Windows XP Pro - activation needed but is being awkward

ckerrd

has something changed recently that it is now asking you to activate your copy?

timberflake

ckerrd wrote:

has something changed recently that it is now asking you to activate your copy?

You have to "validate" your copy (I think it may have part of the service pack 2 upgrade?) now to enable you to receive windows security/bug fix updates.

You've always had to activate XP on install within 28 days

bat999

Hi Crabman

That Tiny PC will gag on Vista, that's not a solution.

If you know anyone who still has a Windows 98 disk you could install that to tide you over. You need a product key but there's no messing around with validation !!!!!! with W98.

I use Ubuntu Linux now, but I have Windows 98SE on my other partition. It still works OK if/when I need it.

Good luck man:cool: :cool:

Crabman

elDeeJay wrote:

Am I missin something?
You bought a licence for Xp Pro, but lost the key, have no proof of purchase, no CD and nothing to validate your claims other than a win98 key on the side of your machine?
Im not being funny, but i can understand why MS wont give you a new licence key. Apologies if I've misunderstood the situation and AFAIK a XP Home key will not work on XP Pro.

I bought an upgrade pack for XP Pro, to upgrade my machine. The pack containing the CD and product key is nowhere to be found, and as Tiny Computers no longer exist, I can't go back to them for help. I am looking through credit card and other records to find the transaction for this upgrade copy but they need something which proves that it was the upgrade pack for XP Pro, so a simple transaction on a credit card statement may not be enough.

What on earth is the installation ID? Every advisor wanted it but apparently it is of no help to my case

timberflake

That is true, your PC would not be able to handle Vista. If you really are intent on keeping XP, I'd look on ebay, should be able to pick a legit copy up for £50, that's what I did.

abra_2

Crabman wrote:

I bought an upgrade pack for XP Pro, to upgrade my machine. The pack containing the CD and product key is nowhere to be found, and as Tiny Computers no longer exist, I can't go back to them for help. I am looking through credit card and other records to find the transaction for this upgrade copy but they need something which proves that it was the upgrade pack for XP Pro, so a simple transaction on a credit card statement may not be enough.

What on earth is the installation ID? Every advisor wanted it but apparently it is of no help to my case

I had a very similar problem a few years back, i.e. lost the jewel case of the XP Pro CD which had the key stuck on the back (and I had paid LOADS for it!). Microsoft were not willing to give me another key... I even mentioned returning the CD for a replacement... to no avail.

I ended up a desperate man... and a desperate man does desperate things (i.e. I used Google to locate software that generated Keys), and yes, I did inform the Microsoft customer services on the phone I was going to do this if they could not find a solution to a very simple problem.

GreenNotM

SP2 was releases ages ago ... have you only just gone to MS updates, have you changed some other hardware ?

Still confused how you know you have the right CD Key from the original post .

Anyway [URLhttp://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/114048/rb/24080189717"]Microsoft OEM Windows XP Home SP2B (Release 2) x32bit - 1PK55.22 inc VAT [/URL] may help but you will need to buy some hardware - but with a Tiny pc of that age you are better off with W98SE - avoid ME.

bat999

Hi Crabman

Remember that printout you showed us yesterday from Belarc Advisor?

On the last page there will be a 'Software Licenses' section.
The 25 digit key will be shown there, check if it's the one that you're using.
:cool:

Crabman

bat999 wrote:

Hi Crabman

Remember that printout you showed us yesterday from Belarc Advisor?

On the last page there will be a 'Software Licenses' section.
The 25 digit key will be shown there, check if it's the one that you're using.
:cool:

Thanks - I've entered this code but it says "incorrect code" to it.

From what I can see, next time I start the PC it won't let me use it unless it's activated, which isn't happening just yet. So basically after 4 years of trouble free computing, I must now leave it switched on otherwiseI can't use the computer! :mad:

bat999

Hi

I think what's happened is this:-

You've been to the M$ website and downloaded the latest updates. You've either done this intentionally or, by mistake, your settings have got changed to 'automatically check for updates'.

In with the latest updates is the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) nag screen.

Now it's been downloaded and installed on your PC and is going to randomly nag you because, for whatever reason, it's not convinced that your XP is legit. Even though you know very well that it is.

I don't think that it's going to lock you out of Windows but will just keep annoying you till you come to some arrangement with M$.

There's an explanation here:- http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/microsoft/windows-genuine-advantage-wga-nag-screen.asp

There's lots of stuff on the web with various suggestions how (honest) users can bypass/uninstall this nag screen.
:cool:

edit:- deleted last sentence