XP Home to XP Pro Upgrade

  • Thread starter Thread starter Colin A
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Colin A

I have just brought a couple of un-used, and un-registered COA's.

Both the COA's have "HP" written on them....

The PC I'm upgrading is a licensed install of XP Home on a "nothing brand"
PC.....

When I put the CD in to upgrade XP Home to XP Pro, it comes up with two
options, either UPGRADE (Recommended) or NEW INSTALLATION. I go for
UPGRADE....

I put my licence number in at the entry screen and it says, THE LICENCE KEY
IS INCORRECT...?, bear in mind the machine is not connected to the internet
at this point... I've tried it with both keys...

I'm a bit lost here, can any one shed light on the problem.. Is this
something to do with the "HP" bit on the COA...?
 
The HP COAs you purchased were stolen. Contact the seller for a refund.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

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

|I have just brought a couple of un-used, and un-registered COA's.
|
| Both the COA's have "HP" written on them....
|
| The PC I'm upgrading is a licensed install of XP Home on a "nothing brand"
| PC.....
|
| When I put the CD in to upgrade XP Home to XP Pro, it comes up with two
| options, either UPGRADE (Recommended) or NEW INSTALLATION. I go for
| UPGRADE....
|
| I put my licence number in at the entry screen and it says, THE LICENCE KEY
| IS INCORRECT...?, bear in mind the machine is not connected to the internet
| at this point... I've tried it with both keys...
|
| I'm a bit lost here, can any one shed light on the problem.. Is this
| something to do with the "HP" bit on the COA...?
|
|
 
Hi,

You're trying to use OEM keys on retail media, they are not interchangeable.
The OEM keys are only valid for the specific media type they are sold with.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Colin said:
I have just brought a couple of un-used, and un-registered COA's.

Both the COA's have "HP" written on them....

The PC I'm upgrading is a licensed install of XP Home on a "nothing
brand" PC.....

When I put the CD in to upgrade XP Home to XP Pro, it comes up with
two options, either UPGRADE (Recommended) or NEW INSTALLATION. I go
for UPGRADE....

I put my licence number in at the entry screen and it says, THE
LICENCE KEY IS INCORRECT...?, bear in mind the machine is not
connected to the internet at this point... I've tried it with both
keys...
I'm a bit lost here, can any one shed light on the problem.. Is this
something to do with the "HP" bit on the COA...?
Click to expand...

You got ripped off. The COA's will only work with HP supplied Windows on an
HP computer. Report the seller to Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/default.mspx
 
No, first attempt to return for a refund. If the price is refunded then just
drop it. He is not obliged to be Microsoft's snitch, nor spend precious time
doing their investigative legwork.
 
Ground said:
No, first attempt to return for a refund. If the price is refunded
then just drop it. He is not obliged to be Microsoft's snitch, nor
spend precious time doing their investigative legwork.
Click to expand...

The person who sold the COA's is a criminal. They have commited at a minumum
the crime of fraud in any jurisdiction I know of. Would you knowingly watch
someone pull a credit card fraud and not report them? If the OP doesn't want
to report them to MS then it should be reported to the local authorities
where the seller is located. If the seller is not stopped other people will
get ripped off. It has nothing to do with protecting MS but with protecting
other unsuspecting buyers.
 
I agree with your sentiments. But there's a couple considerations:

1. I'm just not convinced just from the posts above that a crime has taken
place. As per the OP, Colin A., if the seller is willing to admit a mistake
and provide refund or amends, well then, there's no crime. So he should
contact them first, not Microsoft, not the cops.

2. As a citizen I'm hesitant to cop call (snitch) unless I'm very sure
there's serious criminal activity (violence to person or serious violence to
personal property - drug crime and light theft I turn a blind eye to). I
agree that, if the OP were sure there was a crime committed and not just
some error or misunderstanding, further steps might be undertaken. Yet
still, he's not obliged to Microsoft at all and if they (Microsoft) want him
to investigate they should pay him for his time, costs and effort.
 
Ground said:
I agree with your sentiments. But there's a couple considerations:

1. I'm just not convinced just from the posts above that a crime has
taken place. As per the OP, Colin A., if the seller is willing to
admit a mistake and provide refund or amends, well then, there's no
crime. So he should contact them first, not Microsoft, not the cops.

2. As a citizen I'm hesitant to cop call (snitch) unless I'm very sure
there's serious criminal activity (violence to person or serious
violence to personal property - drug crime and light theft I turn a
blind eye to). I agree that, if the OP were sure there was a crime
committed and not just some error or misunderstanding, further steps
might be undertaken. Yet still, he's not obliged to Microsoft at all
and if they (Microsoft) want him to investigate they should pay him
for his time, costs and effort.
Click to expand...

You may be right but I find it hard to imagine that someone selling HP COA's
doesn't know they are doing something wrong.
 
Colin said:
I have just brought a couple of un-used, and un-registered COA's.
Click to expand...


You've been defrauded; such CoA sales are not legitimate.

Both the COA's have "HP" written on them....
Click to expand...


Then they *cannot* be legitimately be used on any computer other than
the ones with which they left HP's factory. You've been ripped off.

The PC I'm upgrading is a licensed install of XP Home on a "nothing brand"
PC.....

When I put the CD in to upgrade XP Home to XP Pro, it comes up with two
options, either UPGRADE (Recommended) or NEW INSTALLATION. I go for
UPGRADE....
Click to expand...

OEM CDs (which are what those Product Keys belong to) cannot perform
upgrades. Or are you trying to use something other than HP Recovery
CDs? Those Product Keys probably won't work with anything else.

I put my licence number in at the entry screen and it says, THE LICENCE KEY
IS INCORRECT...?, bear in mind the machine is not connected to the internet
at this point... I've tried it with both keys...
Click to expand...


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.
Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

I'm a bit lost here, can any one shed light on the problem.. Is this
something to do with the "HP" bit on the COA...?
Click to expand...

It has everything to do with it. You have not purchased legitimate
licenses. Contact your bank to stop payment on the credit card used.
In fact, you'd be wise to completely cancel that credit card account, as
you've given the account information to a proven thief. Contact your
local law enforcement agencies for further guidance.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
Ground Cover said:
I agree with your sentiments. But there's a couple considerations:

1. I'm just not convinced just from the posts above that a crime has
taken
place. As per the OP, Colin A., if the seller is willing to admit a
mistake
and provide refund or amends, well then, there's no crime. So he should
contact them first, not Microsoft, not the cops.

2. As a citizen I'm hesitant to cop call (snitch) unless I'm very sure
there's serious criminal activity (violence to person or serious violence
to
personal property - drug crime and light theft I turn a blind eye to). I
agree that, if the OP were sure there was a crime committed and not just
some error or misunderstanding, further steps might be undertaken. Yet
still, he's not obliged to Microsoft at all and if they (Microsoft) want
him
to investigate they should pay him for his time, costs and effort.
Click to expand...

The seller IS aware he is scamming the OP. The seller is a thief and knows
what they are doing and it is highly unlikely a refund would ever be given.
He could possibly get a refund through his credit card provider.
You are very naive if you think a person selling only the COA without any
media is a legit seller. The COA's, would only work on the HP media it was
intended to work and activate on.
Why should Microsoft compensate him for reporting a scam artist? MS was not
the one that stole his money, it was the scam artist. Find out how to hurt
the guilty party, not the one of the victims being ripped of.
The link below illustrates what the OP would face if he successfully
installed using the COA received from the scammer.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/oemeula.htm

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Michael said:
The seller IS aware he is scamming the OP. The seller is a thief and
knows what they are doing and it is highly unlikely a refund would
ever be given. He could possibly get a refund through his credit card
provider. You are very naive if you think a person selling only the COA
without
any media is a legit seller. The COA's, would only work on the HP
media it was intended to work and activate on.
Why should Microsoft compensate him for reporting a scam artist? MS
was not the one that stole his money, it was the scam artist. Find
out how to hurt the guilty party, not the one of the victims being
ripped of. The link below illustrates what the OP would face if he
successfully
installed using the COA received from the scammer.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/oemeula.htm
Click to expand...

For another reason standalone COA's are a scam, see the link below.
http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/search.aspx?q=coa&p=1
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
I suggested that the OP ask the seller for a refund or amends first. I think
that is a reasonable first step if there is a question or a problem.
Thereafter, if no amends is made,, nor refund offered, nor exchange for
proper license is done, then other courses of action come into
consideration. But cop calling at the first unconsidered drop of a hat is
not good.

And as far as Microsoft is concerned? If they want a person to do footwork,
make phone calls, investigate etc. etc. they can pay the person.
 
Ground said:
I suggested that the OP ask the seller for a refund or amends first.
I think that is a reasonable first step if there is a question or a
problem. Thereafter, if no amends is made,, nor refund offered, nor
exchange for proper license is done, then other courses of action
come into consideration. But cop calling at the first unconsidered
drop of a hat is not good.

And as far as Microsoft is concerned? If they want a person to do
footwork, make phone calls, investigate etc. etc. they can pay the
person.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I take exception to this attitude. If you bought a stolen
laptop, found out it was stolen, contacted the seller and got a refund,
would you not report it? Even if the buyer gets a refund the seller
committed a crime. Reporting a crime is done to stop criminals from taking
advantage of other victims. Although Microsoft could also be considered a
victim in this case the main victims are the unsuspecting consumers.
 
Point taken. I agree, if one is certain a real intentional crime has taken
place [e.g. one has stumbled upon a pirate operation], depending on
circumstances, I'd consider reporting to government authorities [although,
I'm greatly hesitant to have anything doing with "authorities", quite
frankly; because it's not a fun and games thing - it's very serious].

But there's always the benefit of the doubt and if it seems to be a one time
thing and the seller is willing to refund or otherwise make amends, then
there's really no reason to phone police. And again, if Microsoft wants leg
work done by a person, by rights they should pay the person to do so.
 
Ground Cover said:
Point taken. I agree, if one is certain a real intentional crime has taken
place [e.g. one has stumbled upon a pirate operation], depending on
circumstances, I'd consider reporting to government authorities [although,
I'm greatly hesitant to have anything doing with "authorities", quite
frankly; because it's not a fun and games thing - it's very serious].

But there's always the benefit of the doubt and if it seems to be a one
time
thing and the seller is willing to refund or otherwise make amends, then
there's really no reason to phone police. And again, if Microsoft wants
leg
work done by a person, by rights they should pay the person to do so.
Click to expand...

The reason I initially suggested the OP report it to Microsoft is because
they will take it seriously and act against the seller. government
authorities may not. The vast majority of sellers that sell COA's illegally
do so on eBay or other auction sites. Contacting Microsoft will at least get
the sellers eBay ID banned if nothing else.
 
And again, if Microsoft wants leg
work done by a person, by rights they should pay the person to do so.
Click to expand...


Translation:

The same as those who use Cop or snitch.

"Please don't be hasty, You may cause me trouble and I'll get caught."
 
Snitching is snitching - you want to "pretty" it up, be my guest - but it is
still snitching. Sometimes - rarely - one should call the cops (I have a
list of things in my head I would call cops over). If one can come to a good
resolution without doing such a thing, that's much better.

If someone sells me something I think is damaged / bogus / wrong type etc. ,
it would be better for me to try to resolve it directly before going to
authorities. Only if it can't be resolved and the person is clearly involved
in crime should a call be made, in my opinion. On eBay, too, there's a
rating system. A seller will not last long selling bogus goods. I would
venture that a crook can only "hit and run" on eBay.

Besides, what does one expect buying Windows licenses on eBay anyway? Why
not buy from a reputable online dealer than some "hit and run" Windows COA
seller on eBay ?? Or at least buy from someone on eBay who has a good
reputation??

Calling the cops is not the first thing to do. First a person should try to
correct the situation directly with the seller.
 
Ground said:
Michael Stevens wrote:

I suggested that the OP ask the seller for a refund or amends first. I think
that is a reasonable first step if there is a question or a problem.
Thereafter, if no amends is made,, nor refund offered, nor exchange for
proper license is done, then other courses of action come into
consideration. But cop calling at the first unconsidered drop of a hat is
not good.
Click to expand...


No, it's your attitude that is "not good." Do you also offer murderers
and rapists a "do-over" before calling the police?



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
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