Lost product keys

I have written in a previous post about the hassle of trying to remember the dozens of passwords I use to access different websites. The answer is a little utility called PasswordFox. But what about all the different product keys for the dozens of programs I have installed on my PC? A neat utility that can save you hours of rummaging through probably long-lost packaging is Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder, a freeware open-source utility that retrieves from the bowels of your machine the product key used to install not just your copy of XP or Vista, but many other applications as well. One note: a number of anti-virus programs identify Magical Jelly Bean as a Trojan, but you can safely ignore the warning.
Another very useful program to keep a track of what’s on your computer, is Belarc Advisor, which also does other useful things like providing info on the health of your hard drive, any security leaks, and more.