Product Key Number problems

[George]

My computer crashed a few weeks back. I used the system
restore cd's and it all seemed to be going fine until
windows xp asked me for that product key number. i
looked at the sticker on the outside of my computer and
typed it in and it would not accept it. then i
discovered that many of the letters could be numbers and
there must be a million possible variables. i tried
using the product key number off of a laptop which i have
which is also loaded with windows xp. same problem. i
called compaq and they said it was a microsft problem, i
posted my problem on microsoft's discussion pages (not
this group) and they told me it was compaq's problem.
does anyone here have any ideas before i have to toss out
this $499 computer? is there a telephone number i can
call microsoft and plead my case. $499 is an awful lot
of money to waste especially when i have a licensed
version of windows xp.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Microsoft is sending back to Compaq because the version that Compaq uses is
OEM. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are responsible for the
support of the hardware and the base Windows software.

ompaq will have to help you.

Y.

 

[Willit]

Just call here and explain your problem.

Call (800) 426-9400, and explain the situation.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

The other post in this thread is correct. It is the responsibility of the
OEM, in your case Compaq and they know it.

As to the product code, you do indeed need to use the code on the side of
the case, do not use the code from another computer. It shouldn't take
hundreds of combinations to figure it out. Many people confuse the letter
"O" with the number "0," sometimes a "G" will look like a "6." Work with it
a bit, you should resolve it, look at the sticker in good light and with a
magnifier and it may be more apparent. Make note of what you've tried and
also what ultimately succeeds so you can use that again in the future.

 

[S.Sengupta]

Retrieve your XP CD key
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe
http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

also if you want to contact:-
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/support/contact/default.asp
regards/
ssg MS-MVP
pronetworks.org

 

[George]

-----Original Message-----
The other post in this thread is correct. It is the responsibility of the
OEM, in your case Compaq and they know it.

As to the product code, you do indeed need to use the code on the side of
the case, do not use the code from another computer. It shouldn't take
hundreds of combinations to figure it out. Many people confuse the letter
"O" with the number "0," sometimes a "G" will look like a "6." Work with it
a bit, you should resolve it, look at the sticker in good light and with a
magnifier and it may be more apparent. Make note of what you've tried and
also what ultimately succeeds so you can use that again in the future.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/



I appreciate your comments and I know it is the OEM's

job to deal with this but O's look like 0's, B's look
like 8's, G's look like 6's and there are several others
that look similar. I put a light to it, used a
magnifying glass as well as my reading glasses and worked
on this for more than two hours before finally contacting
Compaq and then posting to this group. I tried it for
the sticker on the computer box as well as the sticker on
my laptop (both use windows xp so both product key
numbers should open it). But, i have had no success
whatsoever. If compaq won't give me the number and you
are correct that microspoft won't give me the number over
the phone, is there a cheaper way of going about this
other than buying a new box?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Because can't give you the number because they don't know it. I don't know
what the custom is for OEMs in this kind of situation but Compaq should be
making every effort to help you with this as opposed to just passing you off
as they have. I'd stick with their tech support and see if they can
escalate the problem to a higher level if possible because this is their
responsibility and I know they've run into this before.

 

[George]

-----Original Message-----
Retrieve your XP CD key
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe
http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

also if you want to contact:-
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx? scid=/support/contact/default.asp
regards/
ssg MS-MVP
pronetworks.org


.
That worked. I pulled up one of those web sites and

sure enough, it gave me the product key number for the
computer i was on. the problem is that i am on a working
computer and the product key number is unique to each
computer (so i have been told). so knowing my product
key number for this computer does not do me any good in
trying to restore my broken computer. I have a screen on
that broken computer asking for a product key number and
until i enter one, the computer is useless. Thank you
for trying though. i think this may be hopeless.

 

[George]

-----Original Message-----
Because can't give you the number because they don't know it. I don't know
what the custom is for OEMs in this kind of situation but Compaq should be
making every effort to help you with this as opposed to just passing you off
as they have. I'd stick with their tech support and see if they can
escalate the problem to a higher level if possible because this is their
responsibility and I know they've run into this before.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/



I appreciate your comments but I have taken it up the

ladder. My machine is more than 1 year old and they
don't want anything to do with me. I won't be buying
Compaq in the future. Their support sucks. But, that
doesn't solve my problem-does it.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

As opposed to purchasing a new machine, you might purchase a retail version
of XP. Ordinarily I'd recommend the upgrade version but I don't know if it
would upgrade over OEM version and unless the OEM version on an XP CD as
opposed to a recovery CD you'd always have to install the OEM version first
before being able to install the retail version.

 

[Wayne Boatwright]

sure enough, it gave me the product key number for the
computer i was on. the problem is that i am on a working
computer and the product key number is unique to each
computer (so i have been told). so knowing my product
key number for this computer does not do me any good in
trying to restore my broken computer. I have a screen on
that broken computer asking for a product key number and
until i enter one, the computer is useless. Thank you
for trying though. i think this may be hopeless.

Well, did you try it anyway? It just might accept the key you revealed
on the other computer.

Wayne