Application: Enchanted Keyfinder
Category: Utilities
Description:
Enchanted Keyfinder is a utility that retrieves the product key used to install Windows from your registry or from an unbootable Windows installation. It works on Windows 9X, ME, NT/2K/XP, and Vista/Win7 and for other software.
Download Enchanted Keyfinder Portable 0.1 Beta 7 Development Test 1 [694KB download / 658KB installed]
(MD5: 316b34185ecc7af3eed294ec69e81d27)
Release Notes:
0.1 Beta 7 Development Test 1 (2011-03-03)
- Updated to Enchanted Keyfinder 0.1 Beta 7
0.1 Beta 4 Development Test 1 (2011-01-22)
- Updated to Enchanted Keyfinder 0.1 Beta 4
0.1 Beta 2 Development Test 1 (2011-01-19)
- Updated to Enchanted Keyfinder 0.1 Beta 2
0.1 Beta Development Test 1 (2011-01-18): Initial release
Visit the Community page
Join our forums
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Subscribe with RSS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on BlueSky
Updated to Enchanted Keyfinder 0.1 Beta 2
none of the links point to a more descriptive info of the app. Both of them point to sourceforge.
Don't be an uberPr∅. They are stinky.
Looks like the app doesn't have a more "user friendly" homepage than the Sourceforge listing.
Also, I hope the developer writes a better summary before the app gets out of beta.
this is rather addressed to the original programs creator;
on two win 7 pro machines the cd-key shows only "CD Key: BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB" nor any office or other keys.
While he is a PA.c member, you might be better off submitting this to him directly.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/keyfinder/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5
I will get a better description/documentation up soon. Right now most of my time has gone into the development of the actual program so that it is as polished as it can be for the first stable release.
As for bugs, please use the SourceForge tracker system associated with the project.
https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=369948
I just added another developer to the project so with two of us hopefully more will get done. If anyone here is interested in pitching in then please refer to the following forum post.
https://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/keyfinder/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2
Also I just released a new version (beta 3). I know right now the project is pretty bare bones but please bear with me. Even though this project has been registered for a couple of months I only just started working on it in the past week.
What's a signature?
Efforts in your project are appreciated though in the new version windows 7 pro key still shows "CD Key: BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB" and office 2010 is found but a wrong CD-Key is displayed.
Any further info I can supply to help solving this?
For your Windows 7 key problem here is a quote from the F.A.Q. from Keyfinder.
Q: Does keyfinder work with Volume License Keys (VLK) or Multiple Activation
Keys (MAK)?
A: Yes when you run keyfinder it will display the Volume
License Key (VLK) of all versions Windows, except for Vista. Microsoft
changed the way VLKs are handled on the latest operating system.
Windows Vista VLKs have been replaced with Multiple Activation Keys (MAK)
that either activate copies through a local Key Management Server (KMS),
which in turn reports back license usage to Microsoft, or activates directly
in communication with Microsoft.
Currently keyfinder does not report the MAK properly. You might see the
product display the Windows Vista License Key as
BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB
I guess this issue applies to Windows 7 as well.
What Edition of Office 2010 do you have? I have Office 2010 through my school but I do not know the original installation key for it so I can't confirm whether or not the key is correct on my end. It is using the contents of registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Registration
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Registration
Can you check the contents of each of the keys which have a value similar to {90140000-0011-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE} (or the like). Do you have more than one key which contains the binary entry DigitalProductID?
If you have more than one key structure that contains the binary entry DigitalProductID then can you check the information dialog in MS Word (click File > Help)? Compare it to the entry ProductID. Do the Product IDs match?
What's a signature?
sorry for the late reply,
I'm using microsoft office professional academic 2010, looking up
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\12.0\RegistrationDigitalProductID
doesn't show any duplicates in content - no matchers therefore.
A HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node registry doesn't exist (on this one and a test machine).
On a second computer the windows 7 key shows up correct - I'm still trying to figure out what hinders it on the other machine. It is a MSDNAA key, no VLK or MAK.
Since this doesn't involve the portable version I moved this discussion to the Bug tracker so the other developers see it as well. In the future please post comments there and file bugs there.
https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3168747&group_id=369948...
You don't need a sourceforge login (anonymous posts are allowed). Though you should get one for contact reasons.
What's a signature?
updated description is on the main project page.
What's a signature?
Updated the topic. I have a paper due Monday so I can't immediately update the package for EK, but I hope to have time Monday night to do so.
Also, another thing I wanted to discuss with you. Since our apps should backup user data, I was curious if you could have separate files for software registry keys. One file for user additions, and the other still being the officially updated file. As the user can add his or her own programs into the file, he or she might want to have that data backed up with the rest of his or her settings. In doing this, whenever there is an officially updated key file, the user added software would be deleted.
I'll figure out an effective way to implement user defined software keys. I can see this being a bother. Although hopefully they would update the community version (anyone can edit it) because that gets converted to the official version.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/keyfinder/index.php?title=Keyfinde...
Nonetheless I'll figure out what I want the alternate file to be named. Maybe make a setting so the name can be defined and changed by the user by way of a relative path (for flash drives).
I was also thinking of creating a setting called
[settings]
config=PATH_TO_CONFIG
Where PATH_TO_CONFIG would be a user defined path to the config settings. That way the user defined settings for keyfinder can be referenced to the Data path in portable apps. The paths within the settings would still remain relative to the executable of Keyfinder.
What's a signature?
That way we can back up the user defined one and leave the official one alone.
Also, it would be nice to have a user defined config path. Though, wouldn't putting that in the settings file be redundant?
It wouldn't be redundant. The reason being keyfinder.ini (which would be located with keyfinder.exe) would refer to the actual keyfinder.ini where all the settings are. Example:
KeyfinderPortable\App\keyfinder\keyfinder.cfg
KeyfinderPortable\App\keyfinder\keyfinder.exe
KeyfinderPortable\App\keyfinder\keyfinder.ini
KeyfinderPortable\Data\settings\keyfinder.cfg
KeyfinderPortable\Data\settings\keyfinder.ini
KeyfinderPortable\App\keyfinder\keyfinder.ini would contain the following...
[Settings]
AlternateSettingsPath=..\..\Data\settings\keyfinder.ini
KeyfinderPortable\Data\settings\keyfinder.ini would contain the users settings:
[Settings]
LogFilePath=.\
Logging=0
CSVDelim=,
AppendTop=0
AutoSave=0
LoadHive=0
LogOverwrite=0
PrintKeys=0
SavePath=C:\Users\Sam\Desktop\
ReportsPath=
UserHivePath=
SoftwareHivePath=
UnstableUpdates=1
[AppListFont]
Font=MS Sans Serif,1,-16777208,8,0
[KeyListFont]
Font=MS Sans Serif,1,-16777208,8,1
I could also define an AlternateConfigPath setting where user defined settings could be. So KeyfinderPortable\Data\settings\keyfinder.cfg could be the user defined keyfinder.cfg and KeyfinderPortable\App\keyfinder\keyfinder.cfg can be the official version.
That way keyfinder.cfg and keyfinder.ini (the user customized settings and config) will be backed up by the PortableApps backup utility.
[Settings]
AlternateSettingsPath=..\..\Data\settings\keyfinder.ini
That is something that PA.C would define so the user would never actually mess with it. Its sole purpose would be to define a new path for settings. Basically in keyfinder.ini the application would look for AlternateSettingsPath to be defined. If it is not defined then it will behave normally.
That doesn't sound too bad of a plan. Tell me your thoughts.
What's a signature?
So it would be more like a global settings file, while the user defined settings file is completely different. I see, that makes sense.
Hmm, how about a UserConfigPath (or similar) that would just have both the user defined .cfg file and the user defined .ini file? What reason would there be to keep them separate? EK should use the official .cfg file, and if the user defined .cfg file has anything in it, use that too.
I'll see if I can do that for the next Beta. I'll definitely have that before v0.2 Stable (which is I assume will be the first portable apps release).
That's when I'll have all the settings sorted out. I'll also have the product updates fully sorted out.
I want to add compatibility for reading Adobe CS2 to Adobe CS5. But since I use Gimp I don't have any of those products. If you know anyone who is willing to provide a reg file (or even do some testing for me) that would be great.
I already have algorithms for reading Adobe keys I just need the registry structure.
They don't have to know anything about Delphi but it wouldn't hurt if they knew a little bit about the Windows registry. We would chat over IRC or something like during testing.
edit: I just remembered why I did keyfinder.ini and keyfinder.cfg separate. If a user downloads the standalone version of keyfinder then I want them to be able to specify the user defined keyfinder.cfg which would be in the same location as keyfinder.exe. So that means keyfinder.cfg keyfinder.ini keyfinder.exe and userdefined_keyfinder.cfg would all be in the same folder in that instance. I'll still think about that Global settings path because that would be more convenient.
edit edit: I know what I'll do. I'll have that UserConfigPath and I'll have userdefined_keyfinder.cfg specified in the users' settings keyfinder.ini. That way it's a setting which would be backed up. Problem solved.
What's a signature?
Updated to Enchanted Keyfinder 0.1 Beta 4.
I found some time to do this now after all.
What category of App would you guys consider this?
What's a signature?
If you're talking about the portableaps category, I would think it would be considered a "Utility"
That is what I was referring to. Thanks
What's a signature?
Of the main Categories of Portable Apps I would say that this is definitely a Utility; as for a Subcategory, out of the current subcategories I would say "Other", but WinMTR (January 23rd's App of the Day) got a new Subcategory when it came out, so maybe this would get put in a Subcategory that does not exist yet, IDK.
But yeah, definitely Utilities
~3D1T0R
An open source project I currently develop is under attack with a DMCA violation. It is a baseless accusation because I'm still within my rights of the GNU GPL. Help me get the word out and post comments anywhere and everywhere.
This is not the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder. It is the Enchanted Keyfinder.
https://sourceforge.net/news/?group_id=369948&id=297219
What's a signature?
You've based your work on what was, is and always will be open source software. Further development may not be open source, but what has been done earlier is always available under the GNU GPL. So long as you keep the attribution and copyright notices of the previous author, and don't try to change the license (or it can start to get a bit fiddly) you're fine.
Are you having any trouble with this person which needs dealing with in some way, or can you just ignore it and nothing will happen?
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
Well I think I can ignore it and nothing will happen. I'm holding off on further development this week until it is resolved for sure. The same goes for the other devs of the project. At the moment the guy claims he's exploring legal options.
Pretty much where ever I've posted this I've received the same response. I've contacted the Free Software Foundation, LibreOffice, slashdot, here and many other sources and they are all saying I'm within my rights of the GNU GPL.
Even the SourceForge.net policies are on my side so I think I'm in the clear but I'm still waiting to hear an official statement from dmca@sourceforge.net.
Legally I believe I am in the right based on what I have researched and read from the license.
If I am able to overcome this then even more developers will come to the project because some have avoided it for this very reason. I knew it would come but I continued based on the GPLv3. This is why I archive all the source to most of the software I use.
Here's to crossed fingers.
What's a signature?
Well after consulting with legal sources, and an agreement between the DMCA claimer and myself/developers of EK. Basically we only have to rename the project unix name. That is the only drastic change.
I'll post here with the new project unix name when it becomes available. EK is not going away.
What's a signature?
New project location
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ekeyfinder/
Now the reviews and what not are reset. The project future is secured.
What's a signature?
Thanks for the update.
Beta 6 offers fully implemented updates for stable and unstable releases.
Other bug fixes and new features can be checked out in the change log.
See the news update for what needs to be done for the stable release.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/ekeyfinder/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5
See the section on "What is unstable but will be finished..."
Also we have an IRC channel now and instructions on how you can access the forum for help and support.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/ekeyfinder/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12
What's a signature?
Why does this now prompt for admin? It won't even run without admin permissions now (using Windows 7).
I think versionboy added that in. I'll look through the code for it. I guess the concept is that without proper access to the registry you wouldn't be able to recover your key.
Were you able to recover your key before without administrator access?
What's a signature?
Yes. I don't think that'd ever be needed.
I created a feature request based on your post.
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3188863&group_id=369948&...
I'm still discussing with the team on this though. I'll let you know as soon as we make a final decision on the matter.
What's a signature?
Was there ever an instance someone was unable to recover his or her key because he or she was within admin privileges, or is this just based on forethought? It's always worked for me on multiple (different) systems without admin rights. Why would a user ever need admin for this?
Loading hives apparently. I have to do more testing to confirm this but if it turns out that we don't need it then we'll take it out. I'm exploring all of our options, it might even be prudent to just tell the user in documentation that they need to run it as administrator for that particular function. Either way I have to confirm that is the case and I haven't had time to lately.
Also I implemented a user defined keyfinder.cfg and documented it.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ekeyfinder/index.php?title=User.cfg
See UserConfig setting.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ekeyfinder/index.php?title=Keyfind...
It's only implemented in the svn repository. Currently no official release implements it.
What's a signature?
I've never used that feature. If you do find that admin is required for that feature, is it possible to run the app without admin and then only ask if the user tries to use that feature?
Also, awesome. I look forward to the next release.
I've been busy with the overall project as a whole. As it's getting closer to a stable release there are other things which need to get done such as website, documentation, etc. That is what I've pretty much been up to these past few weeks/week.
Launched a website for it... can you update that application link?
http://ekeyfinder.sourceforge.net/
Have the documentation mostly written...
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ekeyfinder/
To finish up as it gets closer I need to thoroughly test all the settings and discard settings which I'll never use.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ekeyfinder/index.php?title=Keyfind...
I don't think I'm going to implement the following feature which I had suggested. Mainly because I saw how easily you were able to copy the settings in the portableapps application for keyfinder so I don't feel this is necessary. Let me know if you think otherwise.
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3186009&group_id=369948&...
That's the big stuff I think as of late.
"is it possible to run the app without admin and then only ask if the user tries to use that feature?"
I'll explore that option and get back to you.
What's a signature?
1. Done.
2. Nice. Very easy for a new user to understand.
3. Yeah, it's good to get rid of things no longer in use.
4. If the app itself dealt with the data path the launcher wouldn't have to wait until the app is done to close. Not a big deal either way, your call.
Decided to leave execution level up to the user by selecting Run As Administrator.
What's a signature?
v0.1 Beta 7 has been released.
Get the latest version here:
http://ekeyfinder.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=download
* No longer requires UAC.
* User defined config file (user.cfg) has been implemented.
* Path to config file has been implemented.
See the associated documentation in the wiki.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ekeyfinder/index.php?title=Keyfind...
What do you think so far with where this project is going?
What's a signature?
Awesome, I'll check this out and will hopefully have an update tomorrow.
I like it. Sounds like it should be ready soon for a stable release.
I've decided I'm going to write out all the documentation before I give it a stable release. It will be soon though. Hopefully about a week or two.
You can check out the features page under "What is unstable but will be finished for EK v0.2 Stable?". When all of those disappear then a stable release will be achieved.
http://ekeyfinder.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=features
What's a signature?
Documentation is done in a chm format. Check the downloads page of the website. If you don't see it right away it's because I'm still in the process of uploading it.
What's a signature?
I'm working on an update for this now, and I've noticed something. Shouldn't the modify config menu option open the user's config file, and not the default?
Updated to Enchanted Keyfinder 0.1 Beta 7
Good point. I'll update that for the stable release. Beta 7 is the last unstable release. I'm working towards the stable release now. We already have the chm documentation for it.
Just need to work out two final kinks and then we're done.
After that we've got huge plans for it possibly embedding Lua into it. This will enable us and enable users to do a lot more. It's not final yet though and we're still looking at more options for a more advanced cfg file.
Also your date is wrong. It should be 2011-03-02
What's a signature?
Is the ability to specify the keyfinder.ini path implemented? I briefly looked at the wiki and didn't see anything about it yet.
Also, instead of having two keyfinder.ini files (one to hold the path and the other to hold all the settings), would it be more intuitive to just have a command line switch to accomplish this?
It is in the wiki. When looking at the main page, since you're inquiring about a file, you should look in the associated files section. So you want to look at the keyfinder.ini page under Associated Files.
See Alternate Keyfinder.ini path section in keyfinder.ini page.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ekeyfinder/index.php?title=Keyfind...
I can implement a cli switch as well such as /config. That's only adding like two lines of code so it's no big deal. I think the ini path is a little more powerful though since you can specify program defaults which the new keyfinder.ini would take on.
If/when I implement the /config switch you would be able to look it up in Associated files under keyfinder.exe.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ekeyfinder/index.php?title=Keyfind...
What's a signature?