The Product Key used to install Windows is invalid ....

[Bruce Chambers]

XP Pro User / Microst Update site will allow any updates except for SP2. When
I attemp to update to SP2 I get the error message:
The Product Key used to install Windows is invalid .....
I have run Belarc Advisor and it does list the Product Key as follows:

Microsoft - Windows XP Professional 55274-640-0000356-23040 (Key:
FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8)

That's one of the well-known, pirated copies of a WinXP Pro Volume
License. It was locked out of the update process years ago.

Does anyone know how I can overcome this problem please. Any help would me
much appreciated !!!!

If you are trying to install a WinXP Service Pack and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and a _legitimate_ retail or OEM full license
of WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CDs and Product Keys.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

You should also report whomever sold you this license to your local
law enforcement agencies; you've been defrauded.


--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Just curious, but why do you always preface each post with the above?

Off Topic...

Not really, you're just asking for clarification and information.

Where did you manage to find that this was a pirated key? I'm curious
because I'd like to be able to keep something like that in mind. I took a
look at the link you gave but your site didn't contain any information on
how you knew it to be pirated. I'm just too curious I suppose...

You receive a "The product key used to install Windows is invalid" error
message
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904


--

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

 

[Theodore Baldwin Boothe III]

Interesting...you can come to this group and speak intelligently and at
the same time spew rasict, sexist garbage in the other groups. Way to
go Theodore Baldwin Boothe III.

Man you're a hacker aren't you? I bet you hack cia systems all the
time too?
When was it you discovered the groups search function on google?

Also, when did you decided what I post on other newsgroups has
anything to do with what I post here?
Also, have I said anything in THIS NG that is offensive ???

Also, why don't you simply join into the discussion rather than attack
the people in the discussions?

I have all the proof I need about people here, and you made it VERY
clear to me now.

 

[deebs]

Man you're a hacker aren't you? I bet you hack cia systems all the
time too?
When was it you discovered the groups search function on google?

Also, when did you decided what I post on other newsgroups has
anything to do with what I post here?
Also, have I said anything in THIS NG that is offensive ???

Also, why don't you simply join into the discussion rather than attack
the people in the discussions?

I have all the proof I need about people here, and you made it VERY
clear to me now.

This may help:

www.bsa.org

BTW: software piracy is an international crime. Not reporting it is an
easy way to support international criminals

 

[robertharvey]

You've got 90% of the PC home market so why charge $100 [$200 in my
case] for an OS?

Because you have 90% of the market? Without competition you can charge
what you want.

 

[joevan]

Please do not post product keys on the Newsgroup.

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=326904

The key he posted can do no one any good. That is the one so called
"from the devil himself".

 

[DrJoel]

That's one of the well-known, pirated copies of a WinXP Pro Volume
License. It was locked out of the update process years ago.



If you are trying to install a WinXP Service Pack and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and a _legitimate_ retail or OEM full license
of WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CDs and Product Keys.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

You should also report whomever sold you this license to your local
law enforcement agencies; you've been defrauded.

One thing that drives me crazy is the way Microsoft connects the Windows
OEM key to the BIOS of the Motherboard. Example when I bought my Dell it
came with XP home. I paid extra for XP Pro. Now if I buy a new
motherboard I have to buy a new version of XP. I paid the same price
anyone else pays for XP why should I have to pay twice? Or am I wrong
with my thought?

 

[Theodore Baldwin Boothe III]

One thing that drives me crazy is the way Microsoft connects the Windows
OEM key to the BIOS of the Motherboard. Example when I bought my Dell it
came with XP home. I paid extra for XP Pro. Now if I buy a new
motherboard I have to buy a new version of XP. I paid the same price
anyone else pays for XP why should I have to pay twice? Or am I wrong
with my thought?

No you're correct in your thinking. But some people will defend
corporations right to rape consumers to the death!

 

[Galen]

In Bruce Chambers <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the tossed in and among and after your sent message:

Just curious, but why do you always preface each post with the above?

I always do because too many people can't seem to make up their mind if
top-posting or bottom-posting is the accepted method. I follow older habits
and bottom post (sometimes - oh my - I even snip!) and to avoid complaints
or confusion I have the line automatically inserted. There's times, like
this one, where I'll intersperse the reply and I'll edit it. Other times -
if it's plainly visible, I may even cut it out but it's automatically placed
there using OEQuoteFix. Ironically enough - it's actually cut down the troll
attacks. I've been using similar or the same line for quite some time now. I
think, maybe, '03 or so is when I first picked up on it after being told a
number of times (regardless of where I put the reply) that it was in the
wrong spot. Now, once in a while someone will tell me it's in the wrong spot
but at least they can't say they didn't know where to find it.

Not really, you're just asking for clarification and information.

Yeah, good point. I figured I'd mark it OT as, well, someone's bound to be
sure that it is. Adding the OT to it makes it less important and lets the OP

You receive a "The product key used to install Windows is invalid"
error message
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

I was hoping that there was some sort of master list somewhere. I hadn't
taken too many trips to the dark side of the 'net in a long time and I was
actually amazed at the sheer number of available pirated versions of
software there are now. They used to actually have to work a little bit to
get ahold of this stuff but now they have link rings, top sites, ad
sponsoring, and a myriad of choices available. A list of blacklisted serials
might be an interesting thing to see.

I do note that they've listed, on the site given, blacklisted PIDs but not
the actual serials. I do not know the algorithm used so I'm guessing that a
number of keys would result in PIDs in those ranges. In my travels I did see
a site that was actually delving into the PID generation and that was a bit
above my level of comprehension and devotion to the subject. Ah well...

I wonder how many people pirate software and then complain about it?

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/

"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of
existence." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Kerry Brown]

No you're correct in your thinking. But some people will defend
corporations right to rape consumers to the death!

Corporations can do whatever is legal. It's up to consumers to complain and
even boycott corporations that do things they don't like. If everyone quit
buying on price and actually bought on features the practise would go away.

Kerry

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You are wrong.
Microsoft does not connect the Product Key to the Motherboard.
The OEM, in your case Dell made the connection.
That is one of several choices computer manufacturers have.
Another of the many choices is to provide a retail OS, but that would
greatly increase the cost for them and thus to the customer.
The ability to freely transfer retail Windows XP to another computer is only
one of the many reasons you paid less for your OEM.

If you like such a system, buy another computer similarly configured next
time.
If not, buy a computer configured the way you want from a competitor.
Do not forget to mail Dell and explain exactly why they lost your business.
As long as many continue to buy computers configured like this, the computer
manufacturers will continue to choose this less expensive path for their
customers

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

He is incorrect.
Dell made the choice of several options provided by Microsoft.
Dell chose the cheaper option since they feel their customers priority is
price.

Hopefully you voice your opinion with your wallet as well as here.
If all you do is post your opinion here its value is lost since Dell will
probably never see it.

There are plenty of options available for consumers wanting a different
option.

Also see my previous post.

 

[DrJoel]

You are wrong.
Microsoft does not connect the Product Key to the Motherboard.
The OEM, in your case Dell made the connection.
That is one of several choices computer manufacturers have.
Another of the many choices is to provide a retail OS, but that would
greatly increase the cost for them and thus to the customer.
The ability to freely transfer retail Windows XP to another computer is only
one of the many reasons you paid less for your OEM.

If you like such a system, buy another computer similarly configured next
time.
If not, buy a computer configured the way you want from a competitor.
Do not forget to mail Dell and explain exactly why they lost your business.
As long as many continue to buy computers configured like this, the computer
manufacturers will continue to choose this less expensive path for their
customers

The horrible thing about it Dell charged me the same as retail for the
move to XP Pro. The machine was XP home, and during the order process I
upgraded to Pro. When my new system is ready I will go through the steps
with Microsoft.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

One thing that drives me crazy is the way Microsoft connects the Windows
OEM key to the BIOS of the Motherboard.

Microsoft does no such thing. Microsoft doesn't build computers.

Example when I bought my Dell it
came with XP home. I paid extra for XP Pro. Now if I buy a new
motherboard I have to buy a new version of XP.I paid the same price
anyone else pays for XP why should I have to pay twice? Or am I wrong
with my thought?

Even though you may have paid Dell a little extra to get WinXP Pro in
lieu of WinXP Pro, you still paid far less than you would have had to
pay for a retail license. You opted to purchase a deeply discounted OEM
license, so you can't reasonably expect it to be as fully-featured as a
full-priced retail license. One of the features you sacrificed to save
money was the transferability of the retail license.


--

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

 

[Kerry Brown]

The horrible thing about it Dell charged me the same as retail for the
move to XP Pro. The machine was XP home, and during the order process I
upgraded to Pro. When my new system is ready I will go through the steps
with Microsoft.

Another great Dell policy. They advertise very cheap systems then push
overpriced upgrades. Try to phone up and order the latest cheap offer in
your local newspaper with no options or upgrades. You will have to argue
with the salesperson to get it.

Kerry

 

[Guest]

The key he posted can do no one any good. That is the one so called

"from the devil himself".

Quick google and I see what you mean ......................... "from the
devil himself".

 

[ANONYMOUS]

The price is only an excuse people use to justify theft.
Thieves will steal regardless the price.
Otherwise there would be little or no theft of the lower priced shareware

Are we talking from personal experience here sir?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

In what way?
One does not need to steal to know a little about how a thief functions.

More pointless posts from you.
Surely you are able to contribute something?

 

[Chelsea]

Don't you guys think this thread has run its course now? Stealing is bad and
Bill and Melinda Gates are loaded. Is there much more to say?

Chelsea

 

[Theodore Baldwin Boothe III]

Don't you guys think this thread has run its course now? Stealing is bad and
Bill and Melinda Gates are loaded. Is there much more to say?

Perhaps? One more item: Theft is very wrong. Also, when a man making
$18K per year has his car stolen, little effort by the local PD is
given to find his car. I recall having an item stolen from my car
years back. I asked the cop if they could fingerprint the car and
perhaps look for a print of a person already in the system, so they
could catch the person. The cop said "we don't roll out those people
for crimes under $500....it just wouldn't make sense because we have
to focus on the big crimes where people get something very valuable
stolen.." I was like shaking my head and wondering why I was not
important enough? Wasn't my radar detector, something I paid good
money for, worth finding? I guess not. A guy making $18K per year who
get's things stolen from him is not worth the time or effort to find
the theif.

Now let's look at what IS considered worthy of finding. Microsoft is
likely the largest corporation in the world. It also holds perhaps
80-90% of the OS market in the world. It's founder and CEO is worth
just under $50 Billion and the company has more than $150 Billion in
cash on hand, and untold $billions in value based on it's stock price.
When someone steals something from them, all hell breaks lose and
nothing is spared to find this person. Understand, if they lose $1
Million in stolen software, it would be like you and I losing a dime!

So we have our priorities in order now
To sum up
If you're poor and have something stolen, good luck with that.
If you're worth billions then god himself will find the theif.

NO NO NO, I want to make it clear AGAIN:Stealing is wrong, very very
wrong. People should not steal because it is morally and legally wrong
to do.