My journey to Linux needs a little help

[Ian]

Ok guys, my flame suit is at the ready. With a little luck I won't be needing it..
I have lost my little piece of paper which held my W2k product key, is there any way of finding it from my PC?
Once I have it, I can install W2k on my new hard drive and will be able to install Linux as well (my current h/d is only 2 gig, I have a spanking 12 gig one to go in - which currently has w98se on it - which constantly screws up).
Thanks.. Ian

[Calum]

there is a way, i have done it by accident in the past, but i have no idea how. I am afraid you will have to get a crack to sort this out, also, that is higly illegal regardless of the moral issues. For all the effort you will have to go to, you may as well get a free (or extremely cheap) copy of linux, which is totally legal, and infinitely more reliable.

The fashion on these forums at the moment is that comments such as these are puerile and are not appreciated. Critics will note that i am giving Ian what, in my opinion, is sound advice based on experience, and have not flamed him at all.

Get linux, Ian and we will welcome you to the fold...

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by Ian:
Ok guys, my flame suit is at the ready. With a little luck I won't be needing it..
I have lost my little piece of paper which held my W2k product key, is there any way of finding it from my PC?
Once I have it, I can install W2k on my new hard drive and will be able to install Linux as well (my current h/d is only 2 gig, I have a spanking 12 gig one to go in - which currently has w98se on it - which constantly screws up).
Thanks.. Ian

You don't need Windows to install Linux, but if you insist, why don't you set up a dual hard drive/dual boot system.  Use the drive that has Win98 as your primary, and your Linux drive as your secondary; it saves a lot of time, and thse nasty MS format files won't try to take over everything.
BTW: I'm dual (or triple) booting WIN98 on my primary HD, and LibraNet 2.0 (Debian Woody) and BeOS 5.0 on my secondary HD. I've used this basic configuration for 2-1/2 years with no problem.  I reccommend using GRUB as your boot loader; I like it a LOT better than LILO.

[Ian]

Cheers for the response, I'd spent the previous part of the day reading the posts about dealing with this type of question and, I have to admit, was a little nervous of the response I would get.
The reason I want to have Windows installed is because that is what I know, and would like a 'comfort zone' while I get to grips with Linux. I also have some concerns over compatibility (for instance, I am getting broadband installed on the 29th. Is Blueyonder Linux compatible?).
I'm sure there'll be loads more questions when I finally get the new hard drive in and a new os to play with..
And Calum, I already feel sort of welcome(ish
   )

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by Ian:
Cheers for the response, I'd spent the previous part of the day reading the posts about dealing with this type of question and, I have to admit, was a little nervous of the response I would get.
The reason I want to have Windows installed is because that is what I know, and would like a 'comfort zone' while I get to grips with Linux. I also have some concerns over compatibility (for instance, I am getting broadband installed on the 29th. Is Blueyonder Linux compatible?).
I'm sure there'll be loads more questions when I finally get the new hard drive in and a new os to play with..
And Calum, I already feel sort of welcome(ish
      )

No answer on the broadband question, although most distros relesed in the past 12 months can most likely be configured for it (I use dial up 56k).
As to your surprise at th response, you asked an intelligent question politely, threfore, you won't get a bullshit answer.  Most Linux users are pretty forthcoming, as long as you don't act like a jerk and DEMAND help; s' kinda like the real world.

 

[hoojchoons]

Propably a crack will do the job. Anyway, it's a good idea to dual boot if you're a newbie to Linux so that you can familiarize yourself with your new OS. Believe me, after getting used to Linux you'll stick with it. Take my word for it  

[Ian]

I am totally sold on the idea of installing Linux. In my previous existance as a computer operator (mainframe and as400) I had a bit of exposure to Unix and, to be honest, quite enjoyed it.
 The reason I want Windoze for now is that, under w98se, my keyboard and mouse 'frezes' and I have to reboot the damn pc (apparently I had this problem last year too, installing w2k fixed it). With a little luck another copy should be with me next weekend (I have no idea of cracking and stuff) and I can have a pc that will keep running for more than 2 mins. Then I can use my new drive and have 12 gig to play with instead of the pitiful 2 gig I am stuck with for now.

[hoojchoons]

You're right in not wanting to use any cracks. to me that's illegal as well as immoral. The 2 gigs of hard disk space is truly limiting judging by today's standards. So, good luck with migrating to Linux. We'll be here to help if you have any questions  

[avijitd]

---------------------------------------------------------------
I am totally sold on the idea of installing Linux. In my previous existance as a computer operator (mainframe and as400) I had a bit of exposure to Unix and, to be honest, quite enjoyed it.
---------------------------------------------------------------

I would suggest that you give W2K a miss and go in for Linux while retaining your present (if you really really want to). My limited experience with Linux (1 month) has been overwhelmingly good. I am a prodigal returning to the *NIX fold after 6 years and found that Linux far surpasses any winshite system in speed, configurability, security, and reliability.

And yes, Linux works fine with DSL. Since you are in the UK, you should NOT configure PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE), what you need is PPPoA. Check this URL for your DSL queries

ADSL Guide

Also, you might want to consider a good PCI or better still a proper ethernet router for your ADSL, instead of a USB dsl modem.

There is a good Linux distro (Mandrake 8.2) out for this month with the LINUX FORMAT magazine that you could check (if you are a newbie)

Greets to all at fuckmicrosoft.com who have, unknowingly till now, guided me to become "shit" free!!

[Ian]

Thanks for the info guys.. as far as cards go, I run from a laptop and was thinking of one of these (I know nothing of this stuff)D-Link

[voidmain]

I have good luck with some of the LinkSys PCMCIA cards. Haven't tried the D-Link PCMCIA although I do have some D-Link PC cards that work just fine. If it's on the hardware list it should work.  And I see that D-Link you reference is "dongleless" just like my LinkSys.  Those dongles are a pain in the ass, and being able to plug an RJ45 right into the card is MUCH better. Not as easily broken. Although one of my laptops fell off the couch and landed right on the network card and managed to break it so they are by no means indestructable.

[ May 20, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

[badkarma]

I didn't read the whole topic so this might have been amswered already, but you can find your windows serial somewhere in your registry (I did this once with win98, forgot the exact key though .... I just found out through the internet   )

[Ian]

You guys rock!! Thanks loads for all your help and advice.

[dishawjp]

Hi Ian,

I know that this reply is a lot late, and you may have already have figured out how to solve your problem, but the original question was how to get your Windows CD key if you lost the original paperwork.

The following works in Win95 and Win98, and may also work for Win2k.

Open regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Expand (click on the "+") that and go to Software.

Expand Software and go to Microsoft

Expand Microsoft and scroll down to Windows

Scroll down to Current Version and then click on the words Current version, not the "+".  

Look in the right hand box of regedit and you will see a ProductID listing.  The CD key is to the right of that.

Hope this helps

[Ice-9]

Dosman : This is pretty interesting info, I'm on W2k right now and checked, there indeed is a ProductID key in the Registry but it doesn't match the product key I had to enter to install W2k, the Reg key has 4 groups of digits where the CD key has 5.
Could be that it's different from Win9x systems though.