Tom’s Tuesday Tech Tip: Here’s the Keys to Your Keys!
Computers crash and computers burn. Any Certified Legal Nurse Consultant will agree that sometimes you receive plenty of warning and other times you don’t. The last time I had to “replace” a laptop I had more than enough warning – the old laptop started failing but ran somewhat intermittently. Not wanting to buy a new copy of Microsoft® Office, I planned to reinstall Office onto the replacement computer. The problem was that I needed the software key – a multi, multi digit number that helps the boys in Redmond make sure that only legit copies of software are installed. The other problem was that I didn’t have the original hard case with the key sticker, because I had copied the installation disk to one of our servers to aid with software distribution. There wasn’t a key to be found.
As they say in Nepal “Kay garne?” Knowing that the laptop with the software I was “transferring” was still running (barely and noisily), I quickly downloaded, installed and ran “Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder” on the laptop. It quickly identified the keys for seven of the programs on that old laptop.
Now I was able to reinstall and validate the old software on the new computer and you can too! This is a great free tool that every CLNC® consultant will need at some point in her legal nurse consulting career.
3 thoughts on “Tom’s Tuesday Tech Tip: Here’s the Keys to Your Keys!”
A better solution is to keep a record of the numbers, and make sure your copy is 100% legal. Programs like this are valuble but they don ‘t replace good computer practices up front. If it’s mission critical, make copies and make sure you include the keys.
I keep my keys in the same secure app that I keep passwords, and secure information.
If you bought and downloaded the software, you can get the keys online also.
There are two things that every person who has mission critical computer needs to know. How to stay out of trouble and if you can’t, how to get out of trouble.
Hi Tom, how did you find such a valuable tool at a crucial moment… same problem has happened to me… I did not have the program. My engineer brother in law saved my hide.
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Now I was able to reinstall and validate the old software on the new computer and you can too! This is a great free tool that every CLNC® consultant will need at some point in her legal nurse consulting career.
A better solution is to keep a record of the numbers, and make sure your copy is 100% legal. Programs like this are valuble but they don ‘t replace good computer practices up front. If it’s mission critical, make copies and make sure you include the keys.
I keep my keys in the same secure app that I keep passwords, and secure information.
If you bought and downloaded the software, you can get the keys online also.
There are two things that every person who has mission critical computer needs to know. How to stay out of trouble and if you can’t, how to get out of trouble.
Hi Tom, how did you find such a valuable tool at a crucial moment… same problem has happened to me… I did not have the program. My engineer brother in law saved my hide.
Debbie, I did a search on how to find the keys and it turned up!