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Question about XP activation keys

Oyeve

Oyeve

Lifer
A couple of nights ago I ran my monthly Ghosting of my boot drive for backup purposes. Ghosting got fubared and when I attempted to run ghreboot or choose option 2, which is supposed to bring you back into windows, my system would lock up. So I too the boot SATA drive and attached to another PC as a second drive and backed all my data (which is the most important part), so, my data is safe on an external HD, I delete the -VPSGBOOT- partition and can see the full size of the HD and its volume name and data. So I put the SATA drive back into the original PC and the sucker wont boot to XP, fine, I recenlty moved and my legitimate copy of XP Pro is still packed somewhere in one of 16 boxes in my new apt. So, I have this OEM XP Pro disc from one of my jobs HP PCs and decide to to a repair install on top of the SATA drive. The install goes well, system boots to my original login screen! YAY, or so I thought. 🙁 When I try to login XP says I need to activate XP before I can get into the system, fine I say, I enter the key from the OEM XP disc I had just used to get mt drive back but it says "invalid key". So my question is this:

Is the key its asking for the key from the XP disc I originally used when I first installed it on the SATA drive or is it because I used an HP oem disc? Both discs are legitimate, but the key from the original disc is obviously packed with it somewhere in my many boxes.
 
There is Belarc advisor that you can download from Download.com.
It's a nice utility that will list all the serial numbers to your Microsoft installs.
Here it is.
Hope this helps?
 
Originally posted by: pkme2
There is Belarc advisor that you can download from Download.com.
It's a nice utility that will list all the serial numbers to your Microsoft installs.
Here it is.
Hope this helps?
Click to expand...

Looks cool, but I cant pass the login without activation. Thanks anyway. I was going through my backup I copied from the drive and found a notepad file that I put my key in. It differs from the one that I put in so I will try that number. Im 99% sure that is the correct key otherwise I would not have put it in a TXT file! 🙂 Plus the date the txt file was made corresponds with the date I got the drive so I am pretty sure thats it. If not I will just call MS and have them clear the key.
 
Major-brand OEM XP Keys (such as HP, Dell, eMachines) are no longer accepted for online activation, since they should never be used. All the majors have been using BIOS-locked versions of XP. These versions NEVER require activation when installed on the "proper" (HP, Dell, eMachines, etc.) hardware.

To activate an XP installation using a key from a major-brand OEM, you'll have to call Microsoft.
 
Yeah, I had to deal with this just last night.
Whenever it's a branded PC they always ask for the make and the model during activation. (they do for OEM too, but it's been a sure thing for branded pc's)

Only the installer is bios locked for the installation, the key on a branded PC will work with any OEM disk.

The only reason you wold get an invalid key error is if you used an oem, retail, or volume key without the correct corresponding disk.

 
Originally posted by: V00D00
Yeah, I had to deal with this just last night.
Whenever it's a branded PC they always ask for the make and the model during activation. (they do for OEM too, but it's been a sure thing for branded pc's)

Only the installer is bios locked for the installation, the key on a branded PC will work with any OEM disk.

The only reason you wold get an invalid key error is if you used an oem, retail, or volume key without the correct corresponding disk.
Click to expand...
This is so so so true. Too many people try to reinstall Windows on their IBM, Dell, HP, Gateway, etc, etc with the incorrect media then rip Microsoft when the key is reported invalid. They mistakenly think this is activation failing when it's just them using the wrong install media. Example...

User: I'm reinstalling Windows XP and when I enter the key from the sticker on my PC it says it is invalid? I typed my key perfectly. Why does it say it's invalid?

Me: Because you're using the wrong install media. You need the CD that came with your machine.

User: But my (PC/laptop) didn't come with a Windows CD.

Me: Then you need to call (IBM, Dell, HP, Gateway, etc) and ask them for one. You will probably be charged.

User: Why would I get charged? I paid for this computer and it included a Windows license.

Me: Because that's what you agreed to when you purchased your system. Don't blame me, I'm just the messenger. 😉 Personally I think it's a PITA having different media for the same OS. I can understand a WinXP key not working on a Win2K install but IMO the various versions of XP do more harm than good. I'm to the point that I don't bother to jump through the hoops anymore.

I've got my own legal retail copy of WinXP Pro and it's installed on my desktop. My desktop dual boots Edgy/WinXP but I usually have it booted to XP because (AFAIK) there's no Linux chat client that supports voice & video and I need that. I've also got an IBM T42 that came with WinXP Pro installed and a restore partition (no media). Well, I blew away my default IBM install (waaaay too many IBM 'features' installed) and since I don't have install media and the IBM reinstall partition installs all of their garbage I didn't have a legal way to do a clean, default, WinXP Pro install so I used my retail copy (yes, I know against the EULA). The funny thing is, the last time I loaded my laptop I was prompted for activation and called Microsoft and had to speak to a live person. I told them the truth about what I was doing (using my retail copy to reload my T42 while it was installed on my desktop) and they activated me anyway.
 
Originally posted by: Robor
This is so so so true. Too many people try to reinstall Windows on their IBM, Dell, HP, Gateway, etc, etc with the incorrect media then rip Microsoft when the key is reported invalid. They mistakenly think this is activation failing when it's just them using the wrong install media. Example...
Click to expand...

IMO it *is* Microsoft's fault. They are stressing that you need a valid key per machine, and the install media is worthless without a key, so logically people think that as long as you have a valid key you should be fine- but instead you need the right key and the right media. What happens if you have a retail copy of xp with no service pack, and the disk is damage? You go and buy a new retail copy of xp, but it comes with service pack2 pre-installed. As a result when you try to use your old key it tells you it's invalid, because the key is connected to an older copy of xp without the service packs built in.

 
You can install a HP, Dell, ... OEM disk to install on any PC. You just cannot use the HP, Dell, ... OEM key on any PC as these keys are locked to the original OEM. You just have to use your OEM version key. That is why his OEM key worked where the HP OEM key didn't, it wouldn't pass the BIOS Check.

pcgeek11
 
Originally posted by: pcgeek11
You can install a HP, Dell, ... OEM disk to install on any PC. You just cannot use the HP, Dell, ... OEM key on any PC as these keys are locked to the original OEM. You just have to use your OEM version key. That is why his OEM key worked where the HP OEM key didn't, it wouldn't pass the BIOS Check.

pcgeek11
Click to expand...

Keyrrect! 🙂
 
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