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#1
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XP Validation
Months after purchasing a XP Pro refurbished laptop I am getting a * in
the tray and wanting to validate. I have used every day for hours. I tried all the options and they all failed that are presented from the menu at the * in the tray. Several of the webpages that get opened are blank. The main webpage with two options to validate opens ok but both options fail. Files get downloaded but do not run. There is a MS tag on the bottom of the laptop. How do I tell what the tag represents ? What to do to validate ? Where do I look in Windows to get the product key ? |
#2
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XP Validation
On 29-12-2017 0:32, FreeMan wrote:
Months after purchasing a XP Pro refurbished laptop I am getting a * in the tray and wanting to validate. I have used every day for hours. I tried all the options and they all failed that are presented from the menu at the * in the tray. Several of the webpages that get opened are blank. The main webpage with two options to validate opens ok but both options fail. Files get downloaded but do not run. There is a MS tag on the bottom of the laptop. How do I tell what the tag represents ? What to do to validate ? Where do I look in Windows to get the product key ? You dont. Not in a legsl way. You have an illegal copy of xp. And only illegal ways of activating it. |
#3
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XP Validation
FreeMan wrote:
Months after purchasing a XP Pro refurbished laptop I am getting a * in the tray and wanting to validate. I have used every day for hours. I tried all the options and they all failed that are presented from the menu at the * in the tray. Several of the webpages that get opened are blank. The main webpage with two options to validate opens ok but both options fail. Files get downloaded but do not run. There is a MS tag on the bottom of the laptop. How do I tell what the tag represents ? What to do to validate ? Where do I look in Windows to get the product key ? If IE6 isn't working properly with some Microsoft feature like this, you can install IE8. That's in case something "ActiveX" or otherwise, has a problem with the older browser for some reason. I seem to remember at least one occasion, where I had to use IE8 for something activation-related. You can use "mgadiag.exe" to get information about your activation state. http://forum.thewindowsclub.com/wind...diag-tool.html http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=203456 === click, and download starts... The download is from the Microsoft site. ******* There are several license keys at play here. 1) When Dell ships a WinXP era laptop, the BIOS has a SLIC table, and all the C: drives have the same Dell license key number. So that isn't a unique identifier. You cannot take that license key to a friends house and install WinXP with it. The key, in a vacuum, is useless. It's the SLIC table that says "I'm a Dell" and authorizes use of the OS. 2) When a COA sticker is placed on the Dell, that license key is a unique value. And it's *not* the same key as the one on the hard drive when you get the machine. The COA sticker key doesn't use SLIC, and is closer to the kind of key that would come in a retail box. The activation server knows what it is, and you'll need to use telephone activation confirmation to use the key. So it's not as "high class" a key as a Retail key would be. The COA key is suitable for installing using a "regular" WinXP CD of the same trim level. If the laptop came with Home, the COA sticker would be Home too, your retail reinstall CD should be Home as well. 3) When an "official refurbisher" like Joy Systems processes a machine, they're required to remove the Dell OS or any other OS found, and replace the content of the C drive with yet another OEM OS. This is the "OEM Refurbisher" version. The license key might be unique (as there'd be no easy way to rig up SLIC activation). In such a case, the COA sticker, if freshly applied, could be for the Refurbisher version. There's no reason to apply a COA sticker, unless the info on it has some value (to someone). They're not intended to be decorative, and are a communication between what passes for the hardware manufacturer, and the end user. The refurbisher OS does not have to match the original Dell version. Windows 7 machines at Joy Systems, ship with Win10 on them now :-( It's the only refurb Windows valid for usage now. The COA sticker information should match what Joy Systems installed on the C: drive. If the hard drive is destroyed or breaks, it's that COA sticker that provides a key for a fresh installation on a new hard drive. That's the theory. I can't promise you what MGADiag is going to show. I don't know a thing about reading MGADiag output. There is a user-to-user forum on microsoft.com, where there are some people who can "pronounce" what the problem is, pirate or whatever. Always be careful to read the intro article to such forums, to determine what fields of MGAdiag should not be shared in the forum. That's if you prefer to get your advice from a group like that. There is *no* web page at Microsoft, where you type in a license key and it tells you it's valid. Hackers would love if such a thing existed. Microsoft has to be coy with that sort of information. Microsoft is supposed to provide free support for activation issues. And one of the things they'll want is MGAdiag info. If you (somehow, mysteriously) got pirate software on there, they'll offer a "deal" for a valid OS copy, as well as take details as to where you bought the machine. I doubt there is anything wrong with the machine, and a regular activation process should fix it. If the machine was returned by another customer, then something done at that point might have broken it. For example, Staples sells Joy Systems machines, and perhaps a returned machines would go back to a Staples warehouse and not be properly reformatted after a customer has fiddled with it. I don't know if Staples drop-ships these, or caches a few in their own warehouse. It would be better if the refurbisher handles everything. Paul |
#4
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XP Validation
"FreeMan" wrote
| | Where do I look in Windows to get the product key ? There's a free program named Produkey that's handy to have. If the system was activated with a valid key it should tell you. But there could be variables. If it's OEM it shouldn't need to activate. Did it come with a backup? A hidden partition for restore? If so you might try restoring the system. It's hard to tell from your description, but I wonder if the system is just messed up. I think these days you have to call MS to get XP activated. Way back when, when they imposed this activation scam, the word was that they'd "probably" release a universal key when XP support ended. But they still haven't. At the time they probably assumed that no one would want XP by now, and never dreamed that more people would want their 17 year old system than want their new one. To release a key could result in an embarassing XP resurgence. |
#5
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XP Validation
FreeMan
news GMT in alt.windows7.general, wrote: Months after purchasing a XP Pro refurbished laptop I am getting a * in the tray and wanting to validate. I have used every day for hours. I tried all the options and they all failed that are presented from the menu at the * in the tray. Several of the webpages that get opened are blank. 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. 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. 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. Reinstalling, VLK edition with a known good key. This obviously requires you finding a vlk edition iso and a good key. A generous soul might provide both, but, not via this medium. As, I said, this route isn't legal in your case. 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. Good luck! -- Please visit our moderators personal page: https://tekrider.net/pages/david-brooks-stalker.php Now for a cheeky message from our sponsors: Bela Lugosi's dead. How about you? |
#6
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XP Validation
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. |
#7
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XP Validation
In message , Java Jive
writes: [] 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. Do you mean you reloaded it to the machine it was originally on, or to a different machine? If the original, I wouldn't expect it to be other than still activated - I've not heard of activations "going bad", nor of machines checking to see whether they're bad, unless you're still doing updates. (Which I suppose I am - I installed the POS hack here, on this legal - OEM - machine, but I haven't noticed any updates even from that source for months, possibly longer.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf "One of my dearest memories is playing the leader of a gang of gay Hell's Angels thundering across the Golden Gate bridge on a motorbike in fog, wearing full Nazi regalia with a young man in a purple dress on the pillion petrified we'd crash into the bay." Christopher Lee (1997). ["It was in _The Serial_."] |
#8
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XP Validation
On 29/12/2017 17:58, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
Do you mean you reloaded it to the machine it was originally on, or to a different machine? If the original, I wouldn't expect it to be other than still activated - I've not heard of activations "going bad", nor of machines checking to see whether they're bad, unless you're still doing updates. I reloaded it back onto the same machine. I did it to see if it had 'gone bad', in the manner of the OP's, but, as I posted above, it seems fine, so I don't know what went wrong with the OP's. |
#9
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XP Validation
Java Jive news
Sat, 30 Dec 2017 12:25:58 GMT in alt.windows7.general, wrote:
On 29/12/2017 17:58, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: Do you mean you reloaded it to the machine it was originally on, or to a different machine? If the original, I wouldn't expect it to be other than still activated - I've not heard of activations "going bad", nor of machines checking to see whether they're bad, unless you're still doing updates. I reloaded it back onto the same machine. I did it to see if it had 'gone bad', in the manner of the OP's, but, as I posted above, it seems fine, so I don't know what went wrong with the OP's. I'm surprised you actually had to test the image in that way to determine if the key would somehow have deactivated. There's no reason for it to have done so. Incidently, the activation status is stored within two very small files. If one of them becomes corrupted/damaged for any reason, Windows will default to a non activated status as a result. This isn't a problem you run into with VLK editions though, as they do not and never have required 'activation' of any sort. -- Please visit our moderators personal page: https://tekrider.net/pages/david-brooks-stalker.php Now for a cheeky message from our sponsors: God made the integers; all else is the work of Man. |
#10
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XP Validation
Java Jive news
Fri, 29 Dec 2017 13:41:35 GMT in alt.windows7.general, wrote:
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. Well, it's a little more complicated than that, actually. There's several types of legit keys and they won't all activate these days with the simple online activation option. A completely legit key can still fail to be accepted using that method. Been there, done it, many times. 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. Is there an echo in here? 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. Wrong answer. You've evidently never heard of WSUS. You might want to google a bit about it. You can get *ALL* updates available for Windows XP upto the point where MS stopped offering them. I did, infact. Saved the resulting .ISO too. Makes reloading XP if I choose to do so a much simpler and quicker process. 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. That product key isn't the one that was used to install Windows on the machine, though. And, the key may/may not be accepted by Microsoft, especially if it's been used before or used a certain amount of times already by others who followed the same poorly thought out advice you offered. 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. Why wouldn't it be? Did you expect it to magically deactivate or something? -- Please visit our moderators personal page: https://tekrider.net/pages/david-brooks-stalker.php Now for a cheeky message from our sponsors: Disclaimer: Written by a highly caffeinated mammal. |
#11
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XP Validation
On 02/01/2018 02:01, Diesel wrote:
Java Jive news Fri, 29 Dec 2017 13:41:35 GMT in alt.windows7.general, wrote: 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. Well, it's a little more complicated than that, actually. There's several types of legit keys and they won't all activate these days with the simple online activation option. A completely legit key can still fail to be accepted using that method. Been there, done it, many times. I suspect that your failures can be classed under the heading "Microsoft no longer activates NEW keys"! That is, for some time, probably since end of support, MS has not allowed activation of even 'legit' keys that have never been activated before. They will only re-activate old 'legit' ones, as long as they are on the same or similar equipment. How similar the equipment actually has to be is, I grant, a matter of debate but in tests I did same make different model of laptop worked, but home built desktop unsurprisingly wouldn't work with a key from a laptop. 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. Wrong answer. You've evidently never heard of WSUS. I've certainly heard of it, but I've not tried using it an that situation. But it's still the correct answer in that running Windows Update won't find any updates. 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. That product key isn't the one that was used to install Windows on the machine, though. And, the key may/may not be accepted by Microsoft, especially if it's been used before or used a certain amount of times already by others who followed the same poorly thought out advice you offered. It's based on an actual test I did. 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. Why wouldn't it be? Did you expect it to magically deactivate or something? I thought it possible that Microsoft might have changed something in their rules for OS's that are no longer supported - it wouldn't have surprised me to find that they had. Cut out the know-it-all superior tone, because two significant mistakes in your post show that you obviously don't know it all! |
#12
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XP Validation
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#13
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XP Validation
Java Jive news
Tue, 02 Jan 2018 23:31:23 GMT in alt.windows7.general, wrote:
On 02/01/2018 02:01, Diesel wrote: Java Jive news alt.windows7.general, wrote: 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. Well, it's a little more complicated than that, actually. There's several types of legit keys and they won't all activate these days with the simple online activation option. A completely legit key can still fail to be accepted using that method. Been there, done it, many times. I suspect that your failures can be classed under the heading "Microsoft no longer activates NEW keys"! ROFL. Actually, no. I suppose I should just save us both some time and trouble with the ****ing contest and disclose the fact I'm actually a certified computer technician (comptia as well as novell and a couple of old hp certs too, oh and a long since expired ms certification that I didn't give two ****s about when I got it; hence it's expired and has been for over a decade or more now) with two honorary masters in computer science and program design. I've been doing IT professionally for a long time. What I've discussed concerning product activation, keys, etc as well as advice I offer on occasion comes from being in the field. Not as a home user experimenting and playing around. I've built thousands of custom boxes, and performed service work on thousands more. anything from a desktop to a laptop to an embedded 'console' like system. Just how many 'new' keys do you think are out there, anyhow? The hash for the keys MS released years ago are already on the database the update service references and they were before those product key stickers ever shipped out. There's no such thing as a 'new' key in that sense. There's some keys which weren't activated yet as a result of customers not having them in their possession and/or not actually using them, but, that doesn't make the key new to MS. It just makes it an unused key. I didn't have issues with online activation on what you call 'new' keys either, that primarily happened on machines which had already been activated with the key on the sticker. The second online activation option usually resolved the issue, but, on a rare occasion I'd have to talk to a rep and explain that I was a technician who replaced a hard disk, or replaced a mainboard under warranty and required re-activation. MS understood perfectly well that mainboards could be toasted for a variety of reasons, bad storms, etc, and hard drives do fail from time to time. So they didn't run me around circles or anything, they just forked the 'codes' the machine wanted once I read off the codes on the screen. I can recall only one instance where the rep wouldn't activate the key for me, but the customer did tell me they let their kid/family member have a copy of the key for use on their own machine, so in that instance, I agreed with the rep and we purchased the customer a new key. As technically, they did pirate it. Otherwise, never had a problem. And like I said, the only times the automated online activation failed and sent me to the computer to get the codes was when a 'major' hardware component was changed out and the key was already marked as activated on MS end. And rarely did that fail and force me to speak to an understanding rep. I believe the ones that required a rep to talk to me had been activated on more than one occasion. Which was the case with a particular system we serviced. It was originally sent to us because the hard disk failed. A few months later, the mainboard took a lightning strike; so.. completely understandable in that situation. 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. Wrong answer. You've evidently never heard of WSUS. I've certainly heard of it, but I've not tried using it an that situation. But it's still the correct answer in that running Windows Update won't find any updates. Who said anything about using Windows update to get the updates? I didn't. Updates aren't issued for XP anymore, unless something major and drastic occurs and MS feels obligated for some reason to 'fix it' due to the amount of XP machines still in service, not including ATM machines still running it. Yes, I wrote ATM machines. And I'm not even including POS (point of sale, not pile or piece of **** for clarification although most are) machines at various retail/fast food joints that also use it. Although some have migrated to atleast Windows 7, not all have. If you're going to load a fresh copy of Windows XP on something that still supports it, you're going to want updates and system drivers. It would be foolish to assume you'll get the updates via windows update since it's not a supported os any longer. Which means, you'll have to get those updates another way. Windows update built into Windows XP won't get them, but MS servers still have them available. So, you can get them manually yourself, or use WSUS and save yourself much time and frustration. It also significantly reduces reload time, since you don't have to wait to download updates one by one and apply them. For a techie (I'm guessing you aren't, or, you're new to the world of techie) it's a real time saver. Works with later editions of Windows too. You originally stated that the rebuilt installation will not get updates, and, that's only partially correct. It won't, on it's own, but, that doesn't mean it can't get them period. As, it damn well can, via the methods I described above. So your remark is only partially right and misleading as a result. And amusingly, advice provided in contrast to mine because you haven't personally used WSUS to do this, where as I have, long before XP was officially discontinued infact; because it saves time and bandwidth. Which frees you up to work on other machines that have more serious issues going on. Which makes you more $$$ All of that being said, there was a time period when official support ended but windows update from XP would still pull updates for you; I don't know when that was shut down, or for sure if it has been since it's been awhile since I've used it on an XP machine as I prefer to use WSUS because it's much quicker. I could very well be wrong, but, I'm going to assume due to the amount of time that's passed since officially being discontinued that XP won't pull updates on it's own anymore, but I haven't tested this theory in a long time. The next time, mostly to humour and further educate myself, I might just do that. Or, I might load XP in a VM and see if it can get updates. When XP was still supported, it made no sense forcing each machine that was reloaded or freshly built to use windows update initially chewing up time and bandwidth as they did so when you could insert a dvd and bring it up to the most recent updates available at the time the dvd was created. Then you could let it do windows update (when it still worked) and finish getting the updates you were missing. At some point though (I forget the exact date) no more updates were forth coming so using the updated dvd you created with WSUS (if you worked in a shop like me) was all you needed to do, as it had them all at that point. I didn't spend all day working on a single machine or two as a home user or hobbyist might do; I had benches full of broken machines and more waiting to be serviced. I didn't have the luxury of ****ing around as a home user or hobbyist would. It wasn't uncommon for me (not even including other techs at the same place) to be working on 8 or more machines at once. And when one or more came off the work bench to be checked out by another tech to make sure nothing was missed, another machine going on the bench to replace the one (or more) that came off. That's how it works if you know what you're doing, and your known for your work by reputation because you have alot of stuff to work on because people trust you to do it right, the first time. otherwise, they wouldn't bring it to you and you wouldn't have **** to work on; and that's bad for business. 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. That product key isn't the one that was used to install Windows on the machine, though. And, the key may/may not be accepted by Microsoft, especially if it's been used before or used a certain amount of times already by others who followed the same poorly thought out advice you offered. It's based on an actual test I did. Okay, so for your test, the key on the product sticker was the one used to load it previously, vs the SLIC key being used in it's place as it would originally have been if it had been a name brand PC that was preloaded from factory. The key used during the initial preload from factory is NOT the key visible on your sticker. That key is for you, in the event you decide to reload from scratch and not opt for the preload it originally shipped with; assuming you have media to do so. As in, a full blown OEM media disc, not retail. But, it's an unmarked oem disc, has no vendor specific information, no vendor specific jpegs, and no SLIC option. It's plain jane. requires the key on your sticker. And will require activation, where as the SLIC load does not, because it's mated to an ID in the machines system BIOS. Which is typically the 'manufacturer' string present in name brand systems BIOS firmware. You do realize of course, that you actually suggested piracy with your suggestion? As technically, it's not the amount of time that's gone by since the computer died, it's the fact the computer died and the key technically dies with it when that happens. And, as I wrote previously, you the would be buyer has no way of knowing how many times someone else has already harvested and re-used that key. So you're taking a chance on buying a key that's been activated one too many times and may/may not be honored by the rep with MS, if both online activation options fail to do it for you. And you certainly don't want to tell the rep what you advised the OP to do in so far as how you got that key. They will turn you down on the spot if you did, politely, but turn you down non the less. Rather than risk parting with funds for a key that may/may not still be honored, the OP might as well seek out a VLK iso and use a VLK based key and be done with the entire activation (prove you bought me) nonsense for the remainder of that computers life. No matter what hardware they swap out or how many times they change hard drives. You'll never trip the product activation because VLK edition of XP doesn't do product activation. It's discontinued/unsupported software at this point and my suggestion to go with VLK and forget the ebay business is no different from a piracy/legality perspective than yours is. What's more, the vlk edition can be loaded on as many machines as the OP has that run XP using the same key. And none of them will ever complain about validation, activation, or anything else along those lines, ever. VLK is the way to go if you're still remaining with XP. It makes no sense to do otherwise. If the OP needs a trusted source of VLK edition and valid key for it, they need look no further than myself. They could even hash the iso I offer to verify I didn't dick with it. I have VLK sp3 slipstreamed right onto it, so you don't even need to apply a service pack. Another time saving thing you do as a technician. And, I'd even be willing to fork over a cherished VLK key that is valid and won't be blacklisted. I say cherised because it's not from a keygen and it's not something you're going to find via an online search as it hasn't been published to the web. That's one of the benefits of being a tech for as long as I have. You get various goodies to add to your collection over time. That being said, you can copy the cd contents to a folder on your hard disk, along with the boot sector, and swap out four binary files to convert it to a manufacturer specific, SLIC enabled disc; no activation required as long it's loaded on the manufacturer you chose equipment. You'd then take the 'new disc' and reburn it, including the boot area; obviously. So you could brand discs if you needed to do so, as in, a repair shop environment. Ie, make a Dell specific disk, hp, whatever, without actually having to have one of those in stock. You could also convert home to pro and vise versa with those same binary files and a single original OEM cd image. What's more, the original OEM image can also be converted to retail branded or unbranded with the same four files. In case you aren't getting it, four files on the discs determines what the disc is, and how it's going to work along with which types of keys it'll accept and whether or not it's going to require activation, depending on the machine you intend to load it on. If you don't have an Hp disc but you need one and have those four files, you can make one. Same with Dell, etc. What you don't get by doing this process is the extras various vendors preinstalled along with windows. this just lets you get windows and not have to keep physical media for each vendor for reloading purposes when working on machines. Not that it applies much these days, because, well, XP isn't a supported OS anymore. So the aforementioned information is mostly a history lesson for techs who didn't already know about this and non techs alike. I still make use of it, because, well, I have to be able to work on machines that still run older copies of Windows for various reasons. *shrug* One of the drawbacks of being a tech, I suppose. The electrical trade by comparison is much simpler in those respects. Alot less crap to keep track of. Not trying to be a wiseass with you, but, I'm an electrician well. got into the trade originally as a side thing a little over a decade go and just couldn't walk away from it. In other words, I can wire your house or your office or small industrial shop and spec/build your network right down to the individual computers which will be the network once it's completed. I'm no carpenter or plumber though. I can do sheetrock too, but, you're better off hiring someone else for that. It's not something I ever claimed to be super fast at doing, although my work looks good. And that's not because I enjoy doing sheetrock, it's because I was raised to take pride in what you do. Your name's going on it, it better be right kind of parental upbringing. 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. Why wouldn't it be? Did you expect it to magically deactivate or something? I thought it possible that Microsoft might have changed something in their rules for OS's that are no longer supported - it wouldn't have surprised me to find that they had. Sure, they could do that, but, why would they bother? You already paid for the license and you honored your end of the deal. The license technically dies when the computer does, but, they have no way of determining it's time of death. Cut out the know-it-all superior tone, because two significant mistakes in your post show that you obviously don't know it all! I didn't have a know it all tone with you. I provided the OP sound advice and you decided to put your two cents in without having all the details. I accept the fact I incorrectly assumed the machine you tested with was still factory preloaded, that you didn't wipe it out and use another key and disc to reinstall it. That's not necessarily a mistake on my part though as you didn't provide many specific details concerning the computer. I simply went from experience on that one. But, you may claim it as a mistake on my part if it makes you feel better. After this reply, it probably would do your ego some good. Most home users when they reload (those that do it themselves anyway), typically use the cds that either came with the machine or the cds they created after they got the machine home, negating any need to enter a product key or do any sort of product activation because they are SLIC based key loads and don't require the user entering any key or proceeding with any product activation. It's already done during the windows install/boot into desktop view phases for their benefit and convenience, as well as time saver for the original vendor. Be it Dell or HP. However, I didn't make a mistake concerning Windows updates, despite you incorrectly assuming I did and having to include 'using windows update' to make your statement seem correct. Incidently, in corp and some small business environments, you do NOT want Windows update doing anything on it's own to any machine on your network; you want to vet those updates before you commit them IF you commit them, not all may/will apply to you or your situation. Down machines due to MS **** ups is money and time lost. And please don't pretend to tell me or anyone else reading that MS never borked a machine with a bad update forced upon them via windows update; and it would be forced if they had automatic updates set to on. Patch tuesday in the It world isn't a good day. It's a '****, we're going to get an increase in tech support calls and walk in questions, and, additional dead/no longer booting machines if MS broke something this coming tuesday'. It's a day we learned to dread, infact. sorry if you got the mistaken impression I had a superior know it all attitude with you, but, that's a case of you misunderstanding me, not me trying to talk down to you. I don't mind this, because, well, you knew nothing about me prior to this conversation and seemed to assume I was a normal everyday end user, or perhaps, hobbyist. I'm neither. Now you know. -- To prevent yourself from being a victim of cyber stalking, it's highly recommended you visit he https://tekrider.net/pages/david-brooks-stalker.php ================================================== = I talk to myself because I like dealing with a better class of people. |
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XP Validation
I have a MS Universal License so I can just use that. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus |
#15
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XP Validation
Still no one has said what will happen if I do not validate.
What are the limitations of use ? So far I see no limitations. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus |
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