I have a legitimate copy of the game and would like to install it on my computer, but my 4 year old has scratched off the last 4 digits of the CD key from the sticker on the back of the CD case. Is the key encoded on the disc somewhere, like in a text file?
Sorry I'm not sure you can, all the instructions for retrieving a serial number assume its been installed on your computer at some point.
I know at one point you could buy a replacement serial number if you lost yours, but not sure its something they do any more, but it might be work ringing the support number on the CD case
-catty
it's 'only' 10000 combinations (0000 to 9999) if serial has only digits (my copy is from steam...), you could write an AutoIt script to test last digits, but it require some 'skills'