Retrieve and Recover Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Office 2007 Product Key

November 15, 2008 · Filed Under Security · 1 Comment 

If you happen to lose your CD or the packaging that comes with the product key printed on, try the following software before formatting your comp. Chances are, you might be able to retrieve the lost license information or product key from the existing registry, therefore allowing you to copy it for safekeeping or for documentation purposes.

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

This is by far the most powerful serial number retriever in the market; The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware open source utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key or serial number) used to install Windows from your registry, even from unbootable Windows installations. It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008, Office XP, Office 2003, Office 2007, Adobe Photoshop CS4, and many more. Download Magical jelly Bean Keyfinder.

Retrieve and Recover Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Office 2007 Product Key

ProduKey

No, that was not a typo error, ProduKey is a small and light utility that recovers the ProductID and the CD-Key of MS-Office, Windows, Exchange Server, and SQL Server installed on your computer. Fairly straight forward program, and its free. Download ProduKey.

Retrieve and Recover Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Office 2007 Product Key

CD Key Reader

Another free product key retriever, performs the same task of finding the serial number for Windows Xp, Vista, Office 2007 in your comp. Download CD Key Reader.

Retrieve and Recover Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Office 2007 Product Key

I own an Acer Laptop and it comes bundled with Windows XP OEM version, meaning to say, I paid for the license key. When the laptop reaches the end of its product cycle or I decided to upgrade to a newer laptop with no operating system, to my horror I discovered that Windows XP refuses to accept my product key which I paid for together with my previous laptop, from my understanding, the specific key is tied down with the hardware (acer), likewise, a Windows OEM key meant for Dell will only works with dell machines, probably I am wrong. That is so unfair, I paid for the license, and shouldn’t I have the liberty to transfer it to another comp if I choose so?

There got to be a way to work this around.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Stop Notebook Thief, Free Software Tracks and Recover Stolen Laptop

August 16, 2008 · Filed Under How To and Online Tutorials, Software · Comment 

Stop Notebook Thief, Free Software Tracks and Recover Stolen Laptop

Learn how to trace and recover your stolen laptop with Adeona and LocatePC, both of these software are free and has a built in function that email or reveal the thief’s IP address when he or she decided to log online. Now, to retrieve the thief IP address is fairly simple and straight forward, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to perform simple task like this.

Please note that the recovery of your laptop depends on certain situation such as:

  • Requires the thief to log online using your laptop with the software installed
  • If the thief decided to reformat the laptop, recovery process might not work.
  • Installation of software prior being stolen.
  • Unlike other paid recovery software, this is a DIY (Do it yourself) software, meaning to say you’ll have to retrieve the IP address without the assistant of a third party.
  • Since this is a free software, there is no guarantee of success.

Adeona

Adeona is an open source free software developed by a group of students/researchers in Washington, basically the software does what it says, to track the laptop thief by sending the IP address of the thief and a captured image of the thief with your webcam (mac only, why not PC?). Adeona has three main properties:

  • Private: Adeona uses state-of-the-art cryptographic mechanisms to ensure that the owner is the only party that can use the system to reveal the locations visited by a device.
  • Reliable: Adeona uses a community-based remote storage facility, ensuring retrievability of recent location updates.
  • Open source and free: Adeona’s software is licensed under GPLv2. While your locations are secret, the tracking system’s design is not.

The only drawback is the lack of central system for monitoring the laptop. In order to be able to track your laptop and the IP address, the thief has to log in to the World Wide Web while you run the recovery tool, what are the odds of you and the thief logging online simultaneously?

Step by Step installation guide and recovery process for Adeona

LocatePC

LocatePC is free software and it runs unobtrusively on your computer, unlike Adeona, LocatePC does not display any icons or popups prominently, this is to avoid any suspicious that might prevent the thief from logging online.

As soon as the thief connects to the internet a secret email is sent to you containing the details that you need to track your hardware.

locate pc recover laptop thief

Based on my experience, LocatePC is the better choice; it runs on stealth mode, and emails you the relevant information directly to your designated email address. Unlike Adeona, Locate PC requires some degree of knowledge in computer and the Internet. The only drawback is the lack of Web cam snapshot of the thief.

Since both software is compatible with each other, my advice is, install both in to your laptop.

Laptop Alarm

Laptop Alarm is not a recovery tool, more like a prevention tool. As the name implies, the alarm bell will goes off if:

  • When someone unplugs your A/C adapter,
  • When someone shuts down or logs off your laptop, or
  • When someone unplugs your USB mouse.

More about Laptop Alarm.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Recover Crashed Programs Together With The On Going Works

March 17, 2008 · Filed Under How To and Online Tutorials · Comment 

GoneIn60s is a light weight program that brings back the dead alive, according to the author, the program has the ability to resurrect closed programs from your RAM after you closed it for less than 60s, makes me wonder if it works with buggy programs that crash often, say photoshop. Imagine having the ability to restore the previous setting together with your on going work when it crashes.

GoneIn60s is a neat little program that makes those Homer Simpsonesque “D’oh!” moments where you close Firefox instead of iTunes a thing of the past. Weighing in at a hefty 206KB, Gone keeps closed programs running in your RAM for an additional 60 seconds after you hit that red X. Lightweight, effective, and loaded with some useful features, GoneIn60s will help you keep your cool under the pressure of accidental red X clicks.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

How to Recover Your Lost or Stolen Laptop

December 8, 2007 · Filed Under How To and Online Tutorials · Comment 

How to Recover Your Lost or Stolen Laptop

Laptop theft is the top 3 computer crimes along with virus and hacking, on a bigger picture, laptop theft is the second most common crime according to FBI. What are your odds of being mugged? or encounter a car accident? How do you protect your data and laptop against theft today? There are hundreds of software and services that promise you the ability to pin point the exact location of your laptop when it is stolen, these services are like insurance and it is costly in the long run.

Inspire Trace | Price: $29.95
nspice Trace is a laptop tracking and remote data destruction software. The security software emails you precise location of your laptop. In addition, it lets you unrecoverably destroy your sensitive data in the laptop to protect the data from any unauthorized access. The highlights:

  • Destroy data in stolen computer.
  • Tamper-proof.
  • Accurate and worldwide tracking.

PC PhoneHome Price: $30
Once installed, PC PhoneHome will secretly send an invisible email message to an email address of your choice containing the physical location of your computer every time you get an Internet connection.

  • Locates lost/stolen computer in virtually any country of the world.
  • PC PhoneHome sends a stealth e-mail message containing its exact location

ComputraceComplete | Price: $49.99
This could possibly be the best tracking software in the market, what makes Computrace stand out among the rest is the guarantee compensation if they failed in recovering your laptop and the software will remain in the laptop after formatting, making it easier to trace the thief.

ComputraceComplete is a comprehensive solution that combines Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection, Secure Asset Tracking and the peace of mind offered by a Recovery Guarantee. ComputraceComplete allows IT administrators to centrally manage their assets by monitoring computer movement, call history, asset leasing information and software license compliance. It also offers up to a $1000 Recovery Guarantee if a stolen computer cannot be located within 30-60.

  • Connect to absolute-protect.com, which establishes location of the computer.
  • Calls phone number(s) you specify.
  • No monitoring fee required.
  • Saves owner info on hard disk that can prove ownership of the computer
  • Survive hard disk formatting.

XTool Laptop Tracker | Price: $70
What makes XTool Laptop Tracker unique is the camera function; more and more laptops are now made with built-in cameras due to the higher availability of bandwidth and the increasing demand for more personalized contacts. XTool Laptop Tracker has the ability to detect a camera connected to a laptop and can take a snapshot of the unauthorized user that is then relayed to the XTool Monitoring Center! Since statistics show that approximately 90% of laptop theft is committed by insiders (friends, employees, colleagues, etc), a picture of the unauthorized user not only quickly leads to the location of the thief but can be used as evidence in case the laptop is sold to a 3rd party!

XTool Laptop Tracker is a service designed to locate and recover lost or stolen laptops. The XTool Laptop Tracker service uses a smart agent designed to collect and transmit critical information needed to pinpoint it’s location when lost or stolen and/or to identify the unauthorized user in case of a theft.

  • Laptop Camera Information, snap a pic of the theft
  • GPS location detection
  • Wifi Connection Information
  • Gurantee Recovery or else Xtool will compensate your lost

Laptop Alarm | Price: FREE
Yes, Laptop Alarm is a freeware, it doesn’t monitor or track your stolen laptop, it prevents. Once installed, Laptop Alarm will emit a LOUD ALARM on

  • A/C Power Removal provided the battery is attached
  • Mouse Removal
  • Mouse Movement
  • Attempt to Shutdown / Suspend

The hardest part when it comes to losing a laptop is when all of your important data is not recoverable or worst, it falls onto the wrong hands, thus making you and your company vulnerable to potential lawsuits and lost of profit. If purchasing these services appears to be expensive, try some of the freely available encrypt software, they may not be the best but at least it keeps your data safe for a certain period of time.

It is crucial to backup your data to a portable harddisk at least every week. Here are some interesting facts on Laptop theft:

  • One out of every 10 notebook computers stolen, 90% are not recovered.
  • Laptop theft doubled over the past year.
  • Over 85% of theft is insider job.
  • Laptop theft is one of the top 3 computer crimes along with virus and hacking.
  • 81% of U.S. firms lost laptops with sensitive data in the past year.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Next Page »