You've probably seen people asking for a registration key for a variety of reasons, usually because they lost the case for their game. Remember -- don't ever give out your registration key, which if proof that you purchased your copy of the game. If someone is asking for a new registration key, it might be that their copy was downloaded illegally from a warez site. If you have a legal copy, there are ways to get your registration key back, and save it in a safe place.
If you are trying to get a serial number for something other than "The Sims," try these tips for retrieving keys, or read our help finding your "The Sims 2" serial.
Getting Your Key Back
- If you registered your game on The Sims site, you can check your profile for the keys.
- Download a Product Key Finder program for free.
- Check the registry for the code is also an easy way. Be very careful not to change anything in the registry. You could create problems with other programs.
- a. Select Run from the Start Menu.
- b. Type - regedit and click OK
- c. For The Sims go to: Hkey Local Machine/Software/Electronic Arts/Maxis/The Sims/ergc.
- d. For Living Large go to: Hkey Local Machine/Software/Electronic Arts/Maxis/The Sims Livin' Large/ergc.
- e. For House Party go to: Hkey Local Machine/Software/Electronic Arts/Maxis/The Sims House Party/ergc.
- f. On the right side, you will see a file called default. Double click that, and there's your registration key!
- If all else fails, you'll have to contact Electronic Arts about a serial replacement.
- Keep your keys in a text file, and always keep the newest version backed up on a floppy or CD.
- Write the key on the CD.
- Keep a notebook of keys.
- Write it in the manual.
- Send an email to yourself with the key. This is especially useful if you use web-based email. That way in case of an emergency format, you'll be able to retrieve it.