across software cracking tools, keygen programs or maybe even lists of free key codes, there for the taking.
It's very important to realize that none of those resources are legal ways of obtaining installation keys or any other unique code designed to protect programs from being pirated.
The only legal way of installing software is by using a valid installation code obtained through a legal purchase of the software program.
Macromedia Flash 5 Freehand 9 Studio $20 shipped OBO SOLD
original box
Macromedia Freehand 9 Using FreeHand manual
Macromedia Flash 5 Using Flash manual
serial numbers for Mac
NO CD-ROM's
Macromedia UltraDev 4 Fireworks 4 Studio $20 shipped OBO SOLD
original box
Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 Using Dreamweaver 4 manual
Macromedia Dreamweaver UltraDev 4 Using Dreamweaver UltraDev 4 manual
Macromedia Fireworks 4 Using Fireworks manual
serial numbers for Mac
NO CD-ROM's
I don't know what this is worth, but how about I'll start at $40 shipped or best offer? SOLD
I'm selling that brown cardboard box of Mac stuff that came with a graphite Mac G4 running OS 9.1. it includes various cables, manuals and system restore CD's, 2 white mac stickers, iomega driver CD, iMovie 2, Apple Hardware Test CD, 3.5' Mac drive bay converter, etc,
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Payment via Paypal only. Items ship via USPS with insurance and delivery confirmation.
HeatWare and Beerology references as kungtribe
Questions? e-mail kungtribe at hotmail dot com
[This message was edited by kungtribe on March 06, 2003 at 03:00.]
[This message was edited by kungtribe on March 10, 2003 at 22:58.]