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Media Center 2005 wont accept my COA key

L

Lepard

Senior member
I had to reformat a customer's computer, but before i did that i made sure that the cd key was on the laptop (an Inspiron 6000), and it was. After installing WinMCE, im sitting here trying to activate it, and it is telling me to "retry", obviously because it doesn't notice it as being genuine. I said no problem, Ill call Microsoft with the "Installation ID" and get it done manually.

However, when I do that I get absolutely no installation ID. I mean it is literally blank there. So im stuck. I called Microsoft and they tell me that the key is more than likely not genuine. I tell them that the sticker is on the Dell laptop, they respond by telling me to call Dell.

I've never had this problem before... XP Home OEM activation in a similar scenario is painless. So what should I do next? Go ahead and call Dell? What do I tell my customer?
 
Well don't tell the customer anything until you're sure you've got no solution. Then you tell them that they have no legal recourse against you for losing their data during a repair, and they should have backed up everything. 🙂 It might have been a good idea to make an image of the drive before you wiped it, if it was possible.

But yes I'd say call Dell. I assume you're using an OEM MCE install disk, and that the license key actually is for MCE? Are the disk and the key listed for different Service Pack versions (still trying to determine for myself if that matters).

I don't know why you might get a blank for the ID to call in. One would think Microsoft could tell you that at least. At the very least, they ought to have a way for you to actually verify if the key is genuine. What else would they do when people call in with actual non-genuine licenses, just tell them "trust us, it's not genuine, you need to pay us more money"?
 
Actually, before I even take a computer in for a repair I tell customers to do backups on their important files and folders, if I believe a reinstall is the best option... and then make them sign a "no fault contract". Just covering myself. So they already know that I was going to format.

Also yes Im using an OEM MCE disk as well as service pack versions (SP2).

Any other ideas?
 
Nope. Just call Dell I suppose, although who knows if they'll actually help you at all, or just say it's a Microsoft problem. If that license key did somehow get marked as non-genuine in Microsoft's systems, then Dell might need to provide a new license key, but I don't know what the legal responsibility is in this case.

I really think Microsoft ought to be able to tell you whether the problem is due to the license key actually being non-genuine, not just guessing that that might be the problem. It's possible that the key somehow was generated by someone else using a cracker tool and from there on got spread around, and MS actually marked it as compromised.
 
Well I just called Dell and after a long and extensive interrogation about who I was, my contact info and email address... nothing to show for the time wasted.

Stupid me, I cannot recall the lady's name. I know its Damary, but im blank on the last name. I'll ask her tomorrow and call Dell back, hopefully. However, I really hope that this laptop is not stolen, I do not want the drama.
 
Oh but that would be so much fun for us to hear about.

The laptop doesn't have to be stolen of course, just the license key may have been used by someone else. Or maybe she shared the key around with her friends and Microsoft got tired of so many activations. 🙂
 
I don't understand why you are having to "Activate" the Windows MCE installation. Are you using an original Dell OEM MCE CD? Or a generic OEM MCE CD? Typically, a Dell OEM Windows version is BIOS-locked and NEVER has to be Activated when installed on a Dell PC. And, of course, Microsoft hasn't allowed Internet Activation using a Dell COA key number since March, 2005.
 
Have you wiped the partition with the image on it? It's hidden.

Boot, and hold down the Control key (if memory serves me right) and repeatedly click the F11 key. You should get to a place where you can choose to restore from that image. The notebook will be restored to as it was at initial boot when new. No key and no activation required.

Just did this last week with XP Home, but I suppose it could be set up differently for MCE.
 
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I don't understand why you are having to "Activate" the Windows MCE installation. Are you using an original Dell OEM MCE CD? Or a generic OEM MCE CD? Typically, a Dell OEM Windows version is BIOS-locked and NEVER has to be Activated when installed on a Dell PC. And, of course, Microsoft hasn't allowed Internet Activation using a Dell COA key number since March, 2005.
Click to expand...


^^^^ Same here. I've never activated a Dell, HP Gateway... when using the Dell, HP Gateway... disk??? It should be using the WINNT.SIF file to install the key. Look in the x386 directory on the cd and then open the winnt.sif file with notepad and see if it has the key there. If not it isn't a Dell CD.

pcgeek11
 
Why are you doing a format? Why not just a restore? I did something I technically wasn't supposed to (nor should have been able to according to the doomsayers here) do, and installed the MCE from my laptop on my HTPC using the laptops key - I then formatted the laptop and installed XP Pro retail. So, I don't know why the customer's key isn't working, unless of course it was activated on another computer.

Oh, and btw just for general info, the key in the OEM install does not match the key on the bottom of the machine. This holds true for Dell, HP and Compaq. 😉
 
There was no other partition on the hard drive... hidden or otherwise. I figured I'd use an OEM copy of MCE and go from there. Restoring would've been the best thing but no way to go about it, the system was hosed.

I have never had trouble activating OEM Home as well as Retail on other computers, including multiple Dells, HP and other manufacturers. This is the first time that i've had problems, so I thought maybe the MCE activation was different. This is also the first time were the COA was not the actual OEM key. I even verified it by going to safe mode before I started with Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v1.5 and it was the same.

Ill try to keep you guys updated.
 
OK well I have talked to both Microsoft OEM department and Dell twice.

The OEM department verified the key as well as some other numbers on the COA and deemed the key usable and legit. They even gave me a second key, but no go. I just told the customer's to call Dell and see if they can get a second Restore CD and to explain to them the situation.

Now my question is could my MCE be messed up? and how? I don't want this to happen again so if anyone has any ideas as to maybe any tips that i can do to "fix" my cd.

Thanks again.
 
Try a complete format of the hard drive .. if you have to, slave it another pc,
format it or zero fill it ... then put it back in the computer it should be in
and try an os install using the Dell MCE CD

It looks like there is a file or something on that drive that is causing your problem
 
Originally posted by: Lepard
Actually, before I even take a computer in for a repair I tell customers to do backups on their important files and folders, if I believe a reinstall is the best option... and then make them sign a "no fault contract". Just covering myself. So they already know that I was going to format.

Also yes Im using an OEM MCE disk as well as service pack versions (SP2).

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Is it the exact disc that came with the laptop?

Seen issues with different versions of OEM's not working with MCE.

 
Originally posted by: lokiju
Is it the exact disc that came with the laptop?

Seen issues with different versions of OEM's not working with MCE.
Click to expand...

No it is not. And that's the thing, I've used it for other PCs with MCE and activation was fine, didn't even have to call Microsoft.

I've also tried a complete format.

Im gonna see if i can find a Dell MCE CD, although how different can the CDs possibly be?
Click to expand...
 
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