Windows XP Home activation - emachine

[Brian]

Howdy All,

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.

I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.

I replace the power supply and motherboard.

Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.

I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail version
of Windows since the motherboard is different than the original.

I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS can not
help me.

Any ideas on what to do? (besides buy windows again)

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If Windows XP was preinstalled by eMachine and you
did not replace the defective motherboard with the exact
eMachine replacement, your eMachine version of Windows
XP is not going to activate since it is looking for the same BIOS.
All you can do is to purchase a conventional "Full Version" of
Windows XP and proceed with a "Repair Install".

A preinstalled OEM version of Windows XP cannot be used
with a different type of motherboard. The license is tied to
a specific motherboard model and BIOS and cannot be transferred.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.­com/XPrepairinstall.htm

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

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

:

| Howdy All,
|
| Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.
|
| I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.
|
| I replace the power supply and motherboard.
|
| Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.
|
| I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail version
| of Windows since the motherboard is different than the original.
|
| I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS can not
| help me.
|
| Any ideas on what to do? (besides buy windows again)
|
| Thanks,
| Brian

 

[Alias]

Howdy All,

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.

I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.

I replace the power supply and motherboard.

Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.

I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail version
of Windows since the motherboard is different than the original.

I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS can
not help me.

Any ideas on what to do? (besides buy windows again)

Thanks,
Brian

You might have buy XP again. I would recommend an OEM generic version, not
the retail version because it is much cheaper. You can get one at WalMart.
That said, if your computer works fine with the new MB and power supply, try
activating it online (if it's been over 120 days since your last hardware
change and/or activation, it should work). If that doesn't work, use the
phone option and tell them nothing but the 50 digit code they request.

See http://www.microscum.com/mmpafaq/ for more information.

Alias

 

[Brian]

Carey,

emachines doesn't carry the motherboard anymore, and I can't find it
anywhere, that's why I bought an Intel which is almost identical.

The original board was a Trigem ImperialGV.

Am I stuck because emachines can't supply me with replacement parts?

 

[Alias]

Carey,

emachines doesn't carry the motherboard anymore, and I can't find it
anywhere, that's why I bought an Intel which is almost identical.

The original board was a Trigem ImperialGV.

Am I stuck because emachines can't supply me with replacement parts?

I gave you the solution. Carey, like a parrot, will only say "Buy the retail
version".

Alias

 

[Richard in AZ]

YES. This is way I recommend to our computer club members, avoid emachines
at all cost.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Unfortunately, yes. When your eMachine motherboard died,
so did the eMachine-supplied Windows XP OEM license.

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

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

:

| Carey,
|
| emachines doesn't carry the motherboard anymore, and I can't find it
| anywhere, that's why I bought an Intel which is almost identical.
|
| The original board was a Trigem ImperialGV.
|
| Am I stuck because emachines can't supply me with replacement parts?

 

[Tim Slattery]

Howdy All,

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.

I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.

I replace the power supply and motherboard.

Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.

I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail version
of Windows since the motherboard is different than the original.

I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS can not
help me.

Interesting, Ed Foster just wrote a column on exactly this subject,
see here: http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2005/10/11/030/82390

You seem to have no way around buying another copy of WinXP. You
received an OEM version with your eMachines computer, which is valid
only for the computer on which it was originally installed. MS sells
these for considerably less than retail versions, because of this
restriction and others, including the fact that *all* support is
supposed to come from the OEM (eMachines, in this case), and not MS.

So it would seem to be up to eMachines to decide what constitutes the
"original system". And they seem to believe that buying a
non-eMachines motherboard instead of getting the same thing from them
at twice the price makes it a different computer.

 

[Leythos]

So it would seem to be up to eMachines to decide what constitutes the
"original system". And they seem to believe that buying a
non-eMachines motherboard instead of getting the same thing from them
at twice the price makes it a different computer.

That's what is clearly documented on the OEM partner site.

If the user chooses to NOT get a replacement from the OEM, then the
contract with the OEM is voided and the OEM does not have to continue to
support the system.

 

[Brian]

Thanks to all for your help.

I knew the 'answer' would come down to buy retail XP (which stinks)

eMachines can't even supply me with the replacement motherboard!!!

I am very disappointed in eMachines and will let them know.

 

[Alias]

Thanks to all for your help.

I knew the 'answer' would come down to buy retail XP (which stinks)

Wrong. You obviously didn't read my post. You can buy a generic OEM at
Walmart, which is much cheaper than retail. You can also try to activate the
one you have installed.

Alias

eMachines can't even supply me with the replacement motherboard!!!

I am very disappointed in eMachines and will let them know.

 

[Guest]

Go to www.newegg.com, they are cheap and all you have to do is buy a piece of
hardware. Somebody correct me if Im wrong but it could be a power cord for
all they care.

 

[Steve N.]

That's what is clearly documented on the OEM partner site.

If the user chooses to NOT get a replacement from the OEM, then the
contract with the OEM is voided and the OEM does not have to continue to
support the system.

Read the OP Lethos! HE didn't HAVE a choice, eMachines no longer carries
that board.

Steve

 

[Brian]

Thanks again everyone.

To clarify:

I realize I can purchase an OEM version of Windows, but I do not believe I
should have to because I have already paid for a Windows license when I
bought the PC.

eMachines can not supply me with a replacement motherboard as Trigem no
longer manufacturers them.

I have tried to activate Windows to no avail. Online activation doesn't work
and phone support tells me to contact manufacturer (emachines).

I'm stuck.

I believe emachines should supply me with an cd key for activation.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Brian]

sorry for the typo

 

[Alias]

Thanks again everyone.

To clarify:

I realize I can purchase an OEM version of Windows, but I do not believe I
should have to because I have already paid for a Windows license when I
bought the PC.

Almost makes you want to use a cracked version, doesn't it?

eMachines can not supply me with a replacement motherboard as Trigem no
longer manufacturers them.

I have tried to activate Windows to no avail. Online activation doesn't
work and phone support tells me to contact manufacturer (emachines).

I'm stuck.

I believe emachines should supply me with an cd key for activation.

Thanks for your input.

Ain't activation great? Wait til you get a load of hastalaVista's "security
against piracy" features. PA and WGA are the worse PR moves MS has ever
made.

I've never seen an eMachine (they don't sell them in the country where I
live) but I hear they're cheap. It's even cheaper and better if you build
one yourself and it looks as if you're doing just that.

Alias

 

[Brian]

Yes, Alias, they are cheap.

I am working on this one for a friend.

I build my own PCs.

I'm not sure what 'cracked' version means, but if it means 'pirated' then
no, I don't wish to use that.
I merely want to use the license I rightfully purchased when the machine was
bought.

 

[Mistoffolees]

Read the OP Lethos! HE didn't HAVE a choice, eMachines no longer carries
that board.

Steve

It really does not matter whether or not eMachines still
carries the motherboard but whether it elects to replace it.
If this machine were under warranty, eMachines would have
been obligated to replace the motherboard with an equivalent
one or the entire machine. Whichever way, the OP would not
have been compelled to buy his/her own copy of Windows XP.
If the warranty had expired, the original owner is on her/her
own means; the OEM license died with the motherboard.

 

[Plato]

I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.
I replace the power supply and motherboard.
Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.
I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail version
of Windows since the motherboard is different than the original.
I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS can not
help me.
Any ideas on what to do? (besides buy windows again)

You never bought the full version of XP in the first place because you
shopped on price, not quality. Time to buy it now.

 

[Alias]

Yes, Alias, they are cheap.

I am working on this one for a friend.

And you bought the licence (see what you typed below)? I'm confused.

I build my own PCs.

I'm not sure what 'cracked' version means, but if it means 'pirated' then
no, I don't wish to use that.

Nor do I. Note that I wrote, and I quote, "***Almost*** makes you want to
use a cracked version".

I merely want to use the license I rightfully purchased when the machine
was bought.

Looks like you're out of luck but, if it's any consolation, I agree with you
and you or your friend got scammed by PA.

Alias