FS deal problem. Need the help of the mods or the trollhunters

Desslok

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2001
3,780
11
81
LimeGreen sold me a copy of XP Pro that he said was never activated. When I got the package there wasn't a COA label and when I used a program to look up the key Microsoft said it was already activated. I have been in contact with Justin(aka Limegreen) and he has informed me that he thinks I activated it and I want to "pull a fast one on him". I told him to look at my Heat ratings and he said he has no interest in looking at them. If he did take the time to look at them it would be obvious that I am a fair and honest trader.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
 

ProviaFan

Lifer
Mar 17, 2001
14,993
1
0
I suppose someone might have randomly stumbled upon that key with a keygen, and then was dumb enough to try to activate it, but that's not nearly as likely as what else might have happened... :(

Here's wishes that this gets resolved with as little pain as possible to the innocent.
 

Buz2b

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2001
4,619
0
0
Was this just "activated" or was it registered also. There is a difference. If just activated, you can still use it because it is not tied to a name and address. It would be akin to building yourself a new computer and taking your (long ago activated) copy of XP and installing it. Chances are you will not get the activation number/key automatically, like you do when you activate a new copy over the web. You'd instead have to follow the on screen instructions to call MS, explain to them you built yourself a new computer, whereupon they would give you a new activation number.
HOWEVER, if he did indeed register his copy of XP, that wouldn't work.

After rereading your post I think I may have been a bit confused by it. When you say that there was no "COA", did you mean the MS Certificate of Authentication sticker, or are you refrerring to the actual CD key? Those are two different things.
 

mastertech01

Moderator Emeritus Elite Member
Nov 13, 1999
11,875
282
126
From the thread I found with this item for sale.... sealed XP OEM Dell..

Originally posted by: RBBRMADE
This is a MS OEM CD for Dell, not a RESTORE CD from Dell.
It will load. It is the same CD as any other Windows OEM, just with Dell printed on the packaging.
If XP was loaded on this system when it was delivered, then the serial has been activated at Dell.

So if it was shipped with a system then appearantly Dell activated it.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,085
766
126
Originally posted by: mastertech01
From the thread I found with this item for sale.... sealed XP OEM Dell..

Originally posted by: RBBRMADE
This is a MS OEM CD for Dell, not a RESTORE CD from Dell.
It will load. It is the same CD as any other Windows OEM, just with Dell printed on the packaging.
If XP was loaded on this system when it was delivered, then the serial has been activated at Dell.

So if it was shipped with a system then appearantly Dell activated it.
John
That makes perfect sense and I agree. But (isn't there always one? ;) ), I have seen others sell OEM disks and not have this problem. Or at least I think I have. Is this something new?
It seems Dell would get a batch of disks and MS would easily be able to track the keys and know they belong to Dell machines.

 

mastertech01

Moderator Emeritus Elite Member
Nov 13, 1999
11,875
282
126
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: mastertech01
From the thread I found with this item for sale.... sealed XP OEM Dell..

Originally posted by: RBBRMADE
This is a MS OEM CD for Dell, not a RESTORE CD from Dell.
It will load. It is the same CD as any other Windows OEM, just with Dell printed on the packaging.
If XP was loaded on this system when it was delivered, then the serial has been activated at Dell.

So if it was shipped with a system then appearantly Dell activated it.
John
That makes perfect sense and I agree. But (isn't there always one? ;) ), I have seen others sell OEM disks and not have this problem. Or at least I think I have. Is this something new?
It seems Dell would get a batch of disks and MS would easily be able to track the keys and know they belong to Dell machines.

I dont know either way for sure bro, just passing on what was posted in the very thread the item was sold. Some peeps report that some versions will install and some wont.
I was always under the impression that the install key wasnt what was registered/activated anyway, but the actual serial number of the installation CD. It has always been my impression that the install key was only for initializing the installation but the imbedded serial number of the CD itself was the registered item. For example on my installed XP Pro the serial number is 55290-005-3083437-22945 which is nowhere even close to the install Key Code.

 

ProviaFan

Lifer
Mar 17, 2001
14,993
1
0
Originally posted by: mastertech01
I dont know either way for sure bro, just passing on what was posted in the very thread the item was sold. Some peeps report that some versions will install and some wont.
I was always under the impression that the install key wasnt what was registered/activated anyway, but the actual serial number of the installation CD. It has always been my impression that the install key was only for initializing the installation but the imbedded serial number of the CD itself was the registered item. For example on my installed XP Pro the serial number is 55290-005-3083437-22945 which is nowhere even close to the install Key Code.
Activation only involves the serial number ("install Key"?) and a hash generated from your hardware configuration. Registration is a separate and optional process. FWIW, the "serial number" that you're seeing under "My Computer Properties" is generated from something else (I'm not sure what), but is not specific to one CD. They press all the CDs of a particular kind of Windows (XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, 2003 Adv. Server, OEM and corporate versions of the aforementioned, etc.) from individual masters, so no unique data is written to each CD.
 

compudog

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2001
5,782
0
71
Originally posted by: jliechty
Originally posted by: mastertech01
I dont know either way for sure bro, just passing on what was posted in the very thread the item was sold. Some peeps report that some versions will install and some wont.
I was always under the impression that the install key wasnt what was registered/activated anyway, but the actual serial number of the installation CD. It has always been my impression that the install key was only for initializing the installation but the imbedded serial number of the CD itself was the registered item. For example on my installed XP Pro the serial number is 55290-005-3083437-22945 which is nowhere even close to the install Key Code.
Activation only involves the serial number ("install Key"?) and a hash generated from your hardware configuration. Registration is a separate and optional process. FWIW, the "serial number" that you're seeing under "My Computer Properties" is generated from something else (I'm not sure what), but is not specific to one CD. They press all the CDs of a particular kind of Windows (XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, 2003 Adv. Server, OEM and corporate versions of the aforementioned, etc.) from individual masters, so no unique data is written to each CD.


jliechty is correct. There is no disc specific info on each disc. Dude, it's a Dell version of XP. It ain't gonna work.
 

Interitus

Platinum Member
Jan 28, 2004
2,143
9
81
If it's any consolation, I purchased an OEM copy of XP originally packaged with a Dell about a week ago. It activated fine, I've used Windows update 4 times since then and no problems whatsoever. Just a thought. One thing I did run into...is that you have to make sure your time is synched with the Windows time server and your date is correct otherwise the activation and windows update servers decline your requests for anything. Good luck.