Extracting CD Key from Half-Life files?

[TaiFong]

I have Half-Life installed on my computer, but I can't find my original Half-Life jewel case to get the key from it. Is there any way to extract it from my Half-Life directory? Thanks.

 

[Gunner]

Search for it in your registry using Valve as a string. Or simply use a CD key changer.

http://games.softnews.ro/public/cat/4/4-5.shtml

 

[FAK3R]

It's not in half life files.
It's stored in your registry
Go to Start Menu> Run> Regedit> HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve/Settings
It's an entry named "Key", pretty hard to miss.
I hope this helps

 

[manny_c44]

When I lost my case for Half_life I just rabdomly put numers in when it asked me until I got it right. I think the numbers themselves don't matter, just the group numbers like 4#s then 6#s then 2#s. I dunno exactly, but I had to do it twice.

 

[SLH]

Originally posted by manny_c44
I think the numbers themselves don't matter

I think valve would disagree with you on that one!! You must have been very lucky to guess a correct cd-key 2nd time.

 

[nw909]

Getting a online working cd key by entering random numbers?

lucky.

 

[manny_c44]

Well if you think about it, its stastically impossible. There are millions of combinations and for me to get it right twice would be crazy.

And both times it took me less than 3 minutes to get it.

 

[Typhon]

but did it work online?

 

[TaiFong]

Originally posted by FAK3R
It's not in half life files.
It's stored in your registry
Go to Start Menu> Run> Regedit> HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve/Settings
It's an entry named "Key", pretty hard to miss.
I hope this helps

I looked for this directory. It seems to not exist in my registry. This is what I have:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve

Submenus of Valve are Half-Life, Steam, and Tracker. The Half-Life submenu has a Settings folder itself, but it does not contain the CD Key. Any thoughts?

 

[manny_c44]

Originally posted by Typhon
but did it work online?

I'm not sure, it was quite a while ago. And frankly I play games (especially half-life) for the single player experience. But I doubt it would've worked on-line, so no, I probably didn't.

 

[Braska]

Originally posted by manny_c44
I think the numbers themselves don't matter, just the group numbers like 4#s then 6#s then 2#s. I dunno exactly, but I had to do it twice.

no thats not right. you can enter the cd key without the dashes (-) and it will still work. so hl doesn't notice the groups...

 

[manny_c44]

Hmm I don't know then, maybe I'm magical.

 

[Chicky]

Originally posted by TaiFong
I looked for this directory. It seems to not exist in my registry. This is what I have:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve

Submenus of Valve are Half-Life, Steam, and Tracker. The Half-Life submenu has a Settings folder itself, but it does not contain the CD Key. Any thoughts?

go to half life its in there im pretty sure

 

[Vex]

It is in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Half-Life\Settings and its just called key however it is stored without the hyphens. The format for them is ****-*****-****

 

[SuperFat]

I did that before, when I first got hl I gave it to like...4 or 5 of my friends and they all took the key and just changed like the last number, I guess the key security was a little weak then, but then the patches came out.... and.... my friends and I started playing less...heh.

 

[Joneleth]

Also note that if you own the retail version of CS, the key will be in the Counter-strike registry folder (not the HL one).

 

[Slash]

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Half-Life\Settings\Key

Should be there :/ If it's not you must be hacking the gibson

 

[FoB_Ed]

TaiFong did you ever play the game Asheron's Call? I used to know a guy named Tai Fung...it could just be coincidence but your names are pretty close

 

[TaiFong]

Originally posted by Slash
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Half-Life\Settings\Key

Should be there :/ If it's not you must be hacking the gibson

I can't seem to find it. I swear I didn't pirate HL. I did recently partition my hard drive and I am using the D: partition to run XP, so maybe the key somehow got erased because of that. Before I partitioned, I could play just fine. Now, when I click on HL on C: it asks for the CD Key. I dunno, I guess I might just have to find the case.

Originally posted by FoB_Ed
TaiFong did you ever play the game Asheron's Call? I used to know a guy named Tai Fung...it could just be coincidence but your names are pretty close

Not him

 

[dbsynergy]

lol, when u partitioned u erased ur registry where the key is held. That means u better start looking for the jewl case

 

[Kharn]

Originally posted by nw909
Getting a online working cd key by entering random numbers?

lucky.

I used to always guess CD-KEYs, well until they started using letters:flame: :flame:

 

[Gunner]

This is hilarious, people guessing cd-keys lol what's next?