OEM Windows XP Activation

[estesrocketeer]

Hello, I am using an OEM copy of Windows XP Home Edition. After I
installed it, however, I was prompted to activate it. When I chose to
activate over the Internet, however, I received an "invalid product
key" errpr message. My OEM CD-key is valid, and I do not understand why
I am receiving this message.

 

[Leythos]

Hello, I am using an OEM copy of Windows XP Home Edition. After I
installed it, however, I was prompted to activate it. When I chose to
activate over the Internet, however, I received an "invalid product
key" errpr message. My OEM CD-key is valid, and I do not understand why
I am receiving this message.

You get that warning when the COA doesn't match the media you used to
install it.

 

[R. McCarty]

Is the copy from a major PC vendor (Dell, Gateway) or I suppose
what you could call a "Generic" OEM ? Because of the way the
COA (Certificate of Authenticity) is placed on a OEM PC, it's a
easy way to capture an individual product key and use outside of
the intended purpose. OEM's have now changed the Activation
process to cut-down on the key-capture theft or misuse by forcing
a manual activation. It varies from vendor to vendor. You'll need
to use the Phone activation method to get your copy authorized.

 

[kurttrail]

Is the copy from a major PC vendor (Dell, Gateway) or I suppose
what you could call a "Generic" OEM ? Because of the way the
COA (Certificate of Authenticity) is placed on a OEM PC, it's a
easy way to capture an individual product key and use outside of
the intended purpose.

Thanks to the idiots at Microsoft that mandate that the stickers be on
the outside of the case.

OEM's have now changed the Activation
process to cut-down on the key-capture theft or misuse by forcing
a manual activation. It varies from vendor to vendor. You'll need
to use the Phone activation method to get your copy authorized.

And it was Microsoft that change the top 20 OEMs keys to be phone
activated only, instead of allowing OEMs to place the sticker on the
inside of the case.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Alias]

Thanks to the idiots at Microsoft that mandate that the stickers be on
the outside of the case.


And it was Microsoft that change the top 20 OEMs keys to be phone
activated only, instead of allowing OEMs to place the sticker on the
inside of the case.

MS is just making sure that the "support" desk in India and Pakistan
have job security. Course, they could use the money they spend on the
you-are-are-thief-until-you-prove-otherwise trip on something more
productive like using the savings to allow people or small businesses
use one XP or Office for three computers.

Alias

 

[kurttrail]

You get that warning when the COA doesn't match the media you used to
install it.

That would be during the installation you are talking about, and then
the install would not finish. AFTER installation, during the activation
process, all that message means is one of two things.

1.) MS has a previous record of the PK being activated on substantially
different hardware.

2.) The PK is from one of the top 20 OEMs that requires phone
activation.

Unfortunately, MS rather give people an erroneous message, rather than
state the reality of the situation.

To the OP, how to activation by phone:

http://mmpafaq.microscum.com/phonewpa.html

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[estesrocketeer]

R. McCarty mentioned the term "Generic OEM". Yes, this is what I am
using. I bought my copy (it IS genuine; Windows Genuine Advantage can
validate it) without any "extra material", such as the users guide,
manuals, or the fancy box. This copy has been legally acquired, but I
do not understand why it will not activate. I was under the impression
that OEM copies of Windows XP would be automatically pre-activated. It
appears I was wrong. My key is valid, and it can be used to install
Windows. I have read on Microsoft's TechNet that there is a tool called
SYSPREP used to preserve OEM activation. Do you think it would be
possible for me to use it?

 

[R. McCarty]

You may have run into "KeyGen" theft. Tools generate key
sequences until they find one that "Validates". It's possible
the key that came with your OEM has been violated. While
MS does not officially support OEM licenses for support I
would contact them and discuss your circumstances with them.
I've had customers who've experienced this New, but invalid
activation and in all cases MS replaced the key.

Only Major OEM XP is pre-activated, not the Generic OEM.

 

[kurttrail]

You may have run into "KeyGen" theft. Tools generate key
sequences until they find one that "Validates". It's possible
the key that came with your OEM has been violated. While
MS does not officially support OEM licenses for support I
would contact them and discuss your circumstances with them.
I've had customers who've experienced this New, but invalid
activation and in all cases MS replaced the key.

Haven't seen many keygens for OEM, mostly for VL and Retail.

Again to the OP, try phone activation.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Alias]

Thanks to the idiots at Microsoft that mandate that the stickers be on the outside of the case.


And it was Microsoft that change the top 20 OEMs keys to be phone

activated only, instead of allowing OEMs to place the sticker on the
inside of the case.
MS is just making sure that the "support" desk in India and Pakistan
have job security. Course, they could use the money they spend on the
you-are-are-thief-until-you-prove-otherwise trip on something more
productive like using the savings to allow people or small businesses
use one XP or Office for three computers.

Alias

 

[orthocross]

Thanks to the idiots at Microsoft that mandate that the stickers be on
the outside of the case.

Why listen to idiots? I know of persons (who shall remain unnamed)
who simply put the OEM sticker on the jewel-case they keep the media
in.

Never had to phone in to activate my "Generic" OEM software. I was
denied an Internet activation ONCE, when I mistakenly purchased a
so-called "DSP" OEM (actually a "pull" from a Toshiba machine). I
strongly advise EVERYONE NEVER to purchase a "DSP" OEM, or media
advertised as a "pull". Pay a few extra bucks, and purchase a genuine
"Generic OEM" manufactured by Microsoft, rather than an OEM.

And it was Microsoft that change the top 20 OEMs keys to be phone
activated only, instead of allowing OEMs to place the sticker on the
inside of the case.

I doubt seriously whether Microsoft EVER sent out its thought-police
to private homes. However, because of the possibility, I advise ALL
home users to NOT "Register" their software when they "Activate" it.

Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread,
so that the conversation may continue undisturbed.
=========================================================

 

[kurttrail]

Why listen to idiots? I know of persons (who shall remain unnamed)
who simply put the OEM sticker on the jewel-case they keep the media
in.

The people that listen to idiots are Dell, HP, Gateway, Sony, Toshiba,
and every small OEM that follows MS's rules for selling computers with a
MS OS pre-installed.

Never had to phone in to activate my "Generic" OEM software. I was
denied an Internet activation ONCE, when I mistakenly purchased a
so-called "DSP" OEM (actually a "pull" from a Toshiba machine). I
strongly advise EVERYONE NEVER to purchase a "DSP" OEM, or media
advertised as a "pull". Pay a few extra bucks, and purchase a genuine
"Generic OEM" manufactured by Microsoft, rather than an OEM.


I doubt seriously whether Microsoft EVER sent out its thought-police
to private homes. However, because of the possibility, I advise ALL
home users to NOT "Register" their software when they "Activate" it.

You really are having a hard time following the conversation, aren't
you?

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."