Lost Activation Key for Expression Web 4

Question

How can I retrieve my Expression Web 4.0 Activation Key?  I have upgraded my computer to Windows 8 Pro and had to do a Custom Install.

Artie

Answer 1

Please note we're not Microsoft so we can't give you specific instructions.  This is a community forum and not official MS Support.  No members here are MS Support representatives.

How did you obtain EW4 - download from Digital River/Microsoft or the retail boxed edition?  The download purchase should have sent you an email with your payment confirmation, receipt and invoice plus the licence key code.  The retail box edition has the license key on the orange sticker inside the DVD case.

You should have been able to upgrade EW4 for free, based on having a valid EW3 license. Please read the FAQ's - Start Here post, particular the section about EW4.

It would be advisable next time you do a full operating system install (presumably involving a re-format of the HDD) that you write down all the licence codes.  You can use a license key finder to retrieve license keys - probably with trial and error, as some apps may not allow license codes to be retrieved.   Of course these would only work with installed, activated applications so this method might not help. in your case.

It's also advisable if you purchase software online, that you retain the emails with the license information as many have key codes that you have to activate the products with  - not just the main software vendors but the smaller companies too.

Andrew M

http://www.murraywebs.com

"Nothing spoils numbers faster than arithmetic!"
-- Peppermint Patty (Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz)

Answer 2

For some reason I am unable to locate the email that I got when I purchased Expression Web 4 online.  Is there a way to retrieve the code from my computer?  Where is that key stored?

Artie

Answer 3

In earlier versions there was - Belarc Advisor - but that would have needed to be run before you wiped the disk that had it installed, which is what I assume a Custom Install did.  And for later versions, even Belarc advisor couldn't find it, so it's not an option for EW4.

Answer 4

Right. IIRC, the last version that permitted retrieval using Belarc Advisor, or anything similar, was EW2. EW3 forward no longer stores the key where it may be retrieved. If your version was an electronic download, I know of no way to recover your activation key other than contacting your vendor, or simply looking it up where you stored it in EverNote, Palm Desktop, a PostIt note, or the original email received from the vendor, which any prudent user will have stored or recorded somewhere. Sorry, but neither we nor Microsoft can recover it for you.

cheers,
scott

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