Invalid Product ID

G

Guest

Microsoft tells me my Product ID is invalid when I try to E-Mail them for
support. Have a new Gateway Desktop and have entered my Id in the following
format:
XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX. Any suggestions on contacting Microsoft Suport via
E-mail? Thanks in advance.
 
M

Mark Rae

Microsoft tells me my Product ID is invalid when I try to E-Mail them for
support. Have a new Gateway Desktop and have entered my Id in the
following
format:
XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX. Any suggestions on contacting Microsoft Suport
via
E-mail? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I would suggest you contact Gateway first...
 
G

Guest

Those three little letters prevent you from entering the Microsoft support
areas:

If you purchased your computer with OEM version installed, Microsoft will
provide absolutely no support. You must go to the vendor which supplied the
OEM version.

If you purchased the OEM version and installed it yourself, Microsoft will
probably tell you that you are not a recognized OEM vendor (you don't build
computers for a living) and again will not support you.

On the off chance you do build computers for a living, you would have
already known this and known how to contact Microsoft regarding your issue
that they most likely still won't support other than Knowledge Base,
Newsgroups and Forums.
 
G

Guest

Your getting an invalid key because you are running gateway OEM version of
your OS. you need to contact your OEM provider for support for gateway
computer contact gateway support
 
M

Mike Brannigan

Captain Al said:
Microsoft tells me my Product ID is invalid when I try to E-Mail them for
support. Have a new Gateway Desktop and have entered my Id in the
following
format:
XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX. Any suggestions on contacting Microsoft Suport
via
E-mail? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

As Mark mentioned - this is an OEM copy of Windows Vista supplied preinstall
by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) - Gateway.
With OEM products the OEM is entirely responsible for support of the
system - both hardware and operating system
You should therefore only contact Gateway for support of the PC and Vista.
 
R

Richard Urban

You do NOT enter the product I.D.

You enter the provided 25 alpha numeric install key in the following format:

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

The product I.D. is generated automatically by the system, based upon this
install key. You can not change this product I.D. If the key you type in
does not produce a valid product I.D. your computer will fail validation.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User
 
M

MICHAEL

By following the links for email support, this is what it says,
and it says Product ID *not* Product key. Other users provided
the correct reason to the OP why he received "invalid Product ID".


Start here https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=11732

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=10300&gprid=436974
(Vista Ultimate)

Then select "Start E-mail Request'

<quote>
To determine if no-charge support is available, provide the product identification number.

Type the product identification number.
How to find your product identification number? (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/pid)

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/pidwin

1.. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2.. In the Category View, click System and Maintenance, and then click System. In the
Classic View, double-click System.
3.. Under the Windows Activation section of the page, the Product ID (PID) is a 20 digit
number next to Product ID.

</quote>
 
G

Guest

I see-that is why I can't contact Microsoft by e mail-I have an OEM. I wonder
if I upgrade my Vista Basic to ? will I then be able to get support from
Microsoft?
 
J

Julian

dollard said:
I see-that is why I can't contact Microsoft by e mail-I have an OEM. I
wonder
if I upgrade my Vista Basic to ? will I then be able to get support from
Microsoft?
Click to expand...

If you buy legitimate M$ software they will support it.

BTW... I have a Dell PC with OEM Vista HP and I have
been getting support from M$ insofaras I have phoned them
twice, so far, to get hotfixes and have had free help.
(apart from the cost of the call - standard local rate)

On both occasions I was surprised at how quickly I go through
and how well they dealt with the issues.

The support was remarkably good.
 
R

Rock

Julian said:
in message

If you buy legitimate M$ software they will support it.
Click to expand...

MS OEM software _is_ legitimate, but support is through the OEM or through
you if you installed it yourself. Your comment about legitimate MS software
does not apply.
 
J

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

"If you buy legitimate M$ software they will support it."
Only in a few very specific circumstances and hotfix support is one of
them

For general issues relating to OEM Windows, Microsoft will only
support for a cost.
Everything else is through the OEM and not Microsoft.
One of the many reasons you pay less for OEM.
 
J

Julian

Rock said:
MS OEM software _is_ legitimate, but support is through the OEM or through
you if you installed it yourself. Your comment about legitimate MS
software does not apply.
Click to expand...

ok.. perhaps I should have written branded or M$ boxed?
 
J

Julian

Jupiter Jones said:
"If you buy legitimate M$ software they will support it."
Only in a few very specific circumstances and hotfix support is one of
them

For general issues relating to OEM Windows, Microsoft will only support
for a cost.
Everything else is through the OEM and not Microsoft.
One of the many reasons you pay less for OEM.
Click to expand...

Yeah.. what I meant by legitimate was
Microsofts own product.

I stand corrected . Thanks.
 
R

Rock

Julian said:
ok.. perhaps I should have written branded or M$ boxed?
Click to expand...

OEM software is branded with the MS logo. Retail would be the descriptive
the term, that includes full and upgrade versions.
 
G

Guest

So I have an OEM version. I still get updates and patches from Microsoft for
years don't I? I didn't buy it because it was cheaper per se. I went to the
store and told them I needed a new computer and wanted to use Vista. They
asked specifically what I wanted to use it for when I told them they this is
the one you want and it comes with Vista. I didn't realize it was a funny
version. I wonder if that is why I can't start a new post-but only reply to
ongoing ones?
 
J

Julian

dollard said:
So I have an OEM version.
Probably.

I still get updates and patches from Microsoft for
years don't I?
Yes.

I didn't buy it because it was cheaper per se. I went to the
store and told them I needed a new computer and wanted to use Vista. They
asked specifically what I wanted to use it for when I told them they this
is
the one you want and it comes with Vista. I didn't realize it was a funny
version.
Click to expand...

It's not a funny version... modified perhaps.
I wonder if that is why I can't start a new post-but only reply to
ongoing ones?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't have thought so but then again I'm no expert and particularly so
with respect to microsoft communities.

Try
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/microsoft.public.windows.vista.general/topics?hl=en
to see if that makes a difference.

Ideally try a real newsreader.
 
R

Rock

So I have an OEM version. I still get updates and patches from Microsoft
for
years don't I?
Click to expand...

Yes, OEM Vista is updatable through windows update the same as a retail
version.
I didn't buy it because it was cheaper per se. I went to the
store and told them I needed a new computer and wanted to use Vista. They
asked specifically what I wanted to use it for when I told them they this
is
the one you want and it comes with Vista. I didn't realize it was a funny
version.
Click to expand...

It's not a "funny" version. It is a version installed by the computer
manufacturer which is similar to the retail version, but modified in some
aspects by the computer manufacturer. It functions just the same as a
retail version but with some limitations.

Tech support for it is through the computer manufacturer, not through MS.
It is not transferrable to a different computer. If the computer dies the
license dies with it.

There are limitations in how the OS is restored if there is a problem. I
don't know how it's set up on your system, but an OEM's restore process
generally will wipe out any data and installed apps, restoring the system to
the condition it was in as received from the factory.
I wonder if that is why I can't start a new post-but only reply to
ongoing ones?
Click to expand...

There are many problems associated with the web interface. This is one of
them. I recommend using a newsreader to access what are actually Usenet
newsgroups. Vista comes with Windows Mail which is already configured for
accessing the MS newsgroups under Microsoft Communities.

I recommend you use that. The experience is much better.
 

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