Age of Empires Forums

haay 

I lost my cd key of age of empires III but I have still all the cd's and an expansion pack of the warchiefs and the cd key of warchiefs but there is no way I can install that one without having installed age of empires III.

I have it still installed on my other pc but he is almost dead so can anyone help me?

 

thx 

Unfortunately you need a valid CD key for the core game and each expansion to install them all.  We can't provide a replacement for lost keys. 

but I have still my cd's is there any way I can see them in my installation on my other pc or just get them back with a cd code or something? 

 

regards 

There's no officially supported way to do that. If there are any other functioning ways currently, I am not aware.

Ryz0n:

There's no officially supported way to do that. If there are any other functioning ways currently, I am not aware.

Any unofficial ways? You don't have to answer as a moderator.

arne19:

I have it still installed on my other pc

If you can at least get the game to run on this PC far enough to get to the Main Menu -> Options -> About then the Product ID at the bottom is your CD key. Make sure you do this on vanilla (no expansions) to get the correct CD key.

freak123:

Ryz0n:

There's no officially supported way to do that. If there are any other functioning ways currently, I am not aware.

Any unofficial ways

The Product ID must be in the game files somewhere -- in the case that it won't run on his other computer, he could probably get it from wherever that is. I looked but couldn't find where is was stored.

The product ID is associated with a CD key in some process I don't entirely understand, but as far as I'm aware you can't reverse engineer your CD key from it.  Sorry. 

Musketeer925:

arne19:

I have it still installed on my other pc

If you can at least get the game to run on this PC far enough to get to the Main Menu -> Options -> About then the Product ID at the bottom is your CD key. Make sure you do this on vanilla (no expansions) to get the correct CD key.

freak123:

Ryz0n:

There's no officially supported way to do that. If there are any other functioning ways currently, I am not aware.

Any unofficial ways

The Product ID must be in the game files somewhere -- in the case that it won't run on his other computer, he could probably get it from wherever that is. I looked but couldn't find where is was stored.

1. If your hard drive works fine then make sure your game is saved in a spot where you can find it.

2. Unscrew screws at side of computer and take cover off.

3. Take hard drive out of old computer and put it in an empty hard drive spot in new computer.

4. Hook it up and open game.

I'm guessing this won't work but tell me if you even try it.

Don't. Just don't.

 

 

Anyway, could you perhaps copy the game and all files from ur comp onto a mem stick and move that way?

no due to all the registries. go babysit your neighbor for an evening, and earn 30$. Then go buy another copy

freak123:

Don't. Just don't.

 

 

Anyway, could you perhaps copy the game and all files from ur comp onto a mem stick and move that way?

Nope, that won't work - the game installation is much more than just the files being expanded.  

As far as I'm aware in this situation he would need to purchase another copy of AOE3.  Its why you want to hold onto your game CD keys.  (I keep all of mine written in one place in addition to the physical booklets with the games) 

I have one last suggestion: use a friends cd's. You have your own account and you bought the game. just use his nilla, twc, and tad cd's to install and use you ESO account that you already had. If you did't have, sorry, you need a new game.

 

Ryz0n:

The product ID is associated with a CD key in some process I don't entirely understand, but as far as I'm aware you can't reverse engineer your CD key from it. Sorry.

But yet, it must be in the game files themselves elsewhere, because it is not going to go though a very complicated process every time to retrieve the CD Key/Product ID just to tell you what it is in the Options -> About menu.

I would think it'd be in the UI files or something. I guess it could be stored directly in the .exe (of the game files, not on the CD) though, which would be nearly impossible to reverse-engineer.

(Note to guy: Buy a new copy. Ignore any more of my posts because they're just me being curious as to where the CD key is. Finding it isn't worth it rather than spending $30.)

freak123:

I have one last suggestion: use a friends cd's. You have your own account and you bought the game. just use his nilla, twc, and tad cd's to install and use you ESO account that you already had. If you did't have, sorry, you need a new game.

 

If you use your friends CD Key and installation of AOE to let you login to ESO using your account will put you and your friends accounts in danger of getting banned.

Do NOT share your CD keys.  Use the CD Key associated with your ESO account only.

Musketeer925:

Ryz0n:

The product ID is associated with a CD key in some process I don't entirely understand, but as far as I'm aware you can't reverse engineer your CD key from it. Sorry.

But yet, it must be in the game files themselves elsewhere, because it is not going to go though a very complicated process every time to retrieve the CD Key/Product ID just to tell you what it is in the Options -> About menu.

 

I would think it'd be in the UI files or something. I guess it could be stored directly in the .exe (of the game files, not on the CD) though, which would be nearly impossible to reverse-engineer.

(Note to guy: Buy a new copy. Ignore any more of my posts because they're just me being curious as to where the CD key is. Finding it isn't worth it rather than spending $30.)

The Product ID (PID) is created when the CD Key (Product Key) is entered on installation using the correct CD (Year of Distribution).

In order to generate a PID the CD Key needs to match the installation files (mgspid.dll, pidgen.dll).  When the installation is complete the PID will be published.  If successful the PID will be seen in the registry or About section of the game.