Activation problem with serial number

  • Thread starter Thread starter R M
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R

R M

I am helping my cousin set up her computer - she got it off craigslist and
the guy said he had put Windows back on the computer. It is XP Professional.

What he did not do is activate the computer, so when we are trying to
activate it with the serial number provided, we are unable to do it. It says
it is an incorrect product key.

What can we do now to get it activated?
 
R said:
I am helping my cousin set up her computer - she got it off craigslist and
the guy said he had put Windows back on the computer. It is XP Professional.

What he did not do is activate the computer, so when we are trying to
activate it with the serial number provided, we are unable to do it. It says
it is an incorrect product key.

What can we do now to get it activated?
Click to expand...


Purchase a legitimate license of WinXP (or any other operating system
of your choice) to replace the pirated copy your cousin got with the
computer. (and if the OS was supposed to have been part of the sale,
you might inform your local law enforcement agencies of the seller's
fraudulent sale.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
I am helping my cousin set up her computer - she got it off craigslist and
the guy said he had put Windows back on the computer. It is XP Professional.

What he did not do is activate the computer, so when we are trying to
activate it with the serial number provided, we are unable to do it. It says
it is an incorrect product key.

What can we do now to get it activated?
Click to expand...


I suggest ring Microsoft and explain to them what has happened. The
phone number is too-free so you have no additional costs to worry
about.

Are you sure sure you are using the correct serial number? Where is
this serial number? Is it at the back of the computer base or is it
soemehere in an email?
 
Bruce Chambers said:
Purchase a legitimate license of WinXP (or any other operating system
of your choice) to replace the pirated copy your cousin got with the
computer. (and if the OS was supposed to have been part of the sale,
you might inform your local law enforcement agencies of the seller's
fraudulent sale.)
Click to expand...

Ok, but it seems like Win XP is not available for sale anymore except if I
go to individual sellers. I don't want her to go through another
disappointment if someone is selling Win XP but if it is not legitimate.

Looks like the best option would be for me to get her Vista and do an
in-place upgrade to Vista.

Would an upgrade to Vista work even if Win XP is not activated?
 
ANONYMOUS said:
I suggest ring Microsoft and explain to them what has happened. The
phone number is too-free so you have no additional costs to worry
about.

Are you sure sure you are using the correct serial number? Where is
this serial number? Is it at the back of the computer base or is it
soemehere in an email?
Click to expand...

I will ask her to call Microsoft.

I am pretty sure we are using the right serial number. I am using the one
provided to her via certificate of authenticity.
 
R said:
I am helping my cousin set up her computer - she got it off
craigslist and the guy said he had put Windows back on the computer.
It is XP Professional.

What he did not do is activate the computer, so when we are trying to
activate it with the serial number provided, we are unable to do it.
It says it is an incorrect product key.

What can we do now to get it activated?
Click to expand...

Craigslist? Buyer beware!

You *might* be in luck. What is the make and model of the PC? Perhaps it
comes with a hidden recovery partition.

Does it have a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker on the case? If
so, that means the PC *did* come with a license. Does it say XP Home or
XP Pro (or something else) on it?

What you can do (assuming there is no hidden recovery partition on it --
and you really should double-check that!) is obtain an installation CD
for the matching flavor of OS. For instance, if the COA says XP Home and
it is an OEM license, you may use a generic OEM XP Home installation CD
(hopefully you may borrow one), using the Product Key on the *COA
sticker on the PC*.

If there is no COA sticker, you're on your own. You may always purchase
a generic OEM version of XP Home (there is most likely no need to
install XP Pro!) and use the Product Key that comes with it. Here's one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

Depending on the PC and its license, this site *could* help:

http://www.restoredisks.com/
 
R M said:
I am helping my cousin set up her computer - she got it off craigslist and
the guy said he had put Windows back on the computer. It is XP
Professional.

What he did not do is activate the computer, so when we are trying to
activate it with the serial number provided, we are unable to do it. It
says
it is an incorrect product key.

What can we do now to get it activated?
Click to expand...

There are some generic OEM COA stickers where a rare few of the
alphanumeric character may be mistaken for another due to the font style and
font size used. For instance, an "8" may actually be a "B".
--
"All men are created equal"
No one said they weren't different.
No one said they would not disagree.
No one said they would not have different perspectives.
No one said they would all work in harmony.
"We the peope" is a collective of all of these.

Dave
 
R said:
Ok, but it seems like Win XP is not available for sale anymore except
if I go to individual sellers. I don't want her to go through another
disappointment if someone is selling Win XP but if it is not
legitimate.
Click to expand...

You get a legit key from Microsoft.
 
R said:
I will ask her to call Microsoft.

I am pretty sure we are using the right serial number. I am using the
one provided to her via certificate of authenticity.
Click to expand...

There are various renditions of XP: Retail, OEM, Home, Professional, etc.
The keys are attached to the version. That is an OEM key won't work with any
retail version, etc. So, then, your key does not match the version
installed.
 
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