WINDOWS XP serial activation problems

[Hacka]

Hello guys, I have my own PC repair business and this last month i have had 3 computers that wont activate online.
I will get the persons computer and put my xp home cd in it and install windows. It accepts the serial just fine. But after installation it tells me invalid cd key to verify it to stop bothering me. How can that be? its xp home o.o

What do i do? Have the customer call microsoft ?

also... is it illegal to upgrade a computer to a new mobo, cpu, ram and case and still use the serial on the old computer "compaq" ? They purchased that xp serial so they can use as long as they want right?

 

[RebateMonger]

Microsoft started denying online Activation for BIOS-locked COA Keys nearly two years ago. If you use a none-BIOS-locked version of XP and use the COA Key on the side of the computer, it will allow INSTALLATION, but will deny online Activation.

One of a zillion threads on Anadtech Forums covering this change in MS's online Activation policy.

You have to call Microsoft to perform the Activation. In theory, MS can deny the activation because you are using the wrong version of XP with the OEM COA key. But, apparently, they normally do allow the Activation after you call in.

And, yeah, it's contray to MS's EULA to MOVE an OEM license for XP from one motherboard to another.

Microsoft covers all this stuff in-depth on various consumer and Partner web pages.

 

[Hacka]

so there is nothin illegal about this at all?

Either the customer got a virus where i had to completely reformat so recovery cd's wouldnt work
or
i upgraded pc partys like cpu, mobo, ram, case and have to reinstall xp

 

[tyanni]

It is against the EULA to use the serial after you upgrade the motherboard, since it then technically becomes a new computer. You would need to buy a new license then. However, if you have to replace the mb under warranty and you use a manuf. provided motherboard, then its legal. Also, as RebateMonger pointed out, you will need to call MS each time you reinstall XP on a Bios Locked machine, since MS doesn't allow bios locked XP to be activated online.

So, to sum it up - reinstalling\reformatting OEM machine, fine, just call MS afterwards. Replacing MB\CPU\etc of OEM machine, not fine to reuse serial, technically.

 

[Hacka]

does anyone know that number to call microsoft?

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Hacka
does anyone know that number to call microsoft?

Doesn't it give you a number to call when it fails activation?

 

[Hacka]

I dont have that pc yet... shes dropping it back off.

but i found 1800microsoft worked... to bad i can barely understand them