Please help me to legally activate Windows XP!

[Guest]

I bought a Gateway PC in 2002 (big mistake). We recently moved, and lost the
CDs that shipped with the PC. Now, in our new house, the PC boots, but hangs.
We couldn't get adequate support from Gateway, so finally, to get the PC at
least working again, we fdisk/repartitioned the disk and loaded Windows XP
Home from a CD that came with a different computer - a Dell laptop.

This worked fine - the PC is running fine, we updated all the drivers from
the web, and the system is stable. The problem is, we have to "activate" XP
within 30 days, and we do not have the product key for the original copy of
XP that shipped with the PC.

We wasted a half hour with Gateway's online tech support, only for "Gary" to
tell us that Gateway "doesn't support product keys" for their computers, and
that "it is a microsoft issue".

Ok, so next we went to Microsoft's support site to submit a question about
how to do this. After going through several menus, and allowing microsoft's
program to poke around in our pc, we were notified that "no-charge support is
not available for our windows -- we should contact our PC manufacturer.

So, what's next? Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly! Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Well, you are never going to successfully activate Windows XP
according to your installation scenario. What you need to do
is to go out and purchase a "Full Version" of Windows XP
and perform a "Repair Install" using the new CD and Product
Key.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

Reinstallation CDs that come with a Dell PC are BIOS-locked
to a specific Dell computer. Your Gateway PC does not have
a Dell-designed BIOS. Your Windows XP installation, using
a Dell CD to install XP on a Gateway PC, is never going to activate
and you'll be locked out at the end of 30 days.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I bought a Gateway PC in 2002 (big mistake). We recently moved, and lost the
| CDs that shipped with the PC. Now, in our new house, the PC boots, but hangs.
| We couldn't get adequate support from Gateway, so finally, to get the PC at
| least working again, we fdisk/repartitioned the disk and loaded Windows XP
| Home from a CD that came with a different computer - a Dell laptop.
|
| This worked fine - the PC is running fine, we updated all the drivers from
| the web, and the system is stable. The problem is, we have to "activate" XP
| within 30 days, and we do not have the product key for the original copy of
| XP that shipped with the PC.
|
| We wasted a half hour with Gateway's online tech support, only for "Gary" to
| tell us that Gateway "doesn't support product keys" for their computers, and
| that "it is a microsoft issue".
|
| Ok, so next we went to Microsoft's support site to submit a question about
| how to do this. After going through several menus, and allowing microsoft's
| program to poke around in our pc, we were notified that "no-charge support is
| not available for our windows -- we should contact our PC manufacturer.
|
| So, what's next? Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly! Thanks.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I bought a Gateway PC in 2002 (big mistake). We recently moved, and lost
the
CDs that shipped with the PC. Now, in our new house, the PC boots, but
hangs.
We couldn't get adequate support from Gateway, so finally, to get the PC
at
least working again, we fdisk/repartitioned the disk and loaded Windows XP
Home from a CD that came with a different computer - a Dell laptop.

This worked fine - the PC is running fine, we updated all the drivers from
the web, and the system is stable. The problem is, we have to "activate"
XP
within 30 days, and we do not have the product key for the original copy
of
XP that shipped with the PC.

We wasted a half hour with Gateway's online tech support, only for "Gary"
to
tell us that Gateway "doesn't support product keys" for their computers,
and
that "it is a microsoft issue".

Ok, so next we went to Microsoft's support site to submit a question about
how to do this. After going through several menus, and allowing
microsoft's
program to poke around in our pc, we were notified that "no-charge support
is
not available for our windows -- we should contact our PC manufacturer.

So, what's next? Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly! Thanks.

The gateway shipped with an OEM copy.
The sticker for said copy should have been on the side/back of the computer.
Did you use that number when you installed? Or the Dell?

If the Dell (or the other number did not exist) then you will have to
purchase a legal RETAIL copy of WIndows XP and install it (repair install
will likely work.)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/tips/dougknox/doug92.asp
or
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm
or
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341

Be sure you are disconnected from the Internet (no hardware connection to
the
Internet at all) until you are done and you are sure the firewall is on.
Then go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and update your copy of
Windows XP.

 

[Vagabond Software]

I bought a Gateway PC in 2002 (big mistake). We recently moved, and lost the
CDs that shipped with the PC. Now, in our new house, the PC boots, but hangs.
We couldn't get adequate support from Gateway, so finally, to get the PC at
least working again, we fdisk/repartitioned the disk and loaded Windows XP
Home from a CD that came with a different computer - a Dell laptop.

This worked fine - the PC is running fine, we updated all the drivers from
the web, and the system is stable. The problem is, we have to "activate" XP
within 30 days, and we do not have the product key for the original copy of
XP that shipped with the PC.

We wasted a half hour with Gateway's online tech support, only for "Gary" to
tell us that Gateway "doesn't support product keys" for their computers, and
that "it is a microsoft issue".

Ok, so next we went to Microsoft's support site to submit a question about
how to do this. After going through several menus, and allowing microsoft's
program to poke around in our pc, we were notified that "no-charge support is
not available for our windows -- we should contact our PC manufacturer.

So, what's next? Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly! Thanks.

Failure to affix a sticker with the valid product key in a conspicuous location on the outside of the computer is a violation of the OEM agreement. If your Gateway computer came with Windows XP Home Edition, you may be able to reinstall using the Dell media and the product key affixed to the outside of your Gateway computer.

If you do not have a sticker with a valid product key affixed to the outside of your Gateway computer, report the incident to Microsoft and add Gateway to the growing list of untrustworthy OEM dealers. You are also out of luck for any kind of free solution to your problem, thanks to Gateway's practices.

Good Luck,

carl

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

Sometimes the product key is located on the computer box itself. Take
a look there. If you find it, call Gateway and request a replacement
CD. If not contact GW and ask for a new CD and key. There is a chance
that if you purchase a retail version of XP it will may not activate
either.

 

[Guest]

Wow. Shenan, Carl, and Bert - Thank you so much for your help. As you
suggested, there was a sticker on the back of the PC with the product key. I
wrote it down, went to the activate screen, keyed it in, and it was accepted.
Funny that "Gary" from Gateway support wasn't aware of that...

Thank you so much for your competent, and immediate, assistance!

 

[Jake]

But hold on a sec! Isnt using a Dell CD on a Gateway PC inherently wrong and
illegal according to microsoft? To be perfectly legal wouldnt you need to
buy a second full version for the gateway?


--

"Today I saw a little worm
Wriggling on his belly.
Perhaps he'd like to come inside
And see what's on the Telly."
Spike Milligan

 

[Vagabond Software]

But hold on a sec! Isnt using a Dell CD on a Gateway PC inherently wrong and
illegal according to microsoft? To be perfectly legal wouldnt you need to
buy a second full version for the gateway?


--

Not really. The product key is the license and completely independent of the media. There is nothing illegal about using the same media to install the OS on multiple machines as long as you have a valid product key for each computer. Obviously, if the product (aka license-to-use) is a Volume License, then the same product key will be used on multiple machines.

carl

 

[Bruce Chambers]

But hold on a sec! Isnt using a Dell CD on a Gateway PC inherently wrong and
illegal according to microsoft? To be perfectly legal wouldnt you need to
buy a second full version for the gateway?

Not really. It's the Product Key that represents the license, not the CD.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Al Smith]

I bought a Gateway PC in 2002 (big mistake). We recently moved, and lost the

CDs that shipped with the PC. Now, in our new house, the PC boots, but hangs.
We couldn't get adequate support from Gateway, so finally, to get the PC at
least working again, we fdisk/repartitioned the disk and loaded Windows XP
Home from a CD that came with a different computer - a Dell laptop.

This worked fine - the PC is running fine, we updated all the drivers from
the web, and the system is stable. The problem is, we have to "activate" XP
within 30 days, and we do not have the product key for the original copy of
XP that shipped with the PC.

We wasted a half hour with Gateway's online tech support, only for "Gary" to
tell us that Gateway "doesn't support product keys" for their computers, and
that "it is a microsoft issue".

Ok, so next we went to Microsoft's support site to submit a question about
how to do this. After going through several menus, and allowing microsoft's
program to poke around in our pc, we were notified that "no-charge support is
not available for our windows -- we should contact our PC manufacturer.

So, what's next? Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly! Thanks.

Just don't get bullshitted by anyone here into buying a full
retail copy of XP. You've already bought Windows XP for your
computer -- no reason you should have to buy it twice. Use a hack
downloaded from the Internet to bypass the abomination that is
Product Activation. After all, Windows is legally yours to run on
this box.

 

[Jake]

Ah ok...got you...

--

"Today I saw a little worm
Wriggling on his belly.
Perhaps he'd like to come inside
And see what's on the Telly."
Spike Milligan

 

[Michael Stevens]

Not really. It's the Product Key that represents the license, not
the CD.

This is what I have been trying to get across about Branded OEM XP CD's the
bios lock doesn't stop it from being used to install on other computers, it
just triggers activation. An unused OEM product key will need to be used to
activate. In this case the Gateway key.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

But hold on a sec! Isnt using a Dell CD on a Gateway PC inherently wrong and
illegal according to microsoft? To be perfectly legal wouldnt you need to
buy a second full version for the gateway?

The legality is represented by the product key - as on the label on the
case. Provided that is acceptable to the setup on the CD used. and it
is the original machine the label is on, there is no difficulty

And it is typical of makers 'Tech support' to know nothing that is not
in a script in front of them