On 29/12/2017 05:53, Diesel wrote:

You have a couple of options...You can continue trying via the
browser method, but, you need to update ie6 to atleast sp1 or, go
with ie8.

Alternatively, you can try this from console to bring up the
activation window I described above and go from there. Keep in mind,
it renders in html, so if your copy of ie is foobared, this may not
work. Each line requires you to press enter after it, naturally.

open cmd.exe via start/run
cd\windows\system32\oobe
msoobe /a

Of the options presented, online activation probably isn't going to
work.

It depends whether the key is really legit. I activated a laptop with
XP earlier this year.

Most likely you will be calling MS via a phone number it'll
provide you. read the 'codes' it presents and when finished, assuming
it accepts them all, it'll give you back more codes to enter into the
boxes. Once you do, you'll be re-activated. If that doesn't work,
you'll be speaking to an MS representative. If they believe you that
the key is legit, they *might* give you corresponding codes as
described above to complete the process. And, if they don't... well,
you might be offered a discount on a later legal copy of windows.

Keep in mind, your machine may not be all that pleased with a later
copy of Windows. So, you have other options now. Switch to a more
recent hardware wise computer that's probably going to come with a
newer version of Windows.. OR, keep the machine you have and take the
plunge into the world of Linux.

Yes.

Wait, I lied. There's actually another option, but, it's not exactly
a legal one. That is, if you really want to keep XP pro. You'll have
to reinstall it, from scratch though.

No, not really viable, as the rebuilt installation will not get any
updates, not even the ones originally targeting XP.

Oh drat, I forgot about another possible option. You'll have to do
your own homework/searching for it, but, there's a program out there
that can trick it into thinking it's activated. I personally wouldn't
recommend this manner of activation as, well, it's a bandaid approach
on a good day.

Or ...

On 28/12/2017 23:32, FreeMan wrote:

Where do I look in Windows to get the product key ?

Buy via eBay a for-spares-or-repairs PC or component from a similar
model and identical make of PC that has a valid, already activated
product key but for which the original PC is known to be dead and has
not been used for quite a while. For example, many Dell laptops have
their XP and Vista Product Keys on a cover of a compartment on the base,
for which I suspect you could just buy the cover for a few dollars or
quid. You may have to try two or three before you get one that works.

The laptop I activated earlier this year was part of a test I ran, not
originally intended for actual use, but as it happens I reloaded that
image a few days ago to see what would happen, and it's still activated.