MarkD said:
I just bought a "new" pc from a friend, it's 6 mos old, has xp home edition. At start up it warns me that I have 16 days left to register xp or I will lose operating priveleges. I go online and try to register, enter the product code delivered at the time my friend bought the computer, and it says the product code is invalid and I have to buy new software. My question is: Do I have to buy new software and physically reload windows, or can I just "buy" a new product code and enter it in for registration?
First of all, I believe that you are talking about Product Activation,
which is an entirely different procedure from Registration.
Activation is mandatory, registration is totally optional (the main,
but not the only, objective of registration is to get your name and
address into Microsoft's mailing lists so they can bombard you with
sales promo's for other products).
Activation should not require you to enter a product code at the time
of activation. The product code has to be entered initially during
the first setup of Windows and it is retained. If the product code
has not been entered Windows will not be usable.
Try this:
1. Use Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Activate
Windows.
What happens when you select this?
If the item is not present on the menu then that fact is also
important information.
2. Use Start - Run and type the following line into the dialog box,
exactly as it appears below including the blank spaces:
%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A
What happens?
That information will help to decide what the next course of action
should be.
Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
