How to Activate Windows XP Professional

[Litacole]

I bought a computer from a guy off of Craigslist and he told that he ha
already installed Windows onto the computer. I had 30 days to activat
it and I have tried calling Microsoft and they could not assist me, no
the 30 days has now passed. When I turn the computer on, i
automatically goes to the Activate Windows Screen.

Since I cant access my internet until I activate windows, when I promp
it to telephone customer service and it gives me this long (9 sets of
numbers) to give to Microsoft when I call, long story short, they sai
that its nothing they can do to assist me with canging the product key
can someone please help me as I am new to all of this and I need to fin
a resolution fast, I am paying monthly for internet that I cant eve
acess b/c I dont know how to ACTIVATE WINDOWS and how do I get
PRODUCT KEY?

HELP!

 

[smlunatick]

I bought a computer from a guy off of Craigslist and he told that he had
already installed Windows onto the computer. I had 30 days to activate
it and I have tried calling Microsoft and they could not assist me, now
the 30 days has now passed. When I turn the computer on, it
automatically goes to the Activate Windows Screen.

Since I cant access my internet until I activate windows, when I prompt
it to telephone customer service and it gives me this long (9 sets of 5
numbers) to give to Microsoft when I call, long story short, they said
that its nothing they can do to assist me with canging the product key,
can someone please help me as I am new to all of this and I need to find
a resolution fast, I am paying monthly for internet that I cant even
acess b/c I dont know how to ACTIVATE WINDOWS and how do I get a
PRODUCT KEY?

HELP!!

If you did not get an original XP install CD, or the Certificate of
Authenicity (COA), then you need to go to you local software store and
buy a XP software kit (not the upgrade!) You do not have a "legal"
version of XP and you need to completely replace the "installed"
version of XP.

 

[David B.]

What was the reason Microsoft could not help you?

 

[Litacole]

On Sep 20, 9:39 am, Litacole (e-mail address removed) wrote:-
I bought a computer from a guy off of Craigslist and he told that h
had
already installed Windows onto the computer. I had 30 days t
activate
it and I have tried calling Microsoft and they could not assist me
now
the 30 days has now passed. When I turn the computer on, it
automatically goes to the Activate Windows Screen.

Since I cant access my internet until I activate windows, when
prompt
it to telephone customer service and it gives me this long (9 sets o
5
numbers) to give to Microsoft when I call, long story short, the
said
that its nothing they can do to assist me with canging the produc
key,
can someone please help me as I am new to all of this and I need t
find
a resolution fast, I am paying monthly for internet that I cant even
acess b/c I dont know how to ACTIVATE WINDOWS and how do I get a
PRODUCT KEY?

HELP!!

--
Litacole-

If you did not get an original XP install CD, or the Certificate of
Authenicity (COA), then you need to go to you local software store and
buy a XP software kit (not the upgrade!) You do not have a "legal"
version of XP and you need to completely replace the "installed"
version of XP.

So I need to buy the Full Version that costs ($199) from a store? i
there anyway that I can bypass that activation screen to acces
anything on the computer or I MUST buy the software first

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

So I need to buy the Full Version that costs ($199) from a store?

No, you can buy a Full version or an Upgrade version, or an OEM. Since
the OEM version comes with several restrictions, the most severe of
which is that once installed, it may never be legally moved to another
computer, even if the original computer dies, I recommend against it.
the Upgrade usually costs only slightly more than the OEM version a,
in my view, is a much better deal. Contrary to what many people think,
you *can* do a clean installation with an Upgrade version, as long as
you have a copy of a previous qualifying version to show it when
prompted. Most people have such a CD, but worst case, if you don't,
you can buy a used copy of Windows 98 very inexpensively someplace
like eBay.

The Windows XP Home Upgrade is just under $100 on Amazon.com, and if
you look around, you may find it even a little cheaper.

By the way, even if you had gotten a legitimate copy of XP, with a
valid license, I would recommend that you reinstall it from scratch.
If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone
else do either.



is

 

[smlunatick]

What was the reason Microsoft could not help you?

--

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- Show quoted text -

Reason why Microsoft would not help for activation:

1) Missing COA (sticker or Certificate) with missing CD.

2) COA key on list of "banned" keys

3) COA key is with-in the OEM key style. OEM support not provided
directly by MS.

 

[David B.]

Sounds like you got a pirated copy of XP. Technically you don't qualify for
the Upgrade, but it would probably work and would be the cheapest option.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
_________________________________________________________________________________



Reason why Microsoft would not help for activation:

1) Missing COA (sticker or Certificate) with missing CD.

2) COA key on list of "banned" keys

3) COA key is with-in the OEM key style. OEM support not provided
directly by MS.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I bought a computer from a guy off of Craigslist and he told that he had
already installed Windows onto the computer. I had 30 days to activate
it and I have tried calling Microsoft and they could not assist me, now
the 30 days has now passed. When I turn the computer on, it
automatically goes to the Activate Windows Screen.

Since I cant access my internet until I activate windows, when I prompt
it to telephone customer service and it gives me this long (9 sets of 5
numbers) to give to Microsoft when I call, long story short, they said
that its nothing they can do to assist me with canging the product key,
can someone please help me as I am new to all of this and I need to find
a resolution fast, I am paying monthly for internet that I cant even
acess b/c I dont know how to ACTIVATE WINDOWS and how do I get a
PRODUCT KEY?

HELP!!

Report the seller to Craig's List and your local law enforcement
authorities if he won't provide you with a legitimate license. You've
been defrauded.

MOST important! If you used a personal check or credit card for this
purchase, you've given your key financial info to a thief. You need to
contact your bank immediately to have anti-fraud precautions put in
place. It might be a good idea to get new accounts.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Reason why Microsoft would not help for activation:

1) Missing COA (sticker or Certificate) with missing CD.

2) COA key on list of "banned" keys

3) COA key is with-in the OEM key style. OEM support not provided
directly by MS.

That's why Microsoft won't activate it: You do not have a legitimate
license.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell