On Jan 20, 10:17 pm, "Daave"
wrote:

Please describe the disc in as much detail as possible. Did it come with
a genuine holographic Microsoft COA?

The disc is copper in tone, with holographic lettering, with the words
"WindowsXP Professional" on it. "XP" is in superscript, and
"Professional" is written below "Windows." On tilting the words
"Microsoft Windows XP" appears written repeatedly on the bottom half
of the label face. Below is a hologram block with the word
"Microsoft" on top of a lined globe. Phases found elsewhere in the
hologram:

"For distribution with a new PC only. For product support, contact
the manufacturer of your PC."

"Includes Service Pack 2"

"Version 2002"

"0504 Part No. X10-59871"

The COA isn't holographic. It's yellow and green paper sticker with
rounded edges, similar to the outline of a bar of dove soap. There
is a metallic silver strip running through the paper. On it is
written "Genuine" alternating between forward and mirror lettering.
The metallic strip is revealed in the COA through windows that are
made to look as if they were worn through the paper. On the COA in
black ink is written:

"WIndows XP Professional"

"OEM Software"

"Proof of License Certificate of Authenticity"

There are also bar codes on the left and right of the sticker.


Which key are you using? Did your PC previously have a licensed Windows
installation on it, and if so, what kind was it?

The key on the COA sticker that came adhered to the shrink wrap on
this package. The key from my original install of windows is gone. I
lost it, and the discs in my last move, so there's no possibility of
using the key from the wrong version -- this is the only key I have.


There are both reputable and disreputable sellers on Ebay. If you
purchased a valid disk and license, you should be fine, but we need to
determine that first.


It seems that Microsoft's people have already determined that. As I
mentioned, someone from their anti-counterfeiting group, or tech
support (don't recall who) verified that this was an authentic key
code, and that it had never been activated.

There's also the possibility that your disk and license are legal, but
someone else is using that particular product key.

Microsoft's people kind of eliminated that possibility. If the key
has never been activated (not even by me), doesn't that meant that
nobody's using it?

Thanks.

-GeorgeF