[C#] How to get Windows Product Key (Serial key)

totalbot · Jan 30, 2011

I'm working on a little application, and on the main tab, I want the product key, like Windows Loader.

But I cant figure how to get the key :s

any idea guys?

Thanks, Totalbot ^^

-------------------

Also, why I cant edit the OEMInformation registry keys with C#

Calistoga · Jan 30, 2011

Check out this code

totalbot · Jan 30, 2011

Calistoga said: ↑

Check out thiscode
Click to expand...

well, is it only for xp?

because I mainly need it for W7

Alphawaves · Jan 31, 2011

From the link Calistoga gave i managed to get this, works ok in Windows 7

Code:

using System;
using System.Collections;
using Microsoft.Win32;

  namespace get_key
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {

 public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        public enum Key { Windows };
        public static byte[] GetRegistryDigitalProductId(Key key)
        {
            byte[] digitalProductId = null;
            RegistryKey registry = null;
            switch (key)
            {
                // Open the Windows subkey readonly.
                case Key.Windows:
                    registry =
                      Registry.LocalMachine.
                        OpenSubKey(
                          @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion",
                            false);
                    break;
            }
            if (registry != null)
            {
                // TODO: For other products, key name maybe different.
                digitalProductId = registry.GetValue("DigitalProductId")
                  as byte[];
                registry.Close();
            }
            return digitalProductId;
        }
        public static string DecodeProductKey(byte[] digitalProductId)
        {
            // Offset of first byte of encoded product key in 
            //  'DigitalProductIdxxx" REG_BINARY value. Offset = 34H.
            const int keyStartIndex = 52;
            // Offset of last byte of encoded product key in 
            //  'DigitalProductIdxxx" REG_BINARY value. Offset = 43H.
            const int keyEndIndex = keyStartIndex + 15;
            // Possible alpha-numeric characters in product key.
            char[] digits = new char[]
      {
        'B', 'C', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'J', 'K', 'M', 'P', 'Q', 'R', 
        'T', 'V', 'W', 'X', 'Y', '2', '3', '4', '6', '7', '8', '9',
      };
            // Length of decoded product key
            const int decodeLength = 29;
            // Length of decoded product key in byte-form.
            // Each byte represents 2 chars.
            const int decodeStringLength = 15;
            // Array of containing the decoded product key.
            char[] decodedChars = new char[decodeLength];
            // Extract byte 52 to 67 inclusive.
            ArrayList hexPid = new ArrayList();
            for (int i = keyStartIndex; i <= keyEndIndex; i++)
            {
                hexPid.Add(digitalProductId);
            }
            for (int i = decodeLength - 1; i >= 0; i--)
            {
                // Every sixth char is a separator.
                if ((i + 1) % 6 == 0)
                {
                    decodedChars = '-';
                }
                else
                {
                    // Do the actual decoding.
                    int digitMapIndex = 0;
                    for (int j = decodeStringLength - 1; j >= 0; j--)
                    {
                        int byteValue = (digitMapIndex << 8) | (byte)hexPid[j];
                        hexPid[j] = (byte)(byteValue / 24);
                        digitMapIndex = byteValue % 24;
                        decodedChars = digits[digitMapIndex];
                    }
                }
            }
            return new string(decodedChars);
        }  
    }
}

Usage:

Code:

byte[] results = Form1.GetRegistryDigitalProductId(Form1.Key.Windows); label1.Text = Form1.DecodeProductKey(results);

Alphawaves · Jan 31, 2011

Cant you use textbox's to add the information and apply from a button something like this:

Code:

 Registry.SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "Model", textBox1.Text);
            Registry.SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "Manufacturer", textBox2.Text);
            Registry.SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "Logo", textBox3.Text);
            Registry.SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "SupportPhone", textBox4.Text);
            Registry.SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "SupportURL", textBox5.Text);
            Registry.SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "SupportHours", textBox6.Text);

To get the value would be like this:

Code:

 textBox1.Text = (string)Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "Model", "");
            textBox2.Text = (string)Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "Manufacturer", "");
            textBox3.Text = (string)Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "Logo", "");
            textBox4.Text = (string)Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "SupportPhone", "");
            textBox5.Text = (string)Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "SupportURL", "");
            textBox6.Text = (string)Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\OEMInformation", "SupportHours", "");

Calistoga · Jan 31, 2011

Also, don't forget that your application needs to run elevated (administrator) to be able to write to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. To make your app request such elevated privileges, you have to embed an Application Manifest.

It works on all versions of Windows that places it's DigitalProductId in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
Code:
Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", false);
Use the code posted by alphawaves, he has stripped away everything you don't need You can remove the switch (key) statement (but keep the case code) and the corresponding Key enum if you want.

For maximum readability and reusability, you should pack all the code inside a separate class, for example class ProductKey { ... } , then have a static method, ex. ProductKey.GetLocalKey() - or something like that.

jlgager · Jan 31, 2011

Can someone add a visual basic .net version please with the ability to change the key as well. Thanks

Alphawaves · Jan 31, 2011

VB.NET:

Add reference to system.management

Install Key: Option 1 (Works better when called from a BackgroundWorker) this is from button:

Code:

 Imports System.Management

Dim failed As Boolean = False

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim key As String = TextBox1.Text
        Try
            Dim classInstance As New ManagementObject("root\CIMV2", "SoftwareLicensingService.Version='6.1.7600.16385'", Nothing)
            Try
                Dim inParams As ManagementBaseObject = classInstance.GetMethodParameters("InstallProductKey")
                inParams("ProductKey") = key
                Dim outParams As ManagementBaseObject = classInstance.InvokeMethod("InstallProductKey", inParams, Nothing)
            Catch ex As System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException
                MessageBox.Show("Failed To Install Product Key", "Error")
                failed = True
                Exit Sub
            End Try
        Catch err As ManagementException
            failed = True
        End Try
        If failed = True Then
            MessageBox.Show("Failed To Install Product Key", "Error")
            Exit Sub
        End If
        Dim check As New ManagementObjectSearcher("root\CIMV2", "SELECT * FROM SoftwareLicensingProduct")
        For Each queryObj As ManagementObject In check.Get()
            Dim newkey As String = queryObj("PartialProductKey")
            If newkey = String.Empty Then
            Else
                If key.Contains(newkey) = True Then
                    MsgBox("Installed Product Key: " & key & " Successfully")
                    Exit For
                ElseIf key.Contains(newkey) = False Then
                    MsgBox("Failed to install: " & key & " .")
                    Exit For
                End If
            End If
        Next
  End Sub

Option 2:

Code:

Dim key As String = TextBox1.Text
        Dim SLMGR As New Process
        SLMGR.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = True
        SLMGR.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = False
        SLMGR.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = True
        SLMGR.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
        SLMGR.StartInfo.FileName = "cscript"
        SLMGR.StartInfo.Arguments = (" //NOLOGO " & windir & "\System32\slmgr.vbs -ipk " & key)
        Me.Cursor = Cursors.WaitCursor
        SLMGR.Start()
        Do Until SLMGR.HasExited
            Application.DoEvents()
            System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(50)
        Loop
        Me.Cursor = Cursors.Default

Read Key:

Code:

Public Function GetProductKey(ByVal KeyPath As String, ByVal ValueName As String) As String

        Dim HexBuf As Object = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue(KeyPath, ValueName, 0)
        If HexBuf Is Nothing Then Return "N/A"
        Dim tmp As String = ""
        For l As Integer = LBound(HexBuf) To UBound(HexBuf)
            tmp = tmp & " " & Hex(HexBuf(l))
        Next
        Dim StartOffset As Integer = 52
        Dim EndOffset As Integer = 67
        Dim Digits(24) As String
        Digits(0) = "B"
        Digits(1) = "C"
        Digits(2) = "D"
        Digits(3) = "F"
        Digits(4) = "G"
        Digits(5) = "H"
        Digits(6) = "J"
        Digits(7) = "K"
        Digits(8) = "M"
        Digits(9) = "P"
        Digits(10) = "Q"
        Digits(11) = "R"
        Digits(12) = "T"
        Digits(13) = "V"
        Digits(14) = "W"
        Digits(15) = "X"
        Digits(16) = "Y"
        Digits(17) = "2"
        Digits(18) = "3"
        Digits(19) = "4"
        Digits(20) = "6"
        Digits(21) = "7"
        Digits(22) = "8"
        Digits(23) = "9"
        Dim dLen As Integer = 29
        Dim sLen As Integer = 15
        Dim HexDigitalPID(15) As String
        Dim Des(30) As String
        Dim tmp2 As String = ""
        For i = StartOffset To EndOffset
            HexDigitalPID(i - StartOffset) = HexBuf(i)
            tmp2 = tmp2 & " " & Hex(HexDigitalPID(i - StartOffset))
        Next
        Dim KEYSTRING As String = ""
        For i As Integer = dLen - 1 To 0 Step -1
            If ((i + 1) Mod 6) = 0 Then
                Des(i) = "-"
                KEYSTRING = KEYSTRING & "-"
            Else
                Dim HN As Integer = 0
                For N As Integer = (sLen - 1) To 0 Step -1
                    Dim Value As Integer = ((HN * 2 ^ 8) Or HexDigitalPID(N))
                    HexDigitalPID(N) = Value \ 24
                    HN = (Value Mod 24)
                Next
                Des(i) = Digits(HN)
                KEYSTRING = KEYSTRING & Digits(HN)
            End If
        Next
        Return StrReverse(KEYSTRING)

    End Function

Usage:

Code:

TextBox1.Text = GetProductKey("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\", "DigitalProductId")

totalbot · Feb 1, 2011

Thanks for the informations everyone

jlgager · Feb 18, 2011

Help! this stops working in C# if i switch to framework 3.5

BobSheep · Feb 18, 2011

Any hints as to error messages, what it does or doesn't do, compile or run time exception?

jlgager · Feb 18, 2011

Sorry that wasn't descriptive at all, all the computers I try it on other than mine I get a System.NullReferenceException.
Its in the Admin Toolkit 1.2 in the Activation section when you double click or click run. the error shows up in the textbox.

Alphawaves · Feb 19, 2011

jlgager said: ↑

Sorry that wasn't descriptive at all, all the computers I try it on other than mine I get a System.NullReferenceException.
Its in the Admin Toolkit 1.2 in the Activation section when you double click or click run. the error shows up in the textbox.
Click to expand...

Have you tried seeing if it works without this line in public void Activation():
Code:
throw new Exception();

mictlan · Feb 19, 2011

Has someone ever looked at VL key retrieval, where key is not stored in registry?

FreeStyler · Feb 19, 2011

mictlan said: ↑

Has someone ever looked at VL key retrieval, where key is not stored in registry?
Click to expand...

no where ...don't you think we would have manage to get it if it was possible?

jlgager · Oct 19, 2011

When i run this script in windows x64 bit "Byte[] digitalProductId" returns null. Thus I get a NullReferenceException error.
When i run it in windows x86 the script runs correctly.

Here is my code.

Code:

#region PRODUCT KEY
        /// <summary>
        /// Determines current Product Key.
        /// </summary>
        public static String ProductKey { get { return DecodeProductKey(GetRegistryDigitalProductId); } }
        private static Byte[] GetRegistryDigitalProductId
        {
            get
            {
                try
                {
                    byte[] digitalProductId = null;
                    RegistryKey registry = null;
                    registry = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", false);

                    if (registry != null)
                    {
                        digitalProductId = registry.GetValue("DigitalProductId") as byte[];
                        registry.Close();
                    }
                    return digitalProductId;
                }
                catch (Exception excep)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(excep.Message);
                    return null;
                }
            }
        }
        private static String DecodeProductKey(Byte[] digitalProductId)
        {
            // Offset of first byte of encoded product key in 
            //  'DigitalProductIdxxx" REG_BINARY value. Offset = 34H.
            const int keyStartIndex = 52;
            // Offset of last byte of encoded product key in 
            //  'DigitalProductIdxxx" REG_BINARY value. Offset = 43H.
            const int keyEndIndex = keyStartIndex + 15;
            // Possible alpha-numeric characters in product key.
            char[] digits = new char[]
      {
        'B', 'C', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'J', 'K', 'M', 'P', 'Q', 'R', 
        'T', 'V', 'W', 'X', 'Y', '2', '3', '4', '6', '7', '8', '9',
      };
            // Length of decoded product key
            const int decodeLength = 29;
            // Length of decoded product key in byte-form.
            // Each byte represents 2 chars.
            const int decodeStringLength = 15;
            // Array of containing the decoded product key.
            char[] decodedChars = new char[decodeLength];
            // Extract byte 52 to 67 inclusive.
            ArrayList hexPid = new ArrayList();
            for (int i = keyStartIndex; i <= keyEndIndex; i++)
            {
                hexPid.Add(digitalProductId);
            }
            for (int i = decodeLength - 1; i >= 0; i--)
            {
                // Every sixth char is a separator.
                if ((i + 1) % 6 == 0)
                {
                    decodedChars = '-';
                }
                else
                {
                    // Do the actual decoding.
                    int digitMapIndex = 0;
                    for (int j = decodeStringLength - 1; j >= 0; j--)
                    {
                        int byteValue = (digitMapIndex << 8) | (byte)hexPid[j];
                        hexPid[j] = (byte)(byteValue / 24);
                        digitMapIndex = byteValue % 24;
                        decodedChars = digits[digitMapIndex];
                    }
                }
            }
            return new string(decodedChars);
        }
        #endregion PRODUCT KEY

Please help as it is holding me up from finishing a library that I am about to publish here!

Josh Cell · Oct 19, 2011

jlgager said: ↑

When i run this script in windows x64 bit "Byte[] digitalProductId" returns null. Thus I get a NullReferenceException error.
When i run it in windows x86 the script runs correctly.

Here is my code.

Code:

#region PRODUCT KEY
        /// <summary>
        /// Determines current Product Key.
        /// </summary>
        public static String ProductKey { get { return DecodeProductKey(GetRegistryDigitalProductId); } }
        private static Byte[] GetRegistryDigitalProductId
        {
            get
            {
                try
                {
                    byte[] digitalProductId = null;
                    RegistryKey registry = null;
                    registry = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", false);

                    if (registry != null)
                    {
                        digitalProductId = registry.GetValue("DigitalProductId") as byte[];
                        registry.Close();
                    }
                    return digitalProductId;
                }
                catch (Exception excep)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(excep.Message);
                    return null;
                }
            }
        }
        private static String DecodeProductKey(Byte[] digitalProductId)
        {
            // Offset of first byte of encoded product key in 
            //  'DigitalProductIdxxx" REG_BINARY value. Offset = 34H.
            const int keyStartIndex = 52;
            // Offset of last byte of encoded product key in 
            //  'DigitalProductIdxxx" REG_BINARY value. Offset = 43H.
            const int keyEndIndex = keyStartIndex + 15;
            // Possible alpha-numeric characters in product key.
            char[] digits = new char[]
      {
        'B', 'C', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'J', 'K', 'M', 'P', 'Q', 'R', 
        'T', 'V', 'W', 'X', 'Y', '2', '3', '4', '6', '7', '8', '9',
      };
            // Length of decoded product key
            const int decodeLength = 29;
            // Length of decoded product key in byte-form.
            // Each byte represents 2 chars.
            const int decodeStringLength = 15;
            // Array of containing the decoded product key.
            char[] decodedChars = new char[decodeLength];
            // Extract byte 52 to 67 inclusive.
            ArrayList hexPid = new ArrayList();
            for (int i = keyStartIndex; i <= keyEndIndex; i++)
            {
                hexPid.Add(digitalProductId);
            }
            for (int i = decodeLength - 1; i >= 0; i--)
            {
                // Every sixth char is a separator.
                if ((i + 1) % 6 == 0)
                {
                    decodedChars = '-';
                }
                else
                {
                    // Do the actual decoding.
                    int digitMapIndex = 0;
                    for (int j = decodeStringLength - 1; j >= 0; j--)
                    {
                        int byteValue = (digitMapIndex << 8) | (byte)hexPid[j];
                        hexPid[j] = (byte)(byteValue / 24);
                        digitMapIndex = byteValue % 24;
                        decodedChars = digits[digitMapIndex];
                    }
                }
            }
            return new string(decodedChars);
        }
        #endregion PRODUCT KEY

Please help as it is holding me up from finishing a library that I am about to publish here!

Click to expand...

Probably WOW64 Redirection ...

You can make your APP in "Any CPU" achitecture ...

BobSheep · Oct 19, 2011

Change the build type from X86 to Any CPU (add if necessary).

jlgager · Oct 20, 2011

Thanks that fixed the problem!

Josh Cell · Oct 20, 2011

jlgager said: ↑

Thanks that fixed the problem!
Click to expand...

Yes, Welcome

Well, this is code requires non-null signed values for decode de product key

[C#] How to get Windows Product Key (Serial key)

totalbot MDL Novice

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[C#] How to get Windows Product Key (Serial key)

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