expired product key

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I installed the OEM version of Windows XP that came with my laptop onto my
home computer to fix some problems. It gives you 30 days to register that
product. The problem is that the product key expired for that version before
I was able to buy the full version for my home computer. Now when I turn on
the computer, it wants to register my product. When I enter the full versions
product key that I bought, it doesn't work. So now, my computer is virtually
locked. I just want to re-install Windows XP, but I can't do anything.
 
Boot the new, full version and do a repair install. (Boot
the CD, press enter, then select install. Select to install
over the existing system or you'll get a dual boot. The
repair option when you first boot (press r) opens the
recovery console (command line window) and does not do a
repair install.)

You might be just as well off to just format and do a clean
fresh install.


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


message
|I installed the OEM version of Windows XP that came with my
laptop onto my
| home computer to fix some problems. It gives you 30 days
to register that
| product. The problem is that the product key expired for
that version before
| I was able to buy the full version for my home computer.
Now when I turn on
| the computer, it wants to register my product. When I
enter the full versions
| product key that I bought, it doesn't work. So now, my
computer is virtually
| locked. I just want to re-install Windows XP, but I can't
do anything.
 
ldood00 said:
I installed the OEM version of Windows XP that came with my laptop onto my
home computer to fix some problems. It gives you 30 days to register that
product. The problem is that the product key expired for that version before
I was able to buy the full version for my home computer. Now when I turn on
the computer, it wants to register my product. When I enter the full versions
product key that I bought, it doesn't work. So now, my computer is virtually
locked. I just want to re-install Windows XP, but I can't do anything.
Click to expand...


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 CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

You need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CD and Product Key.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
ldood00 said:
I installed the OEM version of Windows XP that came with my laptop
onto my home computer to fix some problems. It gives you 30 days to
register that product. The problem is that the product key expired
for that version before I was able to buy the full version for my
home computer. Now when I turn on the computer, it wants to register
my product. When I enter the full versions product key that I bought,
it doesn't work. So now, my computer is virtually locked. I just want
to re-install Windows XP, but I can't do anything.
Click to expand...

Not only what the others have said, but Windows Product keys never expire.
A license for Windows is a license for life(as long as you abide by the
license terms, found in EULA.txt on the install CD.) What you have
experienced is what happens when you fail to "activate" your XP (not
"register" it, which is an entirely different thing, and is not necessary).

"Activation" is required in most cases, while "Registration" is never
required.
 
I can't even get on my computer to boot the new software. When I turn the
computer on, it goes to the activation screen. That is a s far as it will go.
 
I installed the OEM version of Windows XP that came with my laptop onto my home computer to fix some problems. It gives you 30 days to register that product. The problem is that the product key expired for that version before I was able to buy the full version for my home computer. Now when I turn on the computer, it wants to register my product. When I enter the full versions product key that I bought, it doesn't work. So now, my computer is virtually locked. I just want to re-install Windows XP, but I can't do anything.
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 CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

You need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CD and Product Key.
Click to expand...

Just curious, Bruce, but is there any way he could go into his
existing OEM installation and change his product key to the key
that comes with his full retail version of XP, so that he could
just do an activation over the Internet in the usual way? I've
heard that major OEM versions are identical to full retail versions.
 
Donald L McDaniel said:
Not only what the others have said, but Windows Product keys never expire.
A license for Windows is a license for life(as long as you abide by the
license terms, found in EULA.txt on the install CD.) What you have
experienced is what happens when you fail to "activate" your XP (not
"register" it, which is an entirely different thing, and is not
necessary).

"Activation" is required in most cases, while "Registration" is never
required.

--
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread,
so that the thread may be kept intact.
==============================
Click to expand...

Some licenses expire. The Action Pack subscription expires yearly. There may
be others as well.

Kerry
 
Place the XP CD (full retail) in the drive and reboot. It
will never get to the hard drive to the activation screen.
Do a repair install and use the product key that came with
the new CD.


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


message
|I can't even get on my computer to boot the new software.
When I turn the
| computer on, it goes to the activation screen. That is a s
far as it will go.
|
| "Donald L McDaniel" wrote:
|
| > ldood00 wrote:
| > > I installed the OEM version of Windows XP that came
with my laptop
| > > onto my home computer to fix some problems. It gives
you 30 days to
| > > register that product. The problem is that the product
key expired
| > > for that version before I was able to buy the full
version for my
| > > home computer. Now when I turn on the computer, it
wants to register
| > > my product. When I enter the full versions product key
that I bought,
| > > it doesn't work. So now, my computer is virtually
locked. I just want
| > > to re-install Windows XP, but I can't do anything.
| >
| > Not only what the others have said, but Windows Product
keys never expire.
| > A license for Windows is a license for life(as long as
you abide by the
| > license terms, found in EULA.txt on the install CD.)
What you have
| > experienced is what happens when you fail to "activate"
your XP (not
| > "register" it, which is an entirely different thing, and
is not necessary).
| >
| > "Activation" is required in most cases, while
"Registration" is never
| > required.
| >
| > --
| > Donald L McDaniel
| > Please reply to the original thread,
| > so that the thread may be kept intact.
| > ==============================
| >
| >
| >
 
Al;
What you heard is only partially correct.
Once installed they are identical.
But getting there is the difference.
Dissimilar Product Keys are not interchangeable and thus the need for the
Repair Installation.




Just curious, Bruce, but is there any way
he could go into his
 
I have the upgrade version since I had windows 98se on it before. when i
reboot, it still goes to the log on screen, then the activation screen. the
disk never gets to run
 
An upgrade is looking for a VALID current installation, you
do not have one. Notice, everybody has told you to use a
FULL RETAIL CD. But the CD should boot if the BIOS is
properly set. I do not think you have set the BIOS
properly.


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




message
|I have the upgrade version since I had windows 98se on it
before. when i
| reboot, it still goes to the log on screen, then the
activation screen. the
| disk never gets to run
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote:
|
| > Place the XP CD (full retail) in the drive and reboot.
It
| > will never get to the hard drive to the activation
screen.
| > Do a repair install and use the product key that came
with
| > the new CD.
| >
| >
| > --
| > The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
| > But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
| >
| >
| > message
| >
| > |I can't even get on my computer to boot the new
software.
| > When I turn the
| > | computer on, it goes to the activation screen. That is
a s
| > far as it will go.
| > |
| > | "Donald L McDaniel" wrote:
| > |
| > | > ldood00 wrote:
| > | > > I installed the OEM version of Windows XP that
came
| > with my laptop
| > | > > onto my home computer to fix some problems. It
gives
| > you 30 days to
| > | > > register that product. The problem is that the
product
| > key expired
| > | > > for that version before I was able to buy the full
| > version for my
| > | > > home computer. Now when I turn on the computer, it
| > wants to register
| > | > > my product. When I enter the full versions product
key
| > that I bought,
| > | > > it doesn't work. So now, my computer is virtually
| > locked. I just want
| > | > > to re-install Windows XP, but I can't do anything.
| > | >
| > | > Not only what the others have said, but Windows
Product
| > keys never expire.
| > | > A license for Windows is a license for life(as long
as
| > you abide by the
| > | > license terms, found in EULA.txt on the install CD.)
| > What you have
| > | > experienced is what happens when you fail to
"activate"
| > your XP (not
| > | > "register" it, which is an entirely different thing,
and
| > is not necessary).
| > | >
| > | > "Activation" is required in most cases, while
| > "Registration" is never
| > | > required.
| > | >
| > | > --
| > | > Donald L McDaniel
| > | > Please reply to the original thread,
| > | > so that the thread may be kept intact.
| > | > ==============================
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
 
Just curious, Bruce, but is there any way he could go into his existing
OEM installation and change his product key to the key that comes with
his full retail version of XP, so that he could just do an activation
over the Internet in the usual way? I've heard that major OEM versions
are identical to full retail versions.
Click to expand...


No, not that I'm aware of. His new retail Product Key won't work with
the "OEM" installation. Attempts to activate should result in an
"Invalid Product Key" warning. There are ways to change the Product Key
of a WinXP installation, but the installation and Product Key license
types must match. I.e., OEM for OEM or retail for retail.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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