Loading Windows XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter andre264
  • Start date Start date
A

andre264

I had to replace my motherboard and CPU chip. Afterwards
I could not access my hard drive so I reformated it and
loaded Windows XP back on it and put the serial number of
Windows off of the tag on the back of the computer ONLY
IT SAYS IT IS NOT A CORRECT SERIAL NUMBER. wHAT CAN I DO?
 
I had to replace my motherboard and CPU chip. Afterwards
I could not access my hard drive so I reformated it and
loaded Windows XP back on it and put the serial number of
Windows off of the tag on the back of the computer ONLY
IT SAYS IT IS NOT A CORRECT SERIAL NUMBER. wHAT CAN I DO?
Click to expand...

You only have one option - you will need to purchase a full retail licence
(unless you have a qualifying product, of course. In which case you can buy
an upgrade). You see, many manufacturers consider a change of motherboard to
be a change of system and 'BIOS-lock' their installation CDs. As you have
learnt the hard way, if you replace the motherboard, you change the BIOS
and, therefore, the identifier no longer exists, so therefore you forfeit
all rights to use the OEM licence as the system is no longer OEM.

And, before you start ranting about how you paid for the licence, etc,
etc...it probably only accounted for about £10-£20 of the total purchase
price, including sales tax, so you've hardly lost anything.
 
Andre;
Is Windows OEM?
If so, it may not be possible to install with a motherboard from a
different manufacturer.

Look very closely.
S-5, O-0, G-6, B-8 and others look alike.
Have someone else try, sometimes another set of eyes and fingers can
get it.
 
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