Product Key

[Guest]

I recently made enough hardware changes on my computer to have to reactivate Windows, which went fine. One of my last changes involved a new hard drive. I installed my copy of Windows on this new drive without a problem, but now cant activate windows since it's been too recently that it was activated with all of my changes (I shouldn't have left my hard drive upgrade until last).

Regardless of all of this, I now wish to keep both systems and therefore need to buy a new copy of XP or purchase a Product activation code. Checking with MS, it looks like I'm not eligible to purchase a new activation code because I originally purchased this installed on a system, not as a separate retail version. I also am finding that I can't purchase an OEM version (in order to use the activation code) unless I purchase a core piece of hardware. I JUST BOUGHT ALL OF THAT (wish I'd known that then, I wouldve bought it at the time and had no hassles).

I'm starting to get frustrated since it seems the only way I can run my second comuter is to pay a huge amount for a retail version for a system THAT ALREADY HAS THE SOFTWARE ( i just need the activation key ). I'm not going to pay that amount, I'll go linux if that winds up being my only alternative.

Does anyone know of any other options I have?

Thanks for your time

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Rich,

This is actually quite simple.
The system with he OEM edition of Windows XP that you say cannot now
activate over the Internet. No problem, click the button to activate by
telephone and you will be activated in about 5 mins. You may need to talk
to the rep but just explain what has happened with that machine.

As regards this other machine you also mention.
You may not use the CD that came with your first machine as it is an OEM
product and only for use in the system it was shipped with. You will need to
purchase another copy of Windows XP for your other system.
This can either be a Retail copy or a white label non vendor specific OEM
copy. You are right that these OEM copies are only available with a piece
of hardware required for the operation of a PC. However look around you may
see these for sale with items such as power cords ($2) etc.

--
--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

I recently made enough hardware changes on my computer to have to

reactivate Windows, which went fine. One of my last changes involved a new
hard drive. I installed my copy of Windows on this new drive without a
problem, but now cant activate windows since it's been too recently that it
was activated with all of my changes (I shouldn't have left my hard drive
upgrade until last).

Regardless of all of this, I now wish to keep both systems and therefore

need to buy a new copy of XP or purchase a Product activation code. Checking
with MS, it looks like I'm not eligible to purchase a new activation code
because I originally purchased this installed on a system, not as a separate
retail version. I also am finding that I can't purchase an OEM version (in
order to use the activation code) unless I purchase a core piece of
hardware. I JUST BOUGHT ALL OF THAT (wish I'd known that then, I wouldve
bought it at the time and had no hassles).

I'm starting to get frustrated since it seems the only way I can run my

second comuter is to pay a huge amount for a retail version for a system
THAT ALREADY HAS THE SOFTWARE ( i just need the activation key ). I'm not
going to pay that amount, I'll go linux if that winds up being my only
alternative.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Jack]

I hope you find something...BUT in the future...please do some upfront
research first...see the mess you got yourself in .......