Need an activation key for XP-Pro...

[ME]

Thought it'd be a good idea to reinstall an OS on my older Compaq Presario.
Don't have the original XP-Home disc but do have an XP-Pro that came with
another computer - but can't find its activation key. Awesome! So now I'm
screwed for an OS since at this point I've blown out the old XP-Home before
making sure I had the activation key for the XP-Pro. Nice! Any ideas on how
to obtain a key. All I have is the XP-Pro disc sleeve with a UPC type bar on
it but no key. Thought I'd call HP, they couldn't or wouldn't help.
Thought calling Microsoft but I can't find a number that doesn't cost $60 per
inquiry. Of course convincing them I bought the disc legally would probably
be a losing battle. D'oh! So any thoughts?

 

[Malke]

Thought it'd be a good idea to reinstall an OS on my older Compaq
Presario. Don't have the original XP-Home disc but do have an XP-Pro that
came with
another computer - but can't find its activation key. Awesome! So now
I'm screwed for an OS since at this point I've blown out the old XP-Home
before
making sure I had the activation key for the XP-Pro. Nice! Any ideas on
how
to obtain a key. All I have is the XP-Pro disc sleeve with a UPC type bar
on
it but no key. Thought I'd call HP, they couldn't or wouldn't help.
Thought calling Microsoft but I can't find a number that doesn't cost $60
per
inquiry. Of course convincing them I bought the disc legally would
probably
be a losing battle. D'oh! So any thoughts?

Your Compaq Presario will have a Product Key sticker on it. Call HP back and
order a replacement disk or find someone who has a generic OEM install disk
and use the Product Key on your sticker.

You can contact Microsoft for the XP Pro key if you have proof of purchase.
It will not cost $60 to make this call:

If you have lost your XP product Key, the best option is to call Microsoft.
Call on Microsoft Licensing Fulfillment Center Toll Free Number (800)
248-0655 Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Pacific time.
Contact Microsoft page -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csscontactfind

Otherwise you know very well that a Product Key isn't going to magically
appear.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Your Compaq Presario will have a Product Key sticker on it. Call HP back and
order a replacement disk or find someone who has a generic OEM install disk
and use the Product Key on your sticker.

Can you give some specific instructions on how to make this work?
My experience has been that a Generic OEM disk wouldn't accept keys from
the sticker OR the different key extracted from the computer.
The vendor-specific OEM install disk didn't need a key.
Any disk needing a key wouldn't accept either of the two keys.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Randem]

If you have the actual CD, MS can verify if it is legit and will give you
the key. However if it is an OEM version MS won't help at all it will be up
to the vendor to help at that point.

--
Randem Systems
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
http://www.rndem.com/installerproblems.html
http://www.randem.com/vistainstalls.html
http://www.financialtrainingservices.org

 

[Mick Murphy]

If the XP Pro disk came with another computer, it is probably OEM, and tied
to the original computer.

 

[Malke]

Can you give some specific instructions on how to make this work?
My experience has been that a Generic OEM disk wouldn't accept keys from
the sticker OR the different key extracted from the computer.
The vendor-specific OEM install disk didn't need a key.
Any disk needing a key wouldn't accept either of the two keys.

What am I doing wrong?

I don't know what you're doing wrong, but possibly you are trying to use a
branded OEM install disk on a different system; eg., an HP disk on a Dell
system. For OEM machines, you don't want to use the Product Key that is
shown in key finder programs. That Product Key is the OEM's volume license
key. The correct Product Key for end user installation is the one on the
COA sticker on the computer. It is always best to use a matching branded
install disk (eg., Dell to Dell) but a generic (non-branded) OEM can use
the Product Key on the COA sticker with no problem. Have done it for
clients more times than I could count.

Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thought it'd be a good idea to reinstall an OS on my older Compaq Presario.

Why? Doing so is a mistake the great majority of the time.

Don't have the original XP-Home disc but do have an XP-Pro that came with
another computer

Bear two things in mind:

1. If the CD came with the other computer, it's almost certainly an
OEM version. The license for OEM versions has several restrictions,
the most severe of which is that it is *not* transferable from the
first computer it's installed.

2. Over and above the licensing restriction, many OEM copies are
BIOS-locked to the computer they came with, and will not install on
any other one.

 

[ME]

Yeah, I'm screwed. Got notta according to MS and Compaq, er, HP.

 

[ME]

Yeah, I'm screwed. Got notta according to MS and Compaq, er, HP.

 

[Daave]

Why do you think you're screwed? Your Compaq Presario still has an
associated license to run XP. Doesn't it still have the COA sticker on
the case with the Product Key? If so, all you need to do is obtain an
installation disk (in your case, a generic OEM XP Home CD). Hopefully
there is someone in your network of family, friends, and work
acquaintenances who will let you borrow one.

Although you have an "XP-Pro [CD] that came with another computer," it
sounds to me like it's an OEM CD, so if that's the case, that CD won't
do you any good.

You won't get anything other than "notta" (I suppose you mean "nada")
from Microsoft because they do not get involved in OEM situations. Did
you go the HP website? They have a support section. Enter the model
number of your Presario to see what your options are. If HP has finished
providing support for this particular PC and you are unable to obtain a
generic OEM XP Home installation CD, you should be able to get a
recovery disk from this place:

http://www.restoredisks.com/

Yeah, I'm screwed. Got notta according to MS and Compaq, er, HP.

 

[Guest]

I don't know what you're doing wrong, but possibly you are trying to use a
branded OEM install disk on a different system; eg., an HP disk on a Dell
system. For OEM machines, you don't want to use the Product Key that is
shown in key finder programs. That Product Key is the OEM's volume license
key. The correct Product Key for end user installation is the one on the
COA sticker on the computer. It is always best to use a matching branded
install disk (eg., Dell to Dell) but a generic (non-branded) OEM can use
the Product Key on the COA sticker with no problem. Have done it for
clients more times than I could count.

Malke

I was trying to rebuild a used Dell. I extracted the key using the
keyfinder, and I have the different key from the COA. What I don't have
is the CD. So I attempted to use a Generic OEM CD. Neither of the keys
worked. Since I already own a license for the Dell, I'm not willing to
waste the key that came with the Generic OEM CD.

Then I tried every other XP CD I could get my hands on.
None worked with either of the keys.
Then I got a Dell computer that came with a Dell CD and it worked
without asking for a key.

I've had similar experience with Gateway and Compaq computers, tho
I've never done such extensive attempts as I did on the Dell.

All my computers are used. They almost never come with the OS CD.
My experience has been that if a CD asks for a key, the OEM keys don't
work. If it doesn't ask for a key, you obviously don't need one.
So, I own the license that is forever tied to the OEM PC, per the EULA;
I have the COA.
I just can't find a FREE (sanctioned) way to use it.
Unsanctioned options
abound...but that's a discussion for another newsgroup.

On a related issue, I have had some success rebuilding a bootable
XP Install CD based on the i386 directory stored on the computer.
Problem is that newer computers have so much bloat that it won't
all fit on a CD.
Is there a way to determine what part of the bloat in the i386 directory
that will fit on the CD and will result in a bootable OS install disk?