Activate Windows error message/alert

HUFCsteve

Help please!!!

I have a PC that is a few years old which I bought new with Windows XP Home installed upon it (bought from an independent retailer).

Last night I installed XP Home Service Pack 2. The install went fine. However, I'm now receiving the following "Activate Windows" error message/alert: According to our records, the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded. Please enter a different 25-digit product key. Incidentally the product key I have is only 20-digits long. It's saying that I only have 30 days in which to resolve this else I can't use Windows. What do I do?

[Deleted User]

Ring Microsoft and discuss it with them on 0870 60 10 100.

PaulK_3

MS will reset the alert and or give you a key to type in. Doesn't take long unless the independant you got the PC from has been using the same key on all his PCs.

dedward67

You should have an XP certificate of Authenticity label on your pc or occasionally on a separate piece of paper. If not, it is possible your retailer put on the same XP key into multiple PC's or installed on one model the same as yours and cloned (i.e.did an exact copy) of the build and installed several PC's of identical specification to yours. Service pack 2 and 3 do additional Anti Piracy security checks and I have seen this kind of thing happen before. If you do have the MS certificate on your PC, then as other posters say, give Microsoft a call and explain the situation. If not, you'll have to buy a legit copy of XP.