Replaced damaged MB/CPU and cannot activate XP

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Guest

My MB/CPU were destroyed and I replaced them with equivalents but now XPHome
asks to be activated. However, MS will not help with their automated phone
activation since the original OS was provided by eMachines. eMachines will
not help since I did not buy the MB/CPU from them (too slow, too expensive).

Is there any way to activate the OS from the original HD since the old
MB/CPU were destroyed?
 
No. The OEM disk was tied to the old hardware. Usually, in order for an
OEM to deal with such an issue, they need to supply the replacement parts as
you've already found. Unless, eMachines is willing to help, your only
option is to purchase a retail version of XP.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
 
If your original XP CD is an OEM version from eMachines then your complaint
is with them. And since OEM versions are tied to the motherboard/system they
come with you lost the connection between the OEM CD and the system when you
swapped out the motherboard/cpu. That's why eMachines said they wouldn't
help - it no longer was their system.

Your only recourse is to buy the full, retail version as Microsoft has no
responsibility to you and an OEM version.
 
Kal said:
My MB/CPU were destroyed and I replaced them with equivalents but now XPHome
asks to be activated. However, MS will not help with their automated phone
activation since the original OS was provided by eMachines. eMachines will
not help since I did not buy the MB/CPU from them (too slow, too expensive).

Is there any way to activate the OS from the original HD since the old
MB/CPU were destroyed?
Click to expand...

You seem to have been caught by the latest change to the Windows XP
Product Activation process.

The Windows XP provided by eMachines with their computers is what is
called a "BIOS Locked" version because it is self-activating so long
as the motherboard BIOS is the version provided by eMachines.

When the motherboard is changed to a different model then the Windows
XP will no longer self-activate and a regular activation is required.
As of March 1st 2005 Microsoft changed the procedures for the
activation of these "BIOS locked" versions so they will no longer
activate automatically over the Internet and have changed the
telephone activation procedures so that telephone activation will not
be done unless the new motherboard is a replacement product provided
under warranty by the original computer manufacturer/assembler.

The reason for this change apparently is that there were a large
number of instances where the product keys for these BIOS locked
versions were being used on two computer - one with the original
motherboard which was self-activating and another computer with
different hardware that was activated over the Internet.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
 
Jerry said:
If your original XP CD is an OEM version from eMachines then your
complaint is with them. And since OEM versions are tied to the
motherboard/system they come with you lost the connection between the
OEM CD and the system when you swapped out the motherboard/cpu.
That's why eMachines said they wouldn't help - it no longer was their
system.
Your only recourse is to buy the full, retail version as Microsoft
has no responsibility to you and an OEM version.
Click to expand...

(*** Top-posting corrected, but not edited ***)
Jerry said:
If your original XP CD is an OEM version from eMachines then your
complaint is with them. And since OEM versions are tied to the
motherboard/system they come with you lost the connection between the
OEM CD and the system when you swapped out the motherboard/cpu.
That's why eMachines said they wouldn't help - it no longer was their
system.
Your only recourse is to buy the full, retail version as Microsoft
has no responsibility to you and an OEM version.
Click to expand...
(*** Top-posting corrected, but not edited ***)

This is patently NOT TRUE!!! The OP's "only recourse" is NOT "to buy the
Full Retail version." He also has the recourse of purchasing a Retail
Upgrade kit (or a so-called "Full OEM" kit) (for over a hundred bucks less).
As long as he has valid licensed media of a version of Windows, he will be
able to use the Retail Upgrade kit to perform EITHER a "clean" or "upgrade"
install of XP. And the so-called "Full OEM" kit may be used to install XP
"cleanly" on any computer.

It appears that "Jerry" has bought the Microsoftie lie that a Full Retail
install kit is "absolutely necessary" to install XP "cleanly".
 
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