lost activation key help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter bell-lady
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bell-lady

Just bought Windows XP Pro from an internet seller. It was in unopened
box, with unopened plastic wrap inside with sticker (holographic,
looked just right) on it. Wife left wrapper inside box, husband burned
the box after we took CD out but before installing, and the wrapper
with the holographic label thingy was in the box!

Is there any way to get the key without paying for another? The product
was bought from someone over the internet, not from Microsoft or a big
company.

ie: if we go ahead and install it (since it is 'for use with new pc'
we'd have to reformat right?), but once done can we use regedit or
something I've heard y'all talk about to get the key?

I realize this is probably a big NO, but trying to redeem a husbands
relationship is kind of important :-))

Thanks for listening, anyway.

Ann in PA
 
HI Will, that would be great if we had already installed it with key,
but we haven't installed it yet at all, it was BRAND new, just out of
the box. Friend called me to ask my to help install (since we'd have to
reformat her Win98 as XP is for new PC only), and then called to tell
me hubby just put box in burn pile and lit it off! I think I've
prevented a murder :-)), but still can't resolve the issue, and doubt
it is even possible since no-one knows what the key was, unless it is
somewhere on that CD.
She's trying to contact seller on off-chance he kept track of it.
TIA,
Ann
 
bell-lady said:
Just bought Windows XP Pro from an internet seller. It was in unopened
box, with unopened plastic wrap inside with sticker (holographic,
looked just right) on it. Wife left wrapper inside box, husband burned
the box after we took CD out but before installing, and the wrapper
with the holographic label thingy was in the box!

Is there any way to get the key without paying for another?
Click to expand...


Probably not, but contact the company from whom you purchased the OS.
Also it wouldn't hurt to contact Microsoft, if it was a retail license
and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

The product
was bought from someone over the internet, not from Microsoft or a big
company.

ie: if we go ahead and install it (since it is 'for use with new pc'
we'd have to reformat right?), .....
Click to expand...


(This implies an OEM license, so you'll have to contact the
manufacturer of the computer with which the license was purchased, or
the seller. Microsoft cannot and will not help, if such is the case.)

.... but once done can we use regedit or
something I've heard y'all talk about to get the key?
Click to expand...


No. It's not possible to install it without the key.




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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. -Bertrum Russell
 
Hi Ann

I misread your posting.. Have a look at Bruce's reply to you.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups
 
I guess my confusion is how to know if the software is activatable
before you buy it. If I want a copy for use on a new PC (PC I own, and
am willing to remove all software from), I buy one with OEM key, yet I
have found often these copies still are unable to be activated even if
they are real, unopened and have a key. How can I find out ahead of
time, before buying, that the activation will go through when buying
from an individual, not a big company like MS or Staples etc. I got
stung myself once buying Office from the amazon website, which switched
me to a 'storefront' and I bought Office for a reasonable $300 or so, I
thought. Couldn't activate as the OEM had already done it, and
apparently guy thought he could resell it since he didn't 'install' it
personally. He didn't know any better either. Lots of people
(especially us old folks) don't know enough to know what's installed
and what isn't on a new PC.

This time, my friend is just stuck unless the person she bought it from
knows the key, right? I thought I remembered a place on MS to buy a
key for an existing CD (already in my hands) when you've not yet
registered the original key for that CD yet. Any idea where? It was
like $99 or something?

Thanks, guess this is my last try at saving her some $$
Ann
 
bell-lady said:
I guess my confusion is how to know if the software is activatable
before you buy it. If I want a copy for use on a new PC (PC I own, and
am willing to remove all software from), I buy one with OEM key, yet I
have found often these copies still are unable to be activated even if
they are real, unopened and have a key. How can I find out ahead of
time, before buying, that the activation will go through when buying
from an individual, not a big company like MS or Staples etc.
Click to expand...


By buying only from someone that you personally know and trust to sell
only legitimate licenses.

I got
stung myself once buying Office from the amazon website, which switched
me to a 'storefront' and I bought Office for a reasonable $300 or so, I
thought. Couldn't activate as the OEM had already done it, and
apparently guy thought he could resell it since he didn't 'install' it
personally. He didn't know any better either. Lots of people
(especially us old folks) don't know enough to know what's installed
and what isn't on a new PC.

This time, my friend is just stuck unless the person she bought it from
knows the key, right?
Click to expand...


Pretty much, yes. And, even then, there's no guarantee that your
friend had purchased a legitimate license, anyway. Was it purchased via
eBay or other on-line auction site? Getting a legitimate license of any
kind from eBay is something of a crap shoot. One should be very careful
buying any software on eBay, as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure
that such sales are legitimate. The problems stem from two completely
different sources, but have the same results: the buyer gets ripped off.
A great many people don't fully understand the terms of the license they
own, and don't understand that they cannot legitimately resell it, and -
worse still - there are a great many sellers who do know that they're
selling bogus licenses. eBay reacts only when someone files a complaint,
and then all that really happens, especially in the case of the many
deliberate fraudsters, is the seller of the pirated software returns
using a different alias, to continue selling illegitimate licenses.

I thought I remembered a place on MS to buy a
key for an existing CD (already in my hands) when you've not yet
registered the original key for that CD yet. Any idea where?
Click to expand...


If it was a retail license, yes. I've already provided the link. If
it was an OEM license, no.

It was
like $99 or something?
Click to expand...

No, it should be free.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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. -Bertrum Russell
 
Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you would:

If we buy a Windows XP Upgrade (from a brick and mortar store this
time!), can that be installed over the existing installed XP that has
an invalid (illegal?) Product Key, or would we have to buy a full
retail version and remove everything and install it on a blank hard
drive, and reinstall applications etc.
Or perhaps if we buy the new upgrade version, can the new (valid) key
just be 'inserted' into the version she currently has installed that
has an invalid product key (not activatable)? If the latter, how do we
change the key to the new usable one.

Ann
 
bell-lady wrote:> Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you
would:

If we buy a Windows XP Upgrade (from a brick and mortar store this
time!), can that be installed over the existing installed OEM XP that
has
an invalid (illegal?) Product Key, or would we have to buy a full
retail version and remove everything and install it on a blank hard
drive, and reinstall applications etc.

Ann
 
Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you
would: re: can we buy an upgrade and not full retail?

If we buy a Windows XP Home Edition UPGRADE package (from a brick and
mortar store this time!), can that be installed over the existing
installed OEM XP that
has an invalid (illegal) Product Key, or would we have to buy a FULL
retail version and remove everything and install the Home Edition full
retail on a blank hard drive, and reinstall applications etc. (Can we
save a little $ and alot of work?)
 
bell-lady said:
Thanks, bruce. One more question of y'all if you would:
Click to expand...

You're welcome. I see three questions, though. ;-}

If we buy a Windows XP Upgrade (from a brick and mortar store this
time!), can that be installed over the existing installed XP that has
an invalid (illegal?) Product Key, or would we have to buy a full
retail version and remove everything and install it on a blank hard
drive, and reinstall applications etc.
Click to expand...


If the Upgrade CD is for the same WinXP Edition (Home vs. Pro) as the
illegitimate installation, and if you have the installation CD for an
earlier, qualifying operating system (Win98, WinMe, Win2K, etc), yes, an
Upgrade CD could be used to perform a repair installation. A full
retail version (or even a legitimate OEM copy) of the same WinXP Edition
could also be used perform a repair installation, allowing you to enter
the new Product Key, without having to wipe everything out and start
afresh, and would provide the added benefit of being able to perform a
clean installation if there's ever a future need. A retail license
would have the additional benefit of being transferable to any future
computers.

Or perhaps if we buy the new upgrade version, can the new (valid) key
just be 'inserted' into the version she currently has installed that
has an invalid product key (not activatable)? If the latter, how do we
change the key to the new usable one.
Click to expand...


No, that would not be possible. Product Keys are bound to the specific
type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade)
with which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key
won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of
WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with
a full version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to
install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an
English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed &
matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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. -Bertrum Russell
 
THanks so very much, Bruce. We're off to buy the full retail and get
them up and running again! BTW, she didn't throttle the husband (who
burned the wrappers of her new OEM version), but considered it. Just
serious tongue-lashing!

Much appreciate service you provide, on a Sunday too!

Ann
 
bell-lady said:
THanks so very much, Bruce. We're off to buy the full retail and get
them up and running again! BTW, she didn't throttle the husband (who
burned the wrappers of her new OEM version), but considered it. Just
serious tongue-lashing!
Click to expand...


Husband's just can't win. ;-} This one cleans up, does his "chores,"
as it were, without prompting, and inadvertently causes a problem. It's
too bad someone left the Product Key in a place where it was mixed up
with the trash. ;-}


Much appreciate service you provide, on a Sunday too!
Click to expand...

You're very welcome.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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. -Bertrum Russell
 
Bruce said:
Husband's just can't win. ;-} This one cleans up, does his "chores,"
as it were, without prompting, and inadvertently causes a problem. It's
too bad someone left the Product Key in a place where it was
mixed up with the trash. ;-}
Click to expand...
 
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