How F***ed am I?

[Aukmed42]

ok, so where to start... Oh yes, my OS (win 7 64bit) has been getting exponentially worse with age and I wanted to do a clean install. Only one problem though. It won't let me do a backup via external HDD, internal HDD, or physical media. So I guess what I'm here to ask is how do I save all my paid programs that I have recklessly lost the keys for? I can handle manually backing up files, but I haven't got a clue for how to go about the programs.

 

edit: 

PS. sorry for the uninformative title.

 

specs: 

 

CPU- Intel Core i7 870

Motherboard- MSI MS-7613

RAM- 2x2GB Samsung 1333MHz, 2x4GB ADATA XPG

GPU- Asus GTX750ti OC

Case- Fractal Design Define R4

Storage- 1TB Hitachi, 3TB Seagate Barracuda, 3TB Lacie Minimus

PSU- Corsair CX500

 

No clue about bios im running... using a motherboard from an hp computer... so yeah.

[d3sl91]

There are a few keyfinder programs out there. MagicJellyBean has one I have used a few times in the past.

[Guest]

Why not just move the programs onto an external drive, or if they came with a key, its most likely re-useable, if not contact the companies tech support and explain your doing a fresh install and you need another key 

[stefan-stoj]

You can always torrent your paid programs if they don't require some sort of account authentication since you know that you have already bought them and they are yours to use.

[Oberon.Smite]

If you actually bought it, call the companies which made the product. They should have the transaction recorded along with the key. Look up their numbers and call them up. Also, look up some keyfinder programs if you can.

[Aukmed42]

Why not just move the programs onto an external drive, or if they came with a key, its most likely re-useable, if not contact the companies tech support and explain your doing a fresh install and you need another key 

 

would just copying the 2 program files folders solve all of that?

[Aukmed42]

.

[Guest]

would just copying the 2 program files folders solve all of that?

if the programs start on startup they won't b/c of how the programs where installed on they're original drive/OS , but I would get the product keys to be safe 

[Aukmed42]

There are a few keyfinder programs out there. MagicJellyBean has one I have used a few times in the past.

 

 

Why not just move the programs onto an external drive, or if they came with a key, its most likely re-useable, if not contact the companies tech support and explain your doing a fresh install and you need another key 

 

 

You can always torrent your paid programs if they don't require some sort of account authentication since you know that you have already bought them and they are yours to use.

 

 

If you actually bought it, call the companies which made the product. They should have the transaction recorded along with the key. Look up their numbers and call them up. Also, look up some keyfinder programs if you can.

 

 

 

would I still need the keys if I just straight up copied the "program files/(x86)" folders to another drive? This is mostly concerning MS office and visual studio 2013

[Aukmed42]

if the programs start on startup they won't b/c of how the programs where installed on they're original drive/OS , but I would get the product keys to be safe 

ok well how about MS office and visual studio? In theory they should be fine because I already have all the DLL files right? Although they probably have some sort of wonderful drm...

[Guest]

ok well how about MS office and visual studio? In theory they should be fine because I already have all the DLL files right? Although they probably have some sort of wonderful drm...

It can't hurt to get a program to fetch the keys, but in theory you should be fine

[Oberon.Smite]

Microsoft for sure has your keys in their database.

[Aukmed42]

It can't hurt to get a program to fetch the keys, but in theory you should be fine

 

 

Microsoft for sure has your keys in their database.

 

 

There are a few keyfinder programs out there. MagicJellyBean has one I have used a few times in the past.

 

 

Used magical jelly bean to get ms office keys thank you. Now I just have to rummage around for my visual studio key...

[stefan-stoj]

I would torrent them if I were you since MS Office and Visual Studio are the programs in question. You can very easily find cracks online and some torrents even come preactivated.

There is always the risk of viruses but just pick the most popular torrent and you are good to go.

[Luckylock]

mhm I was able to figure out the key of my father's tax software by going in the registry (regedit) and finding a long string of numbers and letters, and the key was in there, was able to reformat and successfully use the found key to activate the software, so you might want to give that a shot. lol