Commonly, the serial entries are added in the registry, mostly in the EA games before the "Internet activation" (Bithcin') process, so you can just add your serial key directly in the installer script in the "Registry" section. Considering it's for YOUR OWN backup for a LEGIT game, it's far better than create a separated page to add such serial.
Of course, above was an example. You should know where are these serial are stored during install:
-
If the key is added to the registry (Like most of the "classic" EA games, for example "Need For Speed" from Hot Pursuit 2 until Pro Street and Undercover and Medal of Honor games series, to quote a few...), so it's fine (In Inno Setup Scripts)!
Just add such key in the [Registry] secrion and we're good again. You can use
RegShot to get the registry keys added by the game
during the install process, so a clean install in these cases are recomended.
-
If the key is stored in a file (Like Soldier of Fortune 2 or Call of Duty 1, where the serial key is inserted in a game file, or the 1st NeverWinter files along all expansions, where their respective CD-keys are added in a INI file inside the game folder), just do a conversion like any another
by using the INSTALLED FILES, so when you do a backup with a custom install, it's already inserted in the game, so it's fine as well.
- There are some games that doesn't EVEN require the serial key in any place in your computer to properly work. In this case, it's just a installer pre-requisit. Doing a conversion with the installed files will work as good as your install is sucessful.
As a "branch" of the above case, it's possible to install the game without adding any kind of serial key. But then the game will ask it for you after 1st play, and commonly in these scenarios, you DO HAVE to type it, due to game protection and//or online activation.
Of course,
none of these will bypass online activation, unless you... well... "use a counter-measure to avoid this" (In lawman terms: Add a crack - which is actually
useless for those who actually payed for the game) so keep this in mind.