PID for Windows XP

[Tony]

I am having a problem with Windows XP -- I can't logon
because it is asking for a password, when I've never set
one. I've posted to this group but have not been able to
solve my problem. Now, I am trying to get MS support and
when I go online, it asks for my PID number. I have my
product key, but I can't enter all of the numbers in the
MS field! When I go to the PID locator web page supplied
by MS, I do not get any information at all. So, I can't
use my computer because it has locked me out, and I can't
locate my PID even though I am staring at my Product Key.
Any suggestions!??
Appreciate your response.
Tony

 

[purplehaz]

Product key and product id are different.
PID = right click my computer, properties, general tab.
If you have OEM listed in the PID, then ms will not help you as you have an
oem computer and must call the manufacturer of the computer.
Did you try a repair install of XP to try to fix your problem?

 

[Tony]

I can't log into windows so I can't get my PID can I? How
can MS support a product if I can't ID the product to them?
Tony

 

[purplehaz]

I don't know how you can get the id if you cant log in. Did you try calling
ms? Do you try logging into the hidden administrator account and resetting
your password? Did you try a repair install?

 

[Tony]

I didn't call -- I don't want to spend $35 for a problem
with a product I bought that is, as I see it, defective. I
don't know what the hidden administrator account is or how
I log into it and I suspect it would have a password
associated with it as well, which I don't know either! (If
the hidden admin account is accessed by hitting Ctrl-Alt-
Del than I know it doesn't work either, as I've tried it).
Finally, I put the windows XP disk into the CD drive but
it doesn't boot up -- I get the same logon screen asking
for my password! So I don't know how to do a repair
install. Thanks for your time and your help.
Tony

 

[purplehaz]

The product is not defective, it's just some file has become corrupt on your
computer. This can happen for many different reasons, and almost always
associated with drivers, updates, or newly installed software.
To access the hidden admin account:
XP Home - boot to safe mode, log in as administrator
Xp Pro - ctrl-alt-del twice at the welcome screen, log in as administrator.

Repair install:
First go into your bios and set the cdrom drive to be the first boot device.
Reboot computer with xp cd in to boot from the XP cd, and when prompted hit
enter to begin setup. Press F8 to accept the license agreement. It will then
search and find your existing XP install. Select it, and choose R for
repair. Back up any important data files in case something goes wrong.

 

[Tony]

I won't be able to try your suggestions below for a few
days but want you to know that I really appreciate all the
help you've given.
Tony

 

[purplehaz]

Good luck and post back if you still have problems.

 

[NobodyMan]

I didn't call -- I don't want to spend $35 for a problem
with a product I bought that is, as I see it, defective. I
don't know what the hidden administrator account is or how
I log into it and I suspect it would have a password
associated with it as well, which I don't know either! (If
the hidden admin account is accessed by hitting Ctrl-Alt-
Del than I know it doesn't work either, as I've tried it).
Finally, I put the windows XP disk into the CD drive but
it doesn't boot up -- I get the same logon screen asking
for my password! So I don't know how to do a repair
install. Thanks for your time and your help.
Tony

The administrator account is called just that: administrator. If you
never set a password for it, then it doesn't have one. Getting to
that account varies by what version of XP you have. If you have Pro,
and still use the "Welcome" screen, try pressing ctl-alt-delete twice
which SHOULD bring up a logon box. The User is administrator, but
leave the p/w blank if you never set one. In Home, you'll have to
boot into safe mode; it will pop up the logon box. Supply the
information just as described above.

Once in windows, you can go in and remove the password from the user
account in question, get the product ID, etc. Don't know how? Use
windows Help, that's what it's for and it's all in there (once you get
logged on, that is).

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Well, if you haven't set a password, log in leaving the password
field blank.

Bruce Chambers

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