Lost my copy of win xp pro, still have my cd key and everything.

[SNiPeRX]

I dont really want to go through microsoft to get the cd, got it through college from one of the IT programs... what can I do, what are my options? Thanks

 

[corkyg]

Your best option is to find a college classmate that will make you a copy of the same program that he or she has. What you probably got was a multi-license academic edition assigned to that college.

 

[SNiPeRX]

grad this past may, kinda hard to do now... and it was a academic one...

 

[worlad]

Hi, tell me,( how do you activate a copy). I'm having problems activating with this xp that I bought. I'm interested because, I'm worried that I've paid good money and bought rubbish off of E Bay. Sorry my question is for corkyg

 

[imported_malcontent]

Originally posted by: worlad
Hi, tell me,( how do you activate a copy). I'm having problems activating with this xp that I bought. I'm interested because, I'm worried that I've paid good money and bought rubbish off of E Bay. Sorry my question is for corkyg

When you installed it, you should have had a dialog box come up and ask if you want to activate windows now. If you have already installed, and maybe selected to activate later, look for the little keys in your tray. Click on the keys and activate.
Also, there should be an entry at the top of All Programs.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: worlad
Hi, tell me,( how do you activate a copy). I'm having problems activating with this xp that I bought. I'm interested because, I'm worried that I've paid good money and bought rubbish off of E Bay. Sorry my question is for corkyg

On a bonafide academic edition of XP Pro, activation is not required - never has been. So the question about activating a copy is moot.

 

[anarchyreigns]

Academic versions require activation too.

 

[corkyg]

No, I have it and it requires no activation. It passes all of Microsoft's verification tests. It never asks for activation. I wonder if there is a difference between faculty editions and student editions?

 

[egkenny]

Academic-License Editions are usually just keys bought from Microsoft. The school is given the right to copy the CD with the number of copies based on the number of licenses purchased. It is a little more complicated than this but that is the general idea. Activation not required.

Academic Editions are retail boxed versions with the same contents as regular full versions but are discount priced for students and teachers. An example is Windows XP Pro Upgrade with SP2 which goes for about $99.95. They require the same activation as the regular versions.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: worlad
Hi, tell me,( how do you activate a copy). I'm having problems activating with this xp that I bought. I'm interested because, I'm worried that I've paid good money and bought rubbish off of E Bay. Sorry my question is for corkyg

On a bonafide academic edition of XP Pro, activation is not required - never has been. So the question about activating a copy is moot.

No, not even close.

I've gotten an Academic version from Newegg for a cousin (who is a student) and it required activation. Also, the XP copy I got from my own university also required activation, and it was a unique key for each student that requests a copy.

 

[worlad]

Originally posted by: malcontent

Originally posted by: worlad
Hi, tell me,( how do you activate a copy). I'm having problems activating with this xp that I bought. I'm interested because, I'm worried that I've paid good money and bought rubbish off of E Bay. Sorry my question is for corkyg

When you installed it, you should have had a dialog box come up and ask if you want to activate windows now. If you have already installed, and maybe selected to activate later, look for the little keys in your tray. Click on the keys and activate.
Also, there should be an entry at the top of All Programs.

Yes I did that.I put the key in, then had to do the six figure digits over the phone. I then spoke to someone who gave me a number to call during office hours.I'll do that on Monday.I can't believe the hassle.And here am I thinking I'd bought a bargain. I'll soon find out.

 

[corkyg]

OK Cubby, see EGKenney's note - there are academic versions and academic versions. Mine is the multi-licensed version - requires no activation - have had it since XP Pro first came out and it never asks for activation. What is issued to staff and faculty is different than what students buy.

 

[carloboy]

all data on windows cd are basically the same, i dont think there are individual codes in each CD. Just borrow a win xp cd from someone and use your own codes.

I have 3 win xp cds at home and 3 codes, i forgot which code goes to which cd so i just used one CD and 1 code for each computer.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: carloboy
all data on windows cd are basically the same, i dont think there are individual codes in each CD. Just borrow a win xp cd from someone and use your own codes.

This is true, though there is a difference between the OEM, Corporate and Retail versions of XP. Your academic copy is one of those; if there was activation it isn't the Corporate version.

But yeah, just get a friend to burn a copy of their CD. No, this isn't illegal. Windows CDs do say "do not make illegal copies of this disc" but that isn't an illegal copy, it's a backup. All MS cares about is that you have your own CD key.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: carloboy
all data on windows cd are basically the same, i dont think there are individual codes in each CD. Just borrow a win xp cd from someone and use your own codes.

This is true, though there is a difference between the OEM, Corporate and Retail versions of XP. Your academic copy is one of those; if there was activation it isn't the Corporate version.

But yeah, just get a friend to burn a copy of their CD. No, this isn't illegal. Windows CDs do say "do not make illegal copies of this disc" but that isn't an illegal copy, it's a backup. All MS cares about is that you have your own CD key.

Each has its own product ID on the CD

OEM Disk needs OEM Key
Retail Disk needs Retail Key
Upgrade Disk needs Upgrade Key
All of these require activation

VLK needs VLK Key
No Activation required

All require validation to update through the Update web site.

pcgeek11

 

[KeyserSoze]

Originally posted by: anarchyreigns
Academic versions require activation too.

Mine didn't.

 

[anarchyreigns]

Then you had a volume license version from your institution and not an Academic version.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: anarchyreigns
Then you had a volume license version from your institution and not an Academic version.

No, he had a Volume License Academic version. They do exist.

All an academic version is really is just an OEM/Retail/VLK version with special packaging. Most of the time anyway. There are special exceptions, but 95% of the time it's just an OEM or VLK version with a different print on the CD.

Incidentally, the Upgrade versions don't have their own CD keys anymore. Upgrade versions use Retail keys. In that case it's illegal to copy a Retail XP CD to replace your Upgrade XP CD.

Also, Product IDs aren't always on the CDs. Academic versions are notorious for this. I had to install my Academic version of Pro to get the Product ID from the Computer Properties screen so I could do the x64 upgrade thing.

 

[pcgeek11]

Also, Product IDs aren't always on the CDs. Academic versions are notorious for this. I had to install my Academic version of Pro to get the Product ID from the Computer Properties screen so I could do the x64 upgrade thing.

I said they are on the CD not printed on the CD. The installation determines what type key is required VLK, Retail, etc... by the product id number on the CD. That is how I should have said it to begin with I guess.

Are you sure that upgrade CD's don't have unique keys anymore??? I have to question this logic, because if the keys are no different then this:

In that case it's illegal to copy a Retail XP CD to replace your Upgrade XP CD.

would work just fine and in my experience it doesn't work at all.

pcgeek11

 

[Raincity]

Are you even allowed to use the MS volume academic license after graduation ?

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Raincity
Are you even allowed to use the MS volume academic license after graduation ?

I'm not sure but it looks like no. The only mention is very gray:

" ACADEMIC EDITION SOFTWARE. To use Product identified as "Academic Edition" or "AE," you must be a "Qualified Educational User." For qualification-related questions, please contact the Microsoft Sales Information Center/One Microsoft Way/Redmond, WA 98052-6399 or the Microsoft subsidiary serving your country. "

pcgeek11