Catch 22 Help!

[Martin McPherson]

I cannot install my Windows XP upgrade because it asks
for a product ID or some such number. I purchased the
upgrade CD directly from a local retailer. I have the CD
and the box but not the Jewel box. There are numbers on
both the CD and the box but none (that's right, not one)
is clearly identified and none appear to have the required
25 characters.
The web site here describes how to find the product ID
number in Windows. I cannot because I cannot install
Windows XP because I do not have the product ID number!
Microsoft will not let me ask them a question because I do
not have a product ID number! What can I do?

 

[Shenan T. Stanley]

I cannot install my Windows XP upgrade because it asks
for a product ID or some such number. I purchased the
upgrade CD directly from a local retailer. I have the CD
and the box but not the Jewel box. There are numbers on
both the CD and the box but none (that's right, not one)
is clearly identified and none appear to have the required
25 characters.
The web site here describes how to find the product ID
number in Windows. I cannot because I cannot install
Windows XP because I do not have the product ID number!
Microsoft will not let me ask them a question because I do
not have a product ID number! What can I do?

I think the answer is rather obvious within the first two sentences of your
problem:

"I purchased the upgrade CD directly from a local retailer."

If that is so, ask them for assistance first, unless you lost the case.

If it was a Retail Boxed (non-OEM) copy you purchased, you MAY be able to
call Microsoft.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=295539

and/or

http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp

Good luck. Hope you don't end up having to report the retailer and buy a
new CD.

 

[Joseph Conway [MSFT]]

Shenan is correct, call the vendor that sold you the media. Unless the
media you bought is volume licensed, it should always come with a PID.