windows acitvation problems

[Guest]

Hi....After having our computer "restored" we were asked to activate
windows....Typed in the same product key that is on the side of the computer
(the authenticy sticker w/ the product number) and the computer wouldn't
take it - called the telephone number - no help! Even went back to the store
that "restored" the computer and they couldn't get it activated...Major
annoyance. Microsoft recoginizes that the number has been used before so it
won't allow us to "re-activate". Any suggestions on how to get around it?
Microsofts answer was to BUY ANOTHER LISCENSE! Not likely...Please advise.
Thanks!!!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi....After having our computer "restored" we were asked to
activate
windows....Typed in the same product key that is on the side of the
computer (the authenticy sticker w/ the product number) and the
computer wouldn't take it - called the telephone number - no help!
Even went back to the store that "restored" the computer and they
couldn't get it activated...Major annoyance. Microsoft recoginizes
that the number has been used before so it won't allow us to
"re-activate". Any suggestions on how to get around it? Microsofts
answer was to BUY ANOTHER LISCENSE! Not likely...Please advise.
Thanks!!!

Have you contacted the computer's manufacturer for assistance,
since you have an OEM license? How, exactly, did you have your
computer "restored?" Did you use the original installation CD that
came with the computer?

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are
purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for
any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and
vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full
version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to
install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with
an English CD. No retail Product Key will work with a Volume Licensed
installation, and vice versa. Bottom line: Product Keys and CDs
cannot be mixed & matched. You have to have the specific type of
installation CD for which that license and Product Key was designed.

--

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

 

[Guest]

Have you contacted the computer's manufacturer for assistance,
since you have an OEM license? How, exactly, did you have your
computer "restored?" Did you use the original installation CD that
came with the computer?

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are
purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for
any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and
vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full
version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to
install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with
an English CD. No retail Product Key will work with a Volume Licensed
installation, and vice versa. Bottom line: Product Keys and CDs
cannot be mixed & matched. You have to have the specific type of
installation CD for which that license and Product Key was designed.

--

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

Well this is where the problem begins.....I purchased the computer from Best
Buy, it is a VPR Matrix (Best Buy brand). And when I purchased it, it was an
"open box" computer. Meaning that all I got was the CPU. No disks,
documentation, restore cd's, etc. All I got was the physical computer.

So when it crashed (conflict with SP2), I took it back to Best Buy and they
reformatted the hard drive, since I obviously did not have the proper disks
to do it. However when they reinstalled Windows XP, they did not "activate"
it. Which bring us to our current problem. Windows has been reinstalled
with some sort of XP installation cd, which I do not have, nor have I ever
had, and I cannot get it activated.......have any sense of my current
frustration with all of this?! Thanks for your help.

 

[D.Currie]

Well this is where the problem begins.....I purchased the computer from
Best
Buy, it is a VPR Matrix (Best Buy brand). And when I purchased it, it was
an
"open box" computer. Meaning that all I got was the CPU. No disks,
documentation, restore cd's, etc. All I got was the physical computer.

So when it crashed (conflict with SP2), I took it back to Best Buy and
they
reformatted the hard drive, since I obviously did not have the proper
disks
to do it. However when they reinstalled Windows XP, they did not
"activate"
it. Which bring us to our current problem. Windows has been reinstalled
with some sort of XP installation cd, which I do not have, nor have I ever
had, and I cannot get it activated.......have any sense of my current
frustration with all of this?! Thanks for your help.

Go back to Best Buy and talk to a manager and if that doesn't help, get a
phone number for a regional manager. If they put a copy of XP on that can't
be activated, there's nothing anyone here can do for you, and there's no
magic that will make it work. If they did it right, you should have been
able to activate with no problem. You paid for them to fix it, whether it
was real cash or warranty money, so having them say that it won't activate
and that's that is not an acceptable answer -- it's not fixed.

Take a look at the receipt from the original purchase. If it says it
includes Windows XP, then you should have gotten some way to restore the
computer, whether it was CDs or a restore partition on the hard drive. If
you didn't get everything you paid for, whether it was open or not, they
either owe you a refund on that or a replacement of what you should have
gotten.

If they say that your purchase didn't include Windows XP, then they did
something illegal by reinstalling it on your computer. They can't have it
both ways.

It might be that your way of restoring was a partition on the hard drive. If
they messed that up when they "fixed" it for you, they're responsible for
that, too. A repair shouldn't make it worse than it was before.

You're probably not going to get anywhere with Best Buy if you just talk to
the computer department -- you need to move up the line and get someone who
can actually do something for you.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Well this is where the problem begins.....I purchased the computer
from Best Buy, it is a VPR Matrix (Best Buy brand). And when I
purchased it, it was an "open box" computer. Meaning that all I got
was the CPU. No disks, documentation, restore cd's, etc. All I
got
was the physical computer.

If Best Buy did not provide you with the means, either via CD or
Recovery Partition, to restore the computer to its ex-factory state,
they are in violation of their OEM contract with Microsoft. If need
be, point this legal lapse out to the Service Manager and Store
Manager at the Best Buy where this occured. Also be sure to ask them
for the contact information for their Regional Director and their
Legal Department. (Unless, of course, the terms of purchase on the
invoice specifically stated that the OS was not included. In which
case, you'll need to go buy a legitimate retail copy of WinXP and
install it.)

So when it crashed (conflict with SP2), I took it back to Best Buy
and they reformatted the hard drive, since I obviously did not have
the proper disks to do it. However when they reinstalled Windows
XP,
they did not "activate" it.

Demonstrating, one again, why Best Buy is one of the worst
possible places on the planet from which to purchase a computer, or in
which to get a computer serviced.

Which bring us to our current problem.
Windows has been reinstalled with some sort of XP installation cd,
which I do not have, nor have I ever had, and I cannot get it
activated.......have any sense of my current frustration with all of
this?! Thanks for your help.

You are certainly entitled to be frustrated, having apparently
been treated shabbily by Best Buy. Unfortunately, there's nothing
that can be done, from a technical point of view, without the
installation CD that matches your OEM Product Key. Support for OEM
installations is _solely and entirely_ the responsibility of the
computer manufacturer. If Best Buy continues refusing to meet its
contractual obligations, consult your state's Attorney General's
consumer protection division, the local Better Business Bureau, and
the Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, many local newspapers and TV
stations have reporters who specialize in investigating complaints of
consumer fraud; many commercial malefactors quickly fix problems when
threatened with exposure.

--

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