Incorrect Product Activation Key

[Guest]

I have Windows 2000 Pro installed on my laptop. I called Customer Service to
activate Windows, and while the product key is showing to be valid on their
end, when I enter it on my computer (Yes, I checked and rechecked repeatedly)
it says it is an invalide product key.

Customer service directed me to this site. Any advice?

Other possibly irrelevant information:

USA
IBM
Computer for home use

 

[John John]

It's impossible. You don't have Windows 2000 because there is no
"Product Activation" with Windows 2000. You have Windows XP. Try
asking on one of the Windows XP newsgroups.

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx

John

 

[Guest]

Thanks, John. You know, just an hour ago, I was looking at the laptop - a
closer inspection. I noted that, yes, the registration sticker on the bottom
was for Windows 2000, but....it's running XP. How embarrassing.

In my defense, I just bought this laptop off of a friend of a friend. It's
the only excuse I have.

 

[John John]

No problem, we all have these moments...

As for your laptop, if it came with Windows 2000 pre-installed and if it
now has Windows XP it is quite conceivable that it is a pirated copy. I
have seen a few perfectly good Windows 2000 computers ruined by so
called "knowledgeable" computer guys who made "favours" by installing
"free" Windows XP. You will need the XP registration information to
properly activate Windows XP. If you cannot find that information you
are up the creek! Possibly your friend's friend can help. If not maybe
you have a Windows 2000 disk for it or maybe the laptop has a service
partition and you might be able to return it to factory condition with
Windows 2000 reinstalled on it. For all it's worth there hardly is any
compelling reason to upgrade Windows 2000 to Windows XP... unless you
like a lot of fluff and eye candy.

John