Lost Serial Numbers and Software.

[sjj1805]

How to avoid Problems with Lost Serial Numbers and Software.

It is now becoming one of the most frequently asked questions on this forum.
I had a problem with my computer and had to re-install all my software. Now I cant find my serial number.
OR
My installation CD is broken
OR
I lost all of my downloaded installation files.

This is usually followed by various comments along the lines of
Customer support is not very helpful and will not give me a new serial number
Or new download link etc. (I wonder what a car company would do if you had an accident in that brand new Rolls Royce on your way home from the car showroom)

Firstly let me point out that computers run on electricity. That electricity can suffer a sudden and unexpected power cut caused by a variety of reasons. This ranges from something simple like a blown fuse to a workman out in the street digging a hole and cutting through the mains power cable.

A sudden power failure can cause havoc to your computer and in extreme cases render your hard drive(s) useless and beyond repair.

Back up that important software.
Whenever you purchase ANY software it is good practice to make at least one extra back up copy of the disc. Despite the claims a few years ago that discs were indestructible they are not. They get scratched; they can split in half and warp in extreme temperatures.

Serial Numbers.
When you make your back up copy include where possible a text file of the serial number on the disc.
You can also create a spreadsheet or database of ALL of your serial numbers for ALL of your software
Ulead or others, and burn copies onto another disc. Keep those databases updated when you purchase more software in the future. Also keep on that DATA CD copies of emails or scan copies of paper receipts relating to the purchase of your software. This will help you try and plead your case with the software vendors for a fresh download or replacement disc if by some misfortune your original disc AND your back up copy have somehow become destroyed or lost.

Register your software.
The Ulead website will keep a record of your serial numbers of all of your registered software.
So if you lose that all important DATA CD containing your database of serial numbers or it gets destroyed by fire, chewed by the family dog or hit by a bolt of lightening ¡V you still have somewhere to retrieve it from.

[heinz-oz]

Great advice Steve, you are stating the obvious though and we will still get these people crying for help and/or spitting chips because not one person at Ulead bothered to keep a record of their purchases.

Good try and better than nothing but I daubt that it will have the desired effect, unfortunately.

Keep up the good works regardless.

[abradley]

hmm, so I lost my serial number.....

This information is very helpful for all the organised people who read these things before something goes wrong. Unfortunately I'm not one of those people.

My question: Is there anything I can do if I've lost the serial number and haven't gotten around to registering as yet?

I do have an installed copy of the software on a computer that isn't connected to the internet. This computer doesn't have appropriate audio function, hence I want to reinstall on a different PC.

Any suggestions?

[Ron P.]

If you have a copy installed on a computer, you can get the serial number by pressing the "?" and selecting the About Ulead VideoStudio. Once you have the serial number, write it down on something that you will keep. Then go to Uead's website and register it. Just because you may have purchased it a few years ago, does not mean you can not register it now.

[abradley]

Thank you very much! I'll register it now.

[Imagineer]

I am new and I read the first post and while it was intimidating, a bit harsh, and may have kept most from asking, I decided that it was worth it for me to ask anyway since 1.) I am not as savvy in the fancy lingo and terms that you use so I may not completely understand correctly and need clarification 2.) I can handle the criticism that may come with the response(s) even if they may not really be criticism as much as they are 'feeding on the newbie' with what you may consider to be 'stupid' questions. However, I have found that I can't learn anything without asking questions and there truly isn't a stupid question (if asked with true desire of knowledge), only stupid answers.

So, if someone would be so kind as to help me, I would really appreciate it. I had some sort of 'bug' that affected my home PC and at the same time (ironically) I had a defect in my Notebook that did contain some backup files from my PC. One being my folder of important documents and product information. While this is really neither here nor there now since the information from my Laptop is inaccessible, I was able to save *SOME* information from my PC. I have som misc. files that are under a PSP file (I believe in Documents & Settings) but I don't know how to access them or apply the information in them.

This being said, I have downloaded the 'Trial Version' of PSP XI again and I was able to bring up my order information including order date and # with details. I DID purchase the 2 year Download Insurance since at the time the only computer that I had was my PC and it is fairly old. I do know that it had issues and knew that the possibilty of a 'meltdown' so-to-speak was possible if not probable which is sort of what happened.

If anyone can shed a little light on this for me I would be grateful and if you could please keep instructions fairly simple. While I do know my way around for most things, I am in no way a seasoned professional as I am sure that most of you are. I know what I have to for what I need it for.

Any and all help is most appreciated.

~Heidi~

[Imagineer]

Where is the 'edit' button to add something to your post? Am I missing something?

Anyway, can I find my registration information on the Corel site anywhere since I have my order # and email receipt? Seems that would be logical. Or possibly would it have been placed into one of these great many odd looking folders that I have on my computer? Some request that I 'choose a program' to open them with as none is specified and I don't know what to use. Shun me if you must but I only want to learn how to resolve this problem.

Many thanks for sincere replies.

[sjj1805]

Providing that you registered your products after purchase, then you can retrieve order details and serial numbers from the Corel Website

http://www.corel.com

Near the top right of the screen you will see a link [Your Account]
If you have forgotten your password then there is an option to have it emailed to you.

[Imagineer]

Providing that you registered your products after purchase, then you can retrieve order details and serial numbers from the Corel Website

http://www.corel.com

Near the top right of the screen you will see a link [Your Account]
If you have forgotten your password then there is an option to have it emailed to you.

Thank you sincerely for your help. This has worked and I never even had to enter a number or code. It just informed me that my trial was now a full version. Go figure!

Thanks again!

[sjj1805]

IMPORTANT UPDATE.

Please view this link if you have registered products on the
Intervideo
Ulead
or Corel Websites

Prior to 01 July 2007.
You will need to log onto the site and check your registered products and update any that may be missing.

Corel / Ulead / Intervideo Merged User Data

[nburm]

Hi! I recently purchased a Retail version of WinDVD Gold, and although the online activation process went through, the corel site doesn't have my product registerd, and when I launch WinDVD, the 'activate now' option is still present. However, when I go to activate it, it assumes that I have purchased this product on-line, and requests the last 4 of my credit card as provided on my online purchase (of which, of course, there isn't one).

Any tips?

[zceb90]

I've just purchased WinDVD 9 Platinum from Corel's site. When placing order there was offer of 'download insurance' in case of HDD failure etc within 1st 2 years otherwise there are just 30 days to download and install.
I normally consider taking upgrade insurance but don't take download insurance as I regularly backup folder containing all downloaded products to an external disk.

The following message was emailed in my order confirmation: 'This Products Activation Key will expire in 10 days'. In the event of HDD failure or errors in OS forcing a future system reload will I be able to obtain a new activation key from Corel without further payment? For almost every other software program I've downloaded the initial key provided with purchase is good for several years; this is first time I've come seen such a short validation period.

If indeed Corel expect me to have to buy a completely new license in event of future system re-load being required I have a way round the problem and thus will be taking regular images of my primary partition and storing them on a separate disk. This solution would at least restore my system to when everything was last working correctly and avoid need for re-activating this and other products. Even so I find it worrying if a new key foc is denied to registered users. Can anyone clarify the situation, FAQ's don't help? Tks.

[sjj1805]

WinDVD is a part of the former Intervideo Range of products and they have a slightly different system to the rest. You have to register your purchase with them on their website thus create a user account.
When you log into that account you should find an option to generate a new key.

[zceb90]

Thanks for reply - I meant to say 'WinDVD ver 8' in my earlier post.

I've checked the site and found I already have a user account and the system already shows the product purchased online yesterday and has option entitled 'request software key'. When purchasing this product online from Corel's site there is requirement to create an account prior to finalising order; there's also no need to specifically register online purchases as the process appears to be automated.

[bquerry]

Well, I just decided to check my registration details (in anticipation of the 11.5 plus update) and found that no record of me seems to exist at all. Who do I email to have someone check this out? I am a longtime cutomer and have gobs of ULEAD products...all which WERE registered... I only have 1 email address I EVER use and there seems to be no record of it.