XP Pro Activation Problems

[Chris Davis]

Help...

I have two legitimate copies of Windows XP Pro. One is
installed and working fine on my own PC. I installed the
second one on a friends PC, but did not have the correct
certificate of authenticity with me at the time, so for the
install I used the certificate that is for my own PC. A
couple of days after the install I got the correct
certificate and attempted to use it to activate XP.
Microsoft will not accept the new certificate number.

My questions:

Does XP have to be installed with the same registration
number as it will be activated with?

If so, do I have to do a new install with the correct key
to fix this situation?

If I install over top of the existing installation, so as
to not loose all the other software that has been installed
since, will Windows even ask for a key again during the
installation or do I have to wipe out everything?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

HOW TO: Change the Product Key at the Time of Activation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Activate Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307890

Select the alternative option to "activate by telephone".


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Help...
|
| I have two legitimate copies of Windows XP Pro. One is
| installed and working fine on my own PC. I installed the
| second one on a friends PC, but did not have the correct
| certificate of authenticity with me at the time, so for the
| install I used the certificate that is for my own PC. A
| couple of days after the install I got the correct
| certificate and attempted to use it to activate XP.
| Microsoft will not accept the new certificate number.
|
| My questions:
|
| Does XP have to be installed with the same registration
| number as it will be activated with?
|
| If so, do I have to do a new install with the correct key
| to fix this situation?
|
| If I install over top of the existing installation, so as
| to not loose all the other software that has been installed
| since, will Windows even ask for a key again during the
| installation or do I have to wipe out everything?
|
|

 

[Matija Hrovat, Avtenta.Si]

Help...

I have two legitimate copies of Windows XP Pro. One is
installed and working fine on my own PC. I installed the
second one on a friends PC, but did not have the correct
certificate of authenticity with me at the time, so for the
install I used the certificate that is for my own PC. A
couple of days after the install I got the correct
certificate and attempted to use it to activate XP.
Microsoft will not accept the new certificate number.

My questions:

Does XP have to be installed with the same registration
number as it will be activated with?

It's not a MUST, but you'll have to change the key later.

If so, do I have to do a new install with the correct key
to fix this situation?

You can call you activation center (Select activate over the telephone), and
you'll change the product key with them.
Or you can "deactivate" you windows by changing a registry key. Read more
at:

How to change the Volume Licensing product key on a Windows XP SP1-based
computer (Q328874)
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=328874

If I didn't answer everything please ask again.

--

------------------------------------------------------------
For direct e-mailing remove "-spam" from my e-mail address
--
Best Regards,
Matija Hrovat
Avtenta.SI
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
for Support Services

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have two legitimate copies of Windows XP Pro. One is
installed and working fine on my own PC. I installed the
second one on a friends PC, but did not have the correct
certificate of authenticity with me at the time, so for the
install I used the certificate that is for my own PC. A
couple of days after the install I got the correct
certificate and attempted to use it to activate XP.
Microsoft will not accept the new certificate number.

My questions:

Does XP have to be installed with the same registration
number as it will be activated with?

I am not sure that you have picked up the correct number, or how you are
trying to use it. What is needed is the 25 character Product Key
(Yellow sticker) - like
BA2CD-FG678-LM9GC- etc
The only way to change that, other than using it in a fresh install, is
to set out from
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Activate Windows
to Activate by Telephone. In that, before actually calling, there is a
chance to change the key. Use it, accept, then cancel without phoning.
Get on the net and Activate on the Internet