Have key, Can't use...

[Guest]

I purchased a computer a couple years ago from TigerDirect.com. It had
Windows XP Home on it, and the key is still on the sticker on the case.

I recently took a computer class where we learned with Windows 2000, so I
ghosted my XP machine to an external hard drive, then put an evaluation
version of Windows 2000 Server on the machine.

I just tried to go back by wiping W2K and using my old XP image, but I
realized I couldn't even open Ghost because it said the OS was unsupported.
(I must have purchased a version of Ghost for XP only) So I decided to take
one of those XP evaluation CD's that we used to practice with in class to
reinstall, and when the product key box popped up, I figured I could use the
real product key on my box. That didn't work.

Is there anyway I can either 1) Get XP Home back using the key that came
with the box, or 2) load the XP image another way?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mils

 

[Baloo]

Is there anyway I can either 1) Get XP Home back using the key that came
with the box, or 2) load the XP image another way?

You need to use the original installation media that came with that box to
reinstall XP Home. Different versions of XP Home use different CD keys:
Trying to use a copy from one vendor will probably not work with a key
provided by a different vendor.

 

[Malke]

I purchased a computer a couple years ago from TigerDirect.com. It had
Windows XP Home on it, and the key is still on the sticker on the
case.

I recently took a computer class where we learned with Windows 2000,
so I ghosted my XP machine to an external hard drive, then put an
evaluation version of Windows 2000 Server on the machine.

I just tried to go back by wiping W2K and using my old XP image, but I
realized I couldn't even open Ghost because it said the OS was
unsupported. (I must have purchased a version of Ghost for XP only) So
I decided to take one of those XP evaluation CD's that we used to
practice with in class to reinstall, and when the product key box
popped up, I figured I could use the real product key on my box. That
didn't work.

Is there anyway I can either 1) Get XP Home back using the key that
came with the box, or 2) load the XP image another way?

I don't know why your image failed, but you can easily reinstall Windows
using your product key. Find a friend - or a local professional - who
has a copy of XP Home OEM. This should match the version that was
preinstalled by Tiger. When you install, use your Product Key. You will
need to call MS for activation, but this is not a big deal.

Malke

 

[Guest]

If you install without going into windows, by popping the CD into your
computer as a boot disc, it will not ask you for a Product Key at anytime
during the installation.

 

[Malke]

If you install without going into windows, by popping the CD into your
computer as a boot disc, it will not ask you for a Product Key at
anytime during the installation.

I'm sorry but this is not true. The only time this is true is when you
are installing on an OEM machine like a Dell, Sony, HP, etc. and you
are using that OEM's installation media.

It is unlikely that Tiger Direct used anything but a generic OEM install
disk but even if they did install with a specialized OEM disk, a
generic OEM will work. The Product Key will need to be entered.

Malke

 

[Guest]

The other version that he mentioned (the evaluation) should work that way,
though, and there should be a rather simple way of hacking the activation on
it (just as long as he doesn't plan on using windows update)

 

[Rock]

"mils" wrote

I purchased a computer a couple years ago from TigerDirect.com. It had
Windows XP Home on it, and the key is still on the sticker on the case.

I recently took a computer class where we learned with Windows 2000, so I
ghosted my XP machine to an external hard drive, then put an evaluation
version of Windows 2000 Server on the machine.

I just tried to go back by wiping W2K and using my old XP image, but I
realized I couldn't even open Ghost because it said the OS was
unsupported.
(I must have purchased a version of Ghost for XP only) So I decided to
take
one of those XP evaluation CD's that we used to practice with in class to
reinstall, and when the product key box popped up, I figured I could use
the
real product key on my box. That didn't work.

Is there anyway I can either 1) Get XP Home back using the key that came
with the box, or 2) load the XP image another way?

Can't you restore a ghost image from outside the OS? Doesn't Ghost have a
bootable floppy or CD, after which the image can be restore and is
independent of what OS is currently installed?

 

[Malke]

The other version that he mentioned (the evaluation) should work that way,
though, and there should be a rather simple way of hacking the activation
on it (just as long as he doesn't plan on using windows update)

Why ever would he want to do that? He would not be able to keep his
operating system and Internet Explorer patched which would be stupid unless
the computer is never going to be connected to the Internet, any lan, or
ever have anything installed on it that wasn't a commercial program.

There is a simple solution to the OP's problem that will leave him/her with
a working, legal install of XP that can be updated from Windows Update. We
already gave him/her that solution. Use a generic OEM, activate by phone if
necessary, job finished totally and legally in less than 2 hours. End of
story.

Malke

 

[Harry Ohrn]

It is likely that the version of Ghost you used doesn't support NTFS.
Firstly when you run Ghost are you doing a Disk from Image copy and not a
Partition from Image copy? The Disk Image option should work where as the
Partition Image option likely won't.