In order to install software on a computer, you will need a product key. A product key is a unique alphanumeric code that identifies the authenticity of a specific software program and allows that program to be installed and activated. What happens if the product key is lost or unavailable? Normally, the product key is located on the software packaging. While it is typically a good idea to save this number for emergency reinstalls,sometimes these product keys do get lost and, in the case of factory-installed software, may even be unavailable to you. You will need a product key finder program. A product key finder is a small piece of software that can search a Windows registry and locate a lost product key. A product key finder should be able to locate product keys for most versions of the Windows operating system and a number of other Windows-based programs. There are several free and commercial product key finders available for down load online.

One of the better known key finder programs is called, appropriately enough, Product Key Finder. Product Key Finder is a simple single function program that opens in a graphic user interface, but displays the result of a product key search in a command window. Users double-click to display the 25-character Microsoft product key. Product Key Finder works for most Window operating system versions up to and including Windows 7. This utility works for most Microsoft and Adobe programs as well as more than 200 other programs.