I reloaded a friends machine due to the motherboard having problems (an
eMachine). We replaced everything but the HD which he kept and added
another drive also. I couldn't get the OEM CD to install the OS back on
the drive so I just used Ghost myself and it went fine except that the
OS on the OEM CD also had problems and the OS wouldn't install.

So I used his XP Home activation code and installed with a retail CD of
XP Home and it kept saying that the code was invalid even though I was
reading it right off of the sticker on the case. So I used one of my
retail codes and figured I would just use the VB Script file to change
the Activation Code to his once I got the system up and stable. But when
I used the Script file it is throwing an error even though I have used
it before and it worked fine.

Is the code linked to the version of the software on the CD? I don't
mean Home to Professional but Retail to OEM to Corporate? How can I get
his code back on his machine so that he can activate it?

Thanx, Dave.

Buy and install a legal copy. The eMachine OEM software is
tied to the eMachine mobo, that's why it would not install,
your new mobo isn't from eMachine.
Your attempts to install a copy of XP that isn't licensed is
the problem. eMachine will be happy to sell you a
replacement mobo (probably not as good as the one you
bought.
Maybe the dealer you bought the mobo from will sell you a MS
OEM XP CD which can be installed once on the new computer,
or you can buy a retail CD.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"Dave Satchell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:eRzdBm%(E-Mail Removed)...
| I reloaded a friends machine due to the motherboard having
problems (an
| eMachine). We replaced everything but the HD which he kept
and added
| another drive also. I couldn't get the OEM CD to install
the OS back on
| the drive so I just used Ghost myself and it went fine
except that the
| OS on the OEM CD also had problems and the OS wouldn't
install.
|
| So I used his XP Home activation code and installed with a
retail CD of
| XP Home and it kept saying that the code was invalid even
though I was
| reading it right off of the sticker on the case. So I used
one of my
| retail codes and figured I would just use the VB Script
file to change
| the Activation Code to his once I got the system up and
stable. But when
| I used the Script file it is throwing an error even though
I have used
| it before and it worked fine.
|
| Is the code linked to the version of the software on the
CD? I don't
| mean Home to Professional but Retail to OEM to Corporate?
How can I get
| his code back on his machine so that he can activate it?
|
| Thanx, Dave.
|

The XP licences for OEM and retail have very specific user agreements

By far in a way the most significant is the grant of use

OEM can only be used on the configuration supplied at the time of purchase. It doesn't allow for any major upgrade..no MOBO change of Hard Drive Upgrade. Retail is OK as long as it is used only on one system

Some manufacturers supply the OEM version as part of a System image and even go so far as examoning the hardware environment before proceeding with the imaging process, If not the 'same' as was intended then it stops

Dave Satchell wrote:

> I reloaded a friends machine due to the motherboard having problems
> (an eMachine). We replaced everything but the HD which he kept and
> added another drive also. I couldn't get the OEM CD to install the OS
> back on the drive so I just used Ghost myself and it went fine except
> that the OS on the OEM CD also had problems and the OS wouldn't
> install.
>
> So I used his XP Home activation code and installed with a retail CD
> of XP Home and it kept saying that the code was invalid even though I
> was reading it right off of the sticker on the case. So I used one of
> my retail codes and figured I would just use the VB Script file to
> change the Activation Code to his once I got the system up and
> stable. But when I used the Script file it is throwing an error even
> though I have used it before and it worked fine.
>
> Is the code linked to the version of the software on the CD? I don't
> mean Home to Professional but Retail to OEM to Corporate? How can I
> get his code back on his machine so that he can activate it?
>
> Thanx, Dave.

http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

Greetings --

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 CDs cannot be mixed & matched. You
have to have the specific type of installation CD for which that
license and Product Key was designed.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Dave Satchell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eRzdBm%(E-Mail Removed)...
>I reloaded a friends machine due to the motherboard having problems
>(an eMachine). We replaced everything but the HD which he kept and
>added another drive also. I couldn't get the OEM CD to install the OS
>back on the drive so I just used Ghost myself and it went fine except
>that the OS on the OEM CD also had problems and the OS wouldn't
>install.
>
> So I used his XP Home activation code and installed with a retail CD
> of XP Home and it kept saying that the code was invalid even though
> I was reading it right off of the sticker on the case. So I used one
> of my retail codes and figured I would just use the VB Script file
> to change the Activation Code to his once I got the system up and
> stable. But when I used the Script file it is throwing an error even
> though I have used it before and it worked fine.
>
> Is the code linked to the version of the software on the CD? I don't
> mean Home to Professional but Retail to OEM to Corporate? How can I
> get his code back on his machine so that he can activate it?
>
> Thanx, Dave.
>

Bruce Chambers wrote:

> Greetings --
>
> 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 CDs cannot be mixed & matched. You
> have to have the specific type of installation CD for which that
> license and Product Key was designed.
>

Bottom Line: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

"Bruce Chambers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OWI%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Greetings --
>
> 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,

Actually this is not true. I have done this several times and it has worked.
It installs as an upgrade, but was installed from a full retail home
edition.



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 CDs cannot be mixed & matched. You
> have to have the specific type of installation CD for which that
> license and Product Key was designed.
>
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> --
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
> You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
> having both at once. -- RAH
>
>
> "Dave Satchell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:eRzdBm%(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I reloaded a friends machine due to the motherboard having problems
> >(an eMachine). We replaced everything but the HD which he kept and
> >added another drive also. I couldn't get the OEM CD to install the OS
> >back on the drive so I just used Ghost myself and it went fine except
> >that the OS on the OEM CD also had problems and the OS wouldn't
> >install.
> >
> > So I used his XP Home activation code and installed with a retail CD
> > of XP Home and it kept saying that the code was invalid even though
> > I was reading it right off of the sticker on the case. So I used one
> > of my retail codes and figured I would just use the VB Script file
> > to change the Activation Code to his once I got the system up and
> > stable. But when I used the Script file it is throwing an error even
> > though I have used it before and it worked fine.
> >
> > Is the code linked to the version of the software on the CD? I don't
> > mean Home to Professional but Retail to OEM to Corporate? How can I
> > get his code back on his machine so that he can activate it?
> >
> > Thanx, Dave.
> >
>
>