Mayday!

[lovemysims]

Ok so I lost two of my serial codes- the books actually and I know thier is a program that finds the serial codes, any-one know where I can find it. Please?

[J. M. Pescado]

'scalled a "keygen". Google for 'em.

[lovemysims]

Isn't there something that will let me find my own? I don't want any-one elses

[bekka]

You can ask EA for them.  They will give you a hard time and ask for disks and such but I mentioned that they used to keep that info on your account page in Sims 1 and told them I would play without rather than give them one more cent, and they caved.  Can't hurt to try.

[KatEnigma]

Did you register them? If so, you can get into your EA account and retrieve them. They put that feature back up with OFB.

[Dark Trepie]

The installation puts your cd key somewhere in the Windows registry too if I recall.  Not sure where it is though...

[Wedgetail]

If you haven't uninstalled them already then go start/run/regedit and you will find them in there, if have uninstalled they won't be there and the above post is right, go into EA website, log in as your sims username go to serial codes/registered games and you will find your serial codes there 

[BlueSoup]

If you look in your registry, you can find it.

On XP, I ran regedit, then went to Electronic Arts, then EA GAMES, then the game you want the reg for (I picked The Sims 2), then inside the ergc. It's written there.

[gali]

I always write the code key on a word document, and save it, just for a case like that. Very annoying, to lose the key, even if you are registerred.

[lovemysims]

I am away from my laptop, but they are still installed and I have no intention of uninstalling until they are properly installed on my new computer so I will try when I get ome. Thanks so much for your help and yes I did register them with EA.

BAA BAA BAA   Thanks Thanks Thanks!

[dadditude]

There is a program mentioned on Simprograms.com which will not only look up your serial numbers in the registry for you, it will also let you print them. I believe it was made by Aussie Topenders.

[Gwill]

http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=176239
It is a really good tip to write down the CD-key on the CD itself.

[lovemysims]

Managed to get EA to give them to me and I will be writing themon the disk, that was a really good Idea- will do!

[Assmitten]

Managed to get EA to give them to me and I will be writing themon the disk, that was a really good Idea- will do!

Ah, me too. I really HATE the whole "printed on the booklet" thing since I am not as organized as I'd like...and my kids actively disorganize me.

[Nivaya]

I remember when TS1 still came in jewel cases, the serial number was printed on the inner insert...as in, the bit you can only remove if you completely trash the case. That was great. I'm so much less likely to lose a box than I am a manual, especially when said manual contains nothing worth knowing...

[lovemysims]

Sims 2 and University were like that too. I just happen to be moving to a new computer so I have them in front of me.

[idtaminger]

Yep, and not only have they switched to crappy plastic boxes, both the manual and the CDs themselves have taken a nosedive in quality. As of Pets the manuals now have B&W covers - they can't even be bothered to print the COVER in color now. And the printing on the CD itself is also granier and lower quality. Bootleg-level quality even. What next? All-text manuals and a clear disk stuffed in a file folder?

[Nivaya]

The cover for my Pets manual is in colour... Saying that, I was forced to buy the DVD edition, cos they don't appear to have released the CD in Britain...-_- But yeah, the printing on the disc is indeed lower quality than it used to be...

[Aggie]

Awww, shit. I recently had a big to-do with my game, so I had to uninstall everything. Now I discover that my manual for Nightlife is missing.  I have registered it already, but I don't want to have to fork over $10+ dollars and ship my CD to EA just to get my serial code back. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do to retrieve my Nightlife serial code (bearing in mind that I don't have OfB and thus have no idea how to go about retrieving my code from the site itself)?

*kicks self repeatedly*

[J. M. Pescado]

Nope. You're SOL. Keygen time.

[ZiggyDoodle]

I'm organized (because I have to be at work and it carries over).  I write the serial number on a piece of masking tape for every EP and stick it to the inside of the box.  And I keep the base game and all EPs together.  I even have all the little manuals and the bigger one from the base game.

Wish I could carry that organization into my housekeeping but there always seems to be something else more fun to do...

Denimjo, if you get things together so you can reinstall, read this thread first:  http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,2914.0.html

[Aggie]

Ah, fuck. Oh well. I don't feel the slightest bit bad about locating a KeyGen then, since I have already paid for and registered my copy of the game. Thanks for the confirmation, J.M. 

The tutorial is pretty helpful actually, ZiggyDoodle, except for step one, which I neglected to do when I installed Pets.    I don't actually mind doing the Dance of Eight Disks, but I just wish I wasn't so stupid as to forget about the serial code issue before I uninstalled everything. 

You may all commence beating, kicking and mocking me now.

ETA: 0_0 I think the world is doomed. I was trying to see if I could contact A SimMaster on the BBS about getting my serial code back,  when I stumbled across this thread (which details exactly how to do what katenigma suggested). The message that helped me out immensely was by SkillzThatPay. My God..I never thought there'd be a day when the BBS could help me where J.M. Pescado couldn't.  Nonetheless, yay! I can reinstall!

Regardless, you may all continue to beat, kick and mock.

[Ndainye]

If you've registered your games you can get the serial code from the EA site.  Login and look under mygames.

[Aggie]

Yep, I saw that. Katenigma said the exact same thing earlier in the thread, and I also found a more detailed step-by-step run-through about how to go abouts doing it. But thanks for the response anyways.