Product Key

[Linda]

Has anyone else had a product key problem and been unable
to get help? I had to replace my harddrive but in using
my XP home edition disk, I keep getting an invalid key
message. The certificate of authenticity is on the bottom
of my CPU tower and a little worn, but I even tried every
combination of D's, O's, and zero's that are possible in
case I was inputting it wrong. E-machines will only
confirm that I am using the right key and right product
ID numbers...no response when I asked if I sent them the
actual operating system disk, would they return me a
different one that will work. And just try to contact
Microsoft through the system when you have an OEM
edition, or even find an email address for them!

I thought Windows was heaven-sent when they first came
out with it and I migrated from Enable O/A which was
difficult to learn. That was 15 years ago and I've been
through the bugs of all of the Windows versions since
then - every time I upgrade or get an entirely new
computer. With XP, I'm beginning to see why so many
people are down on Microsoft. It's looking like since
hardware started dropping a little in price, they'll
force us to buy entirely new systems when all we need is
a new harddrive!

[Ron Martell]

"Linda" > wrote:

>Has anyone else had a product key problem and been unable
>to get help? I had to replace my harddrive but in using
>my XP home edition disk, I keep getting an invalid key
>message. The certificate of authenticity is on the bottom
>of my CPU tower and a little worn, but I even tried every
>combination of D's, O's, and zero's that are possible in
>case I was inputting it wrong. E-machines will only
>confirm that I am using the right key and right product
>ID numbers...no response when I asked if I sent them the
>actual operating system disk, would they return me a
>different one that will work. And just try to contact
>Microsoft through the system when you have an OEM
>edition, or even find an email address for them!
>
>I thought Windows was heaven-sent when they first came
>out with it and I migrated from Enable O/A which was
>difficult to learn. That was 15 years ago and I've been
>through the bugs of all of the Windows versions since
>then - every time I upgrade or get an entirely new
>computer. With XP, I'm beginning to see why so many
>people are down on Microsoft. It's looking like since
>hardware started dropping a little in price, they'll
>force us to buy entirely new systems when all we need is
>a new harddrive!

Is your old hard drive still usable at all?

Can you put it back into the computer and boot into Windows? If so
then you can use the XP Product Key Finder utility from
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tips_fixes.htm and run it to extract
the correct product key number.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[David B.]

And just so you know, all CD's for a given version of XP are identical, they are not tied to nor do they contain the product key, it
is the key that uniquely identifies your license.

--


----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ron Martell" > wrote in message ...
> "Linda" > wrote:
>
> >Has anyone else had a product key problem and been unable
> >to get help? I had to replace my harddrive but in using
> >my XP home edition disk, I keep getting an invalid key
> >message. The certificate of authenticity is on the bottom
> >of my CPU tower and a little worn, but I even tried every
> >combination of D's, O's, and zero's that are possible in
> >case I was inputting it wrong. E-machines will only
> >confirm that I am using the right key and right product
> >ID numbers...no response when I asked if I sent them the
> >actual operating system disk, would they return me a
> >different one that will work. And just try to contact
> >Microsoft through the system when you have an OEM
> >edition, or even find an email address for them!
> >
> >I thought Windows was heaven-sent when they first came
> >out with it and I migrated from Enable O/A which was
> >difficult to learn. That was 15 years ago and I've been
> >through the bugs of all of the Windows versions since
> >then - every time I upgrade or get an entirely new
> >computer. With XP, I'm beginning to see why so many
> >people are down on Microsoft. It's looking like since
> >hardware started dropping a little in price, they'll
> >force us to buy entirely new systems when all we need is
> >a new harddrive!
>
> Is your old hard drive still usable at all?
>
> Can you put it back into the computer and boot into Windows? If so
> then you can use the XP Product Key Finder utility from
> http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tips_fixes.htm and run it to extract
> the correct product key number.
>
> Good luck
>
>
> Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
> --
> Microsoft MVP
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
>
> "The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You need to examine the Product Key very carefully. It's awfully
easy to mistake a "B" for an "8," a "G" for a "6," an "S" for a "5,"
or a "Q" for a "0" or "O." Fortunately, Microsoft had the good sense
to leave the "1's," "I's," "O's," and "0's" out of the equation.
Also, be sure that your CapsLock if _off_ while entering the Product
Key.

Troubleshooting Invalid CD Key Error Message During Windows XP Setup
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310637


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Linda" > wrote in message
...
> Has anyone else had a product key problem and been unable
> to get help? I had to replace my harddrive but in using
> my XP home edition disk, I keep getting an invalid key
> message. The certificate of authenticity is on the bottom
> of my CPU tower and a little worn, but I even tried every
> combination of D's, O's, and zero's that are possible in
> case I was inputting it wrong. E-machines will only
> confirm that I am using the right key and right product
> ID numbers...no response when I asked if I sent them the
> actual operating system disk, would they return me a
> different one that will work. And just try to contact
> Microsoft through the system when you have an OEM
> edition, or even find an email address for them!
>
> I thought Windows was heaven-sent when they first came
> out with it and I migrated from Enable O/A which was
> difficult to learn. That was 15 years ago and I've been
> through the bugs of all of the Windows versions since
> then - every time I upgrade or get an entirely new
> computer. With XP, I'm beginning to see why so many
> people are down on Microsoft. It's looking like since
> hardware started dropping a little in price, they'll
> force us to buy entirely new systems when all we need is
> a new harddrive!