Did you do your Windows 8 Upgrade homework, didn't think so.

Remember when that kid in school beat you up and demanded your Windows key. Well, maybe it didn't go quite like that but it will now.

Microsoft has a very enticing off with the new Windows 8 Upgrade coming at the end of October.
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-tip-upgrade-previous-windows-version-143574

You will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $40 as well as get the media center for free (another $30 savings). The Win 8 Pro will retail about $200 when this promotion ends.

You will need your old windows key (not that stolen key, the real deal). Dammit.

Well if your like me you have computers everywhere. Kids, media machines, God knows what and where. Also if your like me you built your own computers from parts you stole out of the HP dumpster. No wait, that was Steve Jobs. Anyways you have either upgrade keys for windows 7 or vista or XP. You probably have different versions of just about everything. It is time to panic because like that homework you didn't do you didn't organize either. Ok I'm sure your intentions are good and I'm sure you can find what ever you need when you need it but for the other 99% of us you have no hope.

Well just like that nerd getting beat up I'm going to do that homework for you. Ok maybe not but these guys will.


SIW (System Information for Windows) Portable

the link appears to be a moving target

http://www.gtopala.net/download/oc/siw-setup.exe
This link has a toolbar that I would avoid at all costs. Just don't choose the express option. Besides when has the express option been a good idea after about 1998 when installing anything. They always hide bad stuff in the express option. I remember Nvdia and ATI dumping links to world of warcraft or other games.
Express should imply that it won't install anything that you wouldn't need /want to make a choice on.

I had a free treminal emulator that about 300,000 people downloaded. I never got a donation. I guess the internet won't be free for long if people don't know how let go of a few dollars now and then.

Oh, No, a lecture. I admit I'm guilty of the same thing (This is High Tech on a Budget after all)
Besides when people hide this kind of thing they don't desrve our money.

This software will let you pull your Windows key.

The system information is divided into few major categories:
 •Software Inventory: Operating System, Installed Software and Hotfixes, Processes, Services, Users, Open Files, System Uptime, Installed Codecs, Software Licenses (Product Keys / Serial Numbers / CD Key), Passwords Recovery.
 •Hardware Inventory: Motherboard, CPU, Sensors, BIOS, chipset, PCI/AGP, USB and ISA/PnP Devices, Memory, Video Card, Monitor, Disk Drives, CD/DVD Devices, SCSI Devices, S.M.A.R.T., Ports, Printers.
 •Network Information: Network Cards, Network Shares, currently active Network Connections, Open Ports.
 •Network Tools: MAC Address Changer, Neighborhood Scan, Ping, Trace, Statistics
 •Miscellaneous Tools: Eureka! (Reveal lost passwords hidden behind asterisks), Monitor Test, Shutdown / Restart.
 •Real-time monitors: CPU, Memory, Page File usage and Network Traffic.