question about reinstalling Windows XP Professional

[kathy]

Here is my problem, i bought my computer from a retail
computer store near where i live. WinXP Pro. was already
installed on it. Had problem and had to take it back and
WinXp Pro. was unintalled and reinstalled; but, when it
was reinstalled it asked for activation # and he did not
have it cause he didn't install it in the first place. I
need to know what to do cause i only have 4 days left and
i dont know how to get support help or how to email
Microsoft Windows to tell them my problem. Can someone
please help me w/this, it is very important. Thank you
very much, my email is (e-mail address removed)

 

[junkbonds]

sounds fishy to me... how did he re-install if he didnt
have the original key in the first place?

Buy yourself a legit copy of Windows, that would help

 

[Don Soriano]

-----Original Message-----
Here is my problem, i bought my computer from a retail
computer store near where i live. WinXP Pro. was already
installed on it. Had problem and had to take it back and
WinXp Pro. was unintalled and reinstalled; but, when it
was reinstalled it asked for activation # and he did not
have it cause he didn't install it in the first place. I
need to know what to do cause i only have 4 days left and
i dont know how to get support help or how to email
Microsoft Windows to tell them my problem. Can someone
please help me w/this, it is very important. Thank you
very much, my email is (e-mail address removed)
.
Kathy:

I just went through a similar problem. I upgraded my XP
Home to XP Pro not knowing that the software was already
installed in another computer.But unlike you, I still have
a couple of weeks to activate. Microsoft Product
Activation (MPA) policy is that only one computer can use
the same software and I cannot uninstall it. MS can't
either. Usually vendors have bulk licenses whereby
multiple computers can use the same activation number but
the vendors pays a reduced fee to MS everytime they give
it to a customer. Strange that he does not have it. If you
wish to contact MS Customer Support, call 1-800-936-5700
but be prepared for a series of long waits on the phone.
If you don't have the Product ID# and the Product Key#,
you're going to be SOL. I opting for installing a second
drive, install my original XP Home and then transfer files
from my old drive, and then get rid of the XP Pro. Good
luck.

Don

 

[Aunjar]

Try looking on this site: http://www.johnzpchut.com/tips/winxp/winxp.htm

 

[cimex]

Is there not a rectangular sticker with the 25-character Product Key
anywhere on the outside of your computer case?