What Do I Do Now?

[Guest]

I have come in to some inherited (more like it was just handed to me) older
software from a deceased relative. It all appears to be genuine and
legitimate software. One item is Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade, Includes
Service Pack 1, Version 2002.

I do not need this software, as I have my own and what I own is more modern.
So I took the software down to the local senior center, where I donated it.
I was called and asked to return to the center and install the XP software on
a computer. I did so.

While installing the XP software, I received a dialog box which said
something along the lines of this software has already been installed on a
different computer, and please contact Microsoft.

I telephoned the widow of the man who's sofware I received. She told me she
had attempted to give her computer away to her adult daughter, but the
daughter had not wanted it, so the woman had left the computer next to her
regular trash cans, from where it had disappeared. She had no idea what
happened to it or where it was.

Meanwhile, I have not yet contacted Microsoft. Before I do, I would like
some knowledgeable individual on this board to tell me how I let Microsoft
know what I have just outlined above, and what to do next. The computer at
the senior center has 30 days until it must be activated, or I suppose it
will stop working.

Thank you.

Jim

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Follow the procedure to "activate by phone" to obtain a new,
and free, activation code.

How to activate Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890/en-us

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I have come in to some inherited (more like it was just handed to me) older
| software from a deceased relative. It all appears to be genuine and
| legitimate software. One item is Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade, Includes
| Service Pack 1, Version 2002.
|
| I do not need this software, as I have my own and what I own is more modern.
| So I took the software down to the local senior center, where I donated it.
| I was called and asked to return to the center and install the XP software on
| a computer. I did so.
|
| While installing the XP software, I received a dialog box which said
| something along the lines of this software has already been installed on a
| different computer, and please contact Microsoft.
|
| I telephoned the widow of the man who's sofware I received. She told me she
| had attempted to give her computer away to her adult daughter, but the
| daughter had not wanted it, so the woman had left the computer next to her
| regular trash cans, from where it had disappeared. She had no idea what
| happened to it or where it was.
|
| Meanwhile, I have not yet contacted Microsoft. Before I do, I would like
| some knowledgeable individual on this board to tell me how I let Microsoft
| know what I have just outlined above, and what to do next. The computer at
| the senior center has 30 days until it must be activated, or I suppose it
| will stop working.
|
| Thank you.
|
| Jim

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Carey.

 

[djs0302]

I have come in to some inherited (more like it was just handed to me) older
software from a deceased relative. It all appears to be genuine and
legitimate software. One item is Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade, Includes
Service Pack 1, Version 2002.

I do not need this software, as I have my own and what I own is more modern.
So I took the software down to the local senior center, where I donated it.
I was called and asked to return to the center and install the XP software on
a computer. I did so.

While installing the XP software, I received a dialog box which said
something along the lines of this software has already been installed on a
different computer, and please contact Microsoft.

How would the computer know the software had already been installed on
another computer? If it's an ordinary XP disk it should install on any
number of computers. Activation, though, is a different story. Are
you sure it's not an OEM version that will only work with certain
hardware?

 

[kurttrail]

I have come in to some inherited (more like it was just handed to me)
older software from a deceased relative. It all appears to be
genuine and legitimate software. One item is Windows XP Home Edition
Upgrade, Includes Service Pack 1, Version 2002.

I do not need this software, as I have my own and what I own is more
modern. So I took the software down to the local senior center, where
I donated it. I was called and asked to return to the center and
install the XP software on a computer. I did so.

While installing the XP software, I received a dialog box which said
something along the lines of this software has already been installed
on a different computer, and please contact Microsoft.

I telephoned the widow of the man who's sofware I received. She told
me she had attempted to give her computer away to her adult daughter,
but the daughter had not wanted it, so the woman had left the
computer next to her regular trash cans, from where it had
disappeared. She had no idea what happened to it or where it was.

Meanwhile, I have not yet contacted Microsoft. Before I do, I would
like some knowledgeable individual on this board to tell me how I let
Microsoft know what I have just outlined above, and what to do next.
The computer at the senior center has 30 days until it must be
activated, or I suppose it will stop working.

Thank you.

Jim

How to Activate by phone:

http://mmpafaq.microscum.com/phonewpa.html


--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Frazer Jolly Goodfellow]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in @v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com:

Activation, though, is a different story.

Precisely. During the installation process you are asked if you want
to activate XP using the Internet...