When it's time to install an operating system from scratch, you face the monumental task of creating all the necessary backups, and that includes serial numbers. Unfortunately, few applications allow direct recovery, but the program recALL extracts them easily from the registry, with support for Microsoft software and Steam games, among other things.
I still remember perfectly a serial number for Windows 98. The same goes for a number for Windows 95, and another from the game StarCraft. Don't ask me how—they're simply burned into my brain, and they're still there after years. I imagine some of our readers have had similar experiences. Serial numbers are supposed to be complicated by nature, but no matter how chaotic the mix of letters and numbers, the human mind finds a way. Of course, this doesn't apply to every serial number.
In fact, some are a true mystery. I've seen systems with preinstalled Windows that don't even have the classic external label as proof. The number is "encoded in the BIOS", reducing the chance of theft. All these viewpoints are interesting, but in the end they only take control away from the user and create indirect risks, such as losing the serial number if a general failure requires replacing the motherboard.
How to recover serial numbers?
Backups are recommended in all cases, but don't forget to include serial numbers. Instead of battling each program individually, a convenient option is to download recALL and let the software extract them on its own. recALL offers three operating modes: Automatic is the most recommended in most cases, Manual enables manual scanning of folders, and Server Emulation recovers passwords in email programs and FTP accounts. The automatic mode takes a while to scan the entire computer, but it works as promised.
recALL even detects serial numbers in some Steam games, and even in applications that have already been uninstalled from the computer. The official site mentions thousands of applications, more than enough to probe most configurations. Once extraction is complete, you can export the results to an HTML file, TXT, comma-separated text, or as a database compatible with KeePass. The download is free and has no usage limits.
