Product Key Problem

L

Lucinda

New Member
Putting this simply there were numerous problems with my old pc and I was forced to keep reinstalling.

During that time the product key was changed quite few times by Microsoft, (because the original kept being rejected), when I had to keep ringing them.

Anyhow now I have lost the newer key numbers.

I went to put the cd (XP Pro) on my new internal hdd in a new computer and tried the orignal key number but as before it did not work.

Was it ok to do what I did? Has anyone any idea if I ring Microsoft now what kind of questions will they ask me?

The original computer and the XP Pro CD were brought seperately.
 
The original key or the number from the installation they had you read off to them? The operator will have you read off several sets of numbers and enter a new set in order to see Windows activated. That's all they do there unless you buy a new license. That sounds like a problem disk where you may want to get a new one. MS always wants you to get a new one unless that was the retail version not OEM.
 
I have a friend who had a problem just like this one he ended up ringing microsoft and they gave him a windows xp home cd key free of charge. I think this is because microsoft are now concentrating on Windows Vista.
 
Microsoft is now interested in seeing all installations even bogus ones activated apparently. They simply provided a corporate or master number since the original wasn't matched to the disk apparently. Other then buying a new disk it sounds like it's time to give MS another call.
 
Cliffnotes: When *Installing*, the CD Key will always work with it's respective CD. When *Activating* you can just call MS, tell them why you're activating XP, and they will give you a one-time activation key. The key is indefinitely tied to the CD. You can reinstall XP using the same CD 500 times if you want. However, it can only legally be on one system at a time - that's why the key is 'timed-out' so-to-speak after a few Activations and requires someone to physically call and activate it.

Here is my post from the other Thread with this title if it will help any.


All you need is the original product key that came with the CD to install it. That CD key is linked to the specific CD and does not matter how many times it's installed so long as you enter the correct Key.

Now for Activation, don't worry--you'll be fine. Even though you can use the same Key to *Install* however many times you need to, the Key can only be used a certain number of times to *Activate* the software. After that number of times is up, you can still do so, but will need to generate a new key and call MS each time you choose Activate it. Each of those new Keys you're given though are a one-time shot only.

After everything is installed, call MS to activate it, and they'll ask you why you're reactivating it and how many computers it's currently installed on. Legally it can only be installed on one Desktop at a time--that's why they ask. They'll give you a new Activation Key and you'll be good to go.
 
The problem seen there apparently was the original number was rejected during the initial installation showing an incorrect number probably where someone packed the wrong disk into a sleeve for another. Rare but can happen.

The activation number is something completely different. Either on the activation window or following the MS operator's instructions to manually enter a commend at the RUn prompt a group of eight 5digit numbers comes up. That represents the hardware profile code. The operator types that in to id and validate the disk and then provides you with the new code to see the installation on the present set of hardwares activated.

Once you make any major swap out of hardwares reactivation is then needed again by reinstalling Windows or by contecting MS. They always ask if this is the only system Windows is being installed on. That's due to their policy on one disk for one machine there.
 
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