Windows XP Pro including SP2 missing product key

[Guest]

With my brand spankin' new MS Action Pack, I received a Windows XP Pro
INCLUDING SP2 CD. I wiped my previous OS and started installing from the
aforementioned disc. Everything went smooth as goose poo, until it asked for
the product key. I tried the key included in the Action Pack for XP Pro
w/SP1, I tried my VLK for XP Pro w/SP1, but alas, neither one works.
ANYBODY know where I'm supposed to get this particular product key?!?

 

[peter]

Mines on a sticker on the ouside of the package.
How did you receive a lovely copy of XP PRO SP2 ?? no packaging?? no
sleeve??does it have a hologram??
peter

 

[D.Currie]

With my brand spankin' new MS Action Pack, I received a Windows XP Pro
INCLUDING SP2 CD. I wiped my previous OS and started installing from the
aforementioned disc. Everything went smooth as goose poo, until it asked
for
the product key. I tried the key included in the Action Pack for XP Pro
w/SP1, I tried my VLK for XP Pro w/SP1, but alas, neither one works.
ANYBODY know where I'm supposed to get this particular product key?!?

I didn't get one either. It's oem, so you'd need an oem key. Maybe in with
the OPK kits they included; I haven't looked through everything yet. But
it's odd that everything else has a key attached.

 

[DevilsPGD]

I didn't get one either. It's oem, so you'd need an oem key. Maybe in with
the OPK kits they included; I haven't looked through everything yet. But
it's odd that everything else has a key attached.

Hmm, I've got an SP2 install going right now. I just looked through my
packaging and all the misc labels and junk that was included, no sign of
any product key. I just assumed it would accept the keys I was already
provided.

*sigh* Same deal, won't accept any of my keys.

In trying the new SP2 CD (before I discovered my keys don't work), one
machine got to approximately 9% of the install , then "drivers.cab"
failed to copy.

Here's the weird part though, I rebooted, reformatted, put in my
known-good home-built (WinXPsp1 + slipstreamed SP2) CD, it failed at
drivers.cab too. I'm installing WinXPSP1 (from my action pack, same as
was originally installed) and it is installing successfully.

The known-good one has installed several machines before, including the
one I'm using to post this message. It just seems odd that both CDs
would fail at the same file since the disk geometry is undoubtably
different between the home-grown slipstream and Microsoft's release.

Both CDs worked fine on another system though, which is how I got to
test to see that my keys don't work on the action pack one.

Ahh well, the goal was to reinstall the systems, not to install SP2, so
I guess it's all good, only 20-30 minutes wasted trying to get the
stupid OEM CD to install.

I can't say I'm real impressed with their throughness on this update,
according to the documentation I was supposted to get OneNote 2004, what
I got was another OneNote 2003 CD. Also, it said I'm supposed to get
"Office 2003 Pro re-release", and what I got was "Office 2003 Small
Business Edition" (which has one key on the back, instead of the usual 5
keys good for 2 activations each)

On the last updsate I was missing keys for Virtual PC, and I think
something else as well. Plus there was an insert that apologized for
forgetting Outlook BCM in a previous update, and that it was included in
this update. Well, it WAS included in the previous update, and was not
included in the update with the insert.

Does nobody at Microsoft sit down and look at the quarterly updates
before they go out?

Ahhh well.

Now I'm off to get SUS working for the first time. *grrrrrrr*

 

[D.Currie]

Hmm, I've got an SP2 install going right now. I just looked through my
packaging and all the misc labels and junk that was included, no sign of
any product key. I just assumed it would accept the keys I was already
provided.

*sigh* Same deal, won't accept any of my keys.

In trying the new SP2 CD (before I discovered my keys don't work), one
machine got to approximately 9% of the install , then "drivers.cab" failed
to copy.

Here's the weird part though, I rebooted, reformatted, put in my
known-good home-built (WinXPsp1 + slipstreamed SP2) CD, it failed at
drivers.cab too. I'm installing WinXPSP1 (from my action pack, same as
was originally installed) and it is installing successfully.

The known-good one has installed several machines before, including the
one I'm using to post this message. It just seems odd that both CDs would
fail at the same file since the disk geometry is undoubtably different
between the home-grown slipstream and Microsoft's release.

Both CDs worked fine on another system though, which is how I got to test
to see that my keys don't work on the action pack one.

Ahh well, the goal was to reinstall the systems, not to install SP2, so I
guess it's all good, only 20-30 minutes wasted trying to get the stupid
OEM CD to install.

I can't say I'm real impressed with their throughness on this update,
according to the documentation I was supposted to get OneNote 2004, what I
got was another OneNote 2003 CD. Also, it said I'm supposed to get
"Office 2003 Pro re-release", and what I got was "Office 2003 Small
Business Edition" (which has one key on the back, instead of the usual 5
keys good for 2 activations each)

On the last updsate I was missing keys for Virtual PC, and I think
something else as well. Plus there was an insert that apologized for
forgetting Outlook BCM in a previous update, and that it was included in
this update. Well, it WAS included in the previous update, and was not
included in the update with the insert.

Does nobody at Microsoft sit down and look at the quarterly updates before
they go out?

Ahhh well.

Now I'm off to get SUS working for the first time. *grrrrrrr*

--
I guess we'll be going down together, I mean getting off together,
I mean ... That's Ok, I'll just press the button for the stimulator.
Elevator!
-- Homer Simpson

Well, for the heck of it, I emailed MS about the key, and they said we have
to call for it. It would have been nice if that had been indicated on the
packaging, but then again, I don't really need another copy of XP so if you
hadn't posted and I hadn't looked, I probably never would have missed it.

I'll probably call for the number, just so I have it on hand if I ever need
it.

 

[Guest]

Mines on a sticker on the ouside of the package.
How did you receive a lovely copy of XP PRO SP2 ?? no packaging?? no
sleeve??does it have a hologram??
peter



It came with my brand spankin' new Action Pack, in a sleeve, but no product code on the back.

 

[D.Currie]

FYI: I called this morning and got the key; it's good for 10 installs.

 

[DevilsPGD]

Well, for the heck of it, I emailed MS about the key, and they said we have
to call for it. It would have been nice if that had been indicated on the
packaging, but then again, I don't really need another copy of XP so if you
hadn't posted and I hadn't looked, I probably never would have missed it.

Did they provide any explanation for why we have to call and beg for
products for which we paid?

 

[D.Currie]

Did they provide any explanation for why we have to call and beg for
products for which we paid?

They goofed. MS doesn't actually touch any of this stuff; they use a
fulfillment company. Maybe they'll find a better one after this. It's a bit
annoying to have to call for the number, but they're having to man the
phones to take all the calls. Let's hope the next fulfillment company does a
better job of packaging.

 

[DevilsPGD]

They goofed. MS doesn't actually touch any of this stuff; they use a
fulfillment company. Maybe they'll find a better one after this. It's a bit
annoying to have to call for the number, but they're having to man the
phones to take all the calls. Let's hope the next fulfillment company does a
better job of packaging.

It's not like this is the first time there was a screwup either... They
seem to be confused about OneNote 2003 vs 2004, I've got at least three
copies of InfoPath, two of OneNote 2003, I failed to receive a VPC2004
key (although MS did ship one pretty quickly), they claimed they forgot
Outlook BCM even though they did include it, then forgot to include the
replacement (which was supposed to correct the fact that they didn't
forget it the first time).

I could go on.

Ahh well, lots of software, good price, comes in handy.