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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
I'm encountering a weird problem activating my copy of WindowsXP Pro
(OEM). I bought it off of Ebay and by all appearances, it's a general OEM version, as there are no markings to indicate it's from a big name OEM like DELL or HP. Anyways, it installs ok. When I go to activate though, it complains about an "unauthorized product key" Specifically: "This product key is unauthorized. Activation cannot be completed until a valid product key is entered. The 25-digit product key can be found on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label attached to your computer or Windows documentation. It should be similar to the example below. Please correct the product key below or type a valid product key, and then press Retry. .... (picture of a COA, spaces to re-enter the key, and some more details about contacting tech support) Message Number: 45090" Anyways, I've tried this on a real machine and a Virtual Machine using virtualPC 2007. Same results. I've checked the key, and apparently it was correct, as it was good enough for windows to install itself. I've tried telephone activation, and wasn't able to activate that way, with little in the way of explanation as to why. Tech support and their anti-piracy people were able to confirm that the key was legitimate and valid, but they won't tell me why I can't activate unless I've paid for tech support services. Has anyone ever encountered something like this? What am I doing wrong here -- aside from buying my OS from Ebay? -GeorgeF |
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#2
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
"GeorgeF" wrote in message ... I'm encountering a weird problem activating my copy of WindowsXP Pro (OEM). I bought it off of Ebay and by all appearances, it's a general OEM version, as there are no markings to indicate it's from a big name OEM like DELL or HP. Anyways, it installs ok. When I go to activate though, it complains about an "unauthorized product key" Specifically: "This product key is unauthorized. Activation cannot be completed until a valid product key is entered. The 25-digit product key can be found on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label attached to your computer or Windows documentation. It should be similar to the example below. Please correct the product key below or type a valid product key, and then press Retry. ... (picture of a COA, spaces to re-enter the key, and some more details about contacting tech support) Message Number: 45090" Anyways, I've tried this on a real machine and a Virtual Machine using virtualPC 2007. Same results. I've checked the key, and apparently it was correct, as it was good enough for windows to install itself. I've tried telephone activation, and wasn't able to activate that way, with little in the way of explanation as to why. snip I think that if you try the automated phone activation and for some reason it does not work... you can stay on the line for help from a 'real person' You don't need to pay for technical support to do that |
#3
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
On Jan 20, 7:16 pm, "philo" wrote:
"GeorgeF" wrote in message ... I'm encountering a weird problem activating my copy of WindowsXP Pro (OEM). I bought it off of Ebay and by all appearances, it's a general OEM version, as there are no markings to indicate it's from a big name OEM like DELL or HP. Anyways, it installs ok. When I go to activate though, it complains about an "unauthorized product key" Specifically: "This product key is unauthorized. Activation cannot be completed until a valid product key is entered. The 25-digit product key can be found on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label attached to your computer or Windows documentation. It should be similar to the example below. Please correct the product key below or type a valid product key, and then press Retry. ... (picture of a COA, spaces to re-enter the key, and some more details about contacting tech support) Message Number: 45090" Anyways, I've tried this on a real machine and a Virtual Machine using virtualPC 2007. Same results. I've checked the key, and apparently it was correct, as it was good enough for windows to install itself. I've tried telephone activation, and wasn't able to activate that way, with little in the way of explanation as to why. snip I think that if you try the automated phone activation and for some reason it does not work... you can stay on the line for help from a 'real person' You don't need to pay for technical support to do that Thanks for replying. Yeah, I know. I did speak to a 'real person' -- a guy named Rajitt (really). He walked me through it, and had me read back the resulting digits to him and specifically repeat the last grouping of digits. He wouldn't tell me why I couldn't activate, except to tell me that the code from my machine was saying the key was't authorized (Which is what my own machine was telling me with the internet activation). However, he did give me numbers for tech support and their anti-counterfeiting group. I forget whether it was tech support or the anti-counterfeiting folks that helped me confirm that my key was indeed legitimate, and valid as it had never been activated before. However, they couldn't help me activate it. Apparently, I needed to speak to an 'activation agent' about that. I guess that would be Raj, who passed the buck to begin with. Tech support wouldn't get involved unless I could show I had paid for tech support services (they gave me another number to order that). The guy from the anti-counterfeit group seemed a bit annoyed that I bothered them about a seemingly valid key. Anyways, back to Raj (don't know if they routed me back to him, or it was random chance that I got the same guy again), and again, he couldn't help me, but suggested I talk to tech support (again). I don't get it, how can it be an unauthorized key if Microsoft's own people acknowledge that it's a valid key that's never been activated before? Is it something I'm screwing up? -GeorgeF |
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
snip Anyways, back to Raj (don't know if they routed me back to him, or it was random chance that I got the same guy again), and again, he couldn't help me, but suggested I talk to tech support (again). I don't get it, how can it be an unauthorized key if Microsoft's own people acknowledge that it's a valid key that's never been activated before? Is it something I'm screwing up? George: First off check the sytem date and time to be sure it's correct. An incorrect setting might possibly account for the problem? You are normally a polite person I'm sure. Perhaps you need to slightly less polite next time and refuse to be transferred. If they say the key is legit and not in use...they are obligated to activate your system. However cover your bases first and be sure they key is not for Xp Home. If you have a legit XP Home key, it will not activate XP -Pro. If that's the case...you need to contact the seller and possibly ebay at once. |
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
GeorgeF wrote:
I'm encountering a weird problem activating my copy of WindowsXP Pro (OEM). I bought it off of Ebay and by all appearances, it's a general OEM version, as there are no markings to indicate it's from a big name OEM like DELL or HP. Please describe the disc in as much detail as possible. Did it come with a genuine holographic Microsoft COA? Anyways, it installs ok. When I go to activate though, it complains about an "unauthorized product key" Which key are you using? Did your PC previously have a licensed Windows installation on it, and if so, what kind was it? What am I doing wrong here -- aside from buying my OS from Ebay? 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. There's also the possibility that your disk and license are legal, but someone else is using that particular product key. |
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
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 |
#7
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
On Jan 20, 8:00 pm, "philo" wrote:
snip Anyways, back to Raj (don't know if they routed me back to him, or it was random chance that I got the same guy again), and again, he couldn't help me, but suggested I talk to tech support (again). I don't get it, how can it be an unauthorized key if Microsoft's own people acknowledge that it's a valid key that's never been activated before? Is it something I'm screwing up? George: First off check the sytem date and time to be sure it's correct. An incorrect setting might possibly account for the problem? The system time is correct. Assuming Microsoft's "time.windows.com" time server is accurate. I wonder though. I am running my internet connection through a Linksys router that's been having trouble keeping time (even using a time server, it forgets the date and resets to 2002 until the next time server hit). Though I would have thought if that were a problem, I would have had issues activating Vista, as both XP and Vista were installed on the same machine. Separate partitions, dual boot. It's what I was doing before I got this copy of XP OEM, so the dual boot shouldn't be a problem. Aside from the boot loader, both XP and Vista are totally separate and don't interact. You are normally a polite person I'm sure. Perhaps you need to slightly less polite next time and refuse to be transferred. If they say the key is legit and not in use...they are obligated to activate your system. Perhaps, though it seems Microsoft's internal bureaucracy is becoming a lot like the government's. That being that one department can't do anything that belongs to another's. I'll give it another shot tomorrow. However cover your bases first and be sure they key is not for Xp Home. If you have a legit XP Home key, it will not activate XP -Pro. Well, the COA says "Windows XP Professional, OEM Software" on it, and the disc says "For Distribution with a new PC Only" and "WindowsXP Professional." I guess that means the key and disc match. |
#8
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
GeorgeF wrote:
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. Sure is a good description! Sounds like you're describing the so-called Dual Port-Hole: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/h...displaylang=en 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? Yes. I suppose there's an outside chance that what you have has already been used and has been re-shrink wrapped, and whoever sold it to you is still using the key. But if you have the COA, you have the license to use it. Like Philo said, call again, but be more assertive. Is this a clean install, a repair install, or an upgrade? Use Magical Jellybean Keyfinder or Belarc Advisor to see what the key is in your current system: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html You may also want to look at: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/def...displaylang=en and "Windows XP Genuine Advantage Validation Issues (Windows XP)": http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/...=442&SiteID=25 |
#9
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
GeorgeF wrote:
On Jan 20, 8:00 pm, "philo" wrote: First off check the sytem date and time to be sure it's correct. An incorrect setting might possibly account for the problem? The system time is correct. Assuming Microsoft's "time.windows.com" time server is accurate. Never assume. :-) Instead, try this time server: tock.usno.navy.mil Good luck. |
#10
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
LD55ZRA wrote:
gearjunky55 wrote: snipped due to complete rubbish Your brain needs examining because you are talking utter rubbish.. Rather like the disclaimer in your signature - utter rubbish or a total load of ********, you choose! Who are you trying to impress with all that "shouting" eh? |
#11
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Activation Issue - WindowsXP Pro OEM
On Sunday, January 20, 2008 6:53:22 PM UTC-5, GeorgeF wrote:
I'm encountering a weird problem activating my copy of WindowsXP Pro (OEM). I bought it off of Ebay and by all appearances, it's a general OEM version, as there are no markings to indicate it's from a big name OEM like DELL or HP.Anyways, it installs ok. When I go to activate though, it complains about an "unauthorized product key"Specifically:"This product key is unauthorized. Activation cannot be completed until a valid product key is entered.. The 25-digit product key can be found on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label attached to your computer or Windows documentation. It should be similar to the example below. Please correct the product key below or type a valid product key, and then press Retry.... (picture of a COA, spaces to re-enter the key, and some more details about contacting tech support)Message Number: 45090"Anyways, I've tried this on a real machine and a Virtual Machine using virtualPC 2007. Same results.I've checked the key, and apparently it was correct, as it was good enough for windows to install itself.I've tried telephone activation, and wasn't able to activate that way, with little in the way of explanation as to why.Tech support and their anti-piracy people were able to confirm that the key was legitimate and valid, but they won't tell me why I can't activate unless I've paid for tech support services.Has anyone ever encountered something like this?What am I doing wrong here -- aside from buying my OS from Ebay?-GeorgeF windows product key |
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