Complicated activation

I'm repairing my friend's Emach. Replaced Mobo and HDD. Can't use restore
CD's and it didn't come with WinXP CD. It does have a product key stamp on
the machine. I used my own slipstreamed XP CD and tried to chg the product
key via Knowledge Base # 328874 and 810892 but it didn't work. Can you help
me?

"***TominFL***" wrote in message
...
I'm repairing my friend's Emach. Replaced Mobo and HDD. Can't use restore
CD's and it didn't come with WinXP CD. It does have a product key stamp on
the machine. I used my own slipstreamed XP CD and tried to chg the product
key via Knowledge Base # 328874 and 810892 but it didn't work. Can you
help
me?

A OEM product key won't work on a retail version of XP. And if you put a
different motherboard in the emachine then the one that it came with, even
if your friend had his original XP from E-machine, it wouldn't work that way
either.

Thanks, Bud, but I can't see why the product code for the machine isn't still
useful after I replace the defective part (mobo). Seems like an MS rip off?

"bud" wrote:


"***TominFL***" wrote in message
...
I'm repairing my friend's Emach. Replaced Mobo and HDD. Can't use restore
CD's and it didn't come with WinXP CD. It does have a product key stamp on
the machine. I used my own slipstreamed XP CD and tried to chg the product
key via Knowledge Base # 328874 and 810892 but it didn't work. Can you
help
me?

A OEM product key won't work on a retail version of XP. And if you put a
different motherboard in the emachine then the one that it came with, even
if your friend had his original XP from E-machine, it wouldn't work that way
either.

***TominFL*** wrote:

Thanks, Bud, but I can't see why the product code for the machine isn't still
useful after I replace the defective part (mobo). Seems like an MS rip off?

"bud" wrote:


OEM Product Keys are very often "BIOS Locked" which means they are
self activating on a motherboard from the same OEM that supplied the
original computer (eMachines in your situation I believe) and will not
activate on a motherboard from any other source.

But it still should install using that product key provided the
installation CD used is also OEM and from the same version. You will
have to do a telephone activation and explain that it was a
motherboard replacement.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

Ron, finally some helpful insights. Please explain this a bit: "provided the
installation CD used is also OEM and from the same version." What you mean is I must use a WinXP Home that is made as for OEM use and same version of what?

"Ron Martell" wrote:

***TominFL*** wrote:

Thanks, Bud, but I can't see why the product code for the machine isn't still
useful after I replace the defective part (mobo). Seems like an MS rip off?

"bud" wrote:


OEM Product Keys are very often "BIOS Locked" which means they are
self activating on a motherboard from the same OEM that supplied the
original computer (eMachines in your situation I believe) and will not
activate on a motherboard from any other source.

But it still should install using that product key provided the
installation CD used is also OEM and from the same version. You will
have to do a telephone activation and explain that it was a
motherboard replacement.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

***TominFL*** wrote:

Ron, finally some helpful insights. Please explain this a bit: "provided the
installation CD used is also OEM and from the same version." What you mean is I must use a WinXP Home that is made as for OEM use and same version of what?

Installation CDs and Product Keys must match each other with respect
to:
1. Windows XP Edition (Home, Pro, Tablet PC, Media Center)
2. Windows XP Version (Retail Upgrade, Retail Full Install, Volume
License, OEM, Academic, etc)
3. Language (English, French, Spanish, etc.)

Hope this clarifies the situation.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

Yes, that is a big help! Terminology -- sometimes like mud.
so, because I used my Upgrade CD then tried to change the product code from
mine to the one that is one the repaired machine, that will not work. I would
have to use an OEM version because that's what is represented by the product
key on the Emachines, right?

"Ron Martell" wrote:

***TominFL*** wrote:

Ron, finally some helpful insights. Please explain this a bit: "provided the
installation CD used is also OEM and from the same version." What you mean is I must use a WinXP Home that is made as for OEM use and same version of what?

Installation CDs and Product Keys must match each other with respect
to:
1. Windows XP Edition (Home, Pro, Tablet PC, Media Center)
2. Windows XP Version (Retail Upgrade, Retail Full Install, Volume
License, OEM, Academic, etc)
3. Language (English, French, Spanish, etc.)

Hope this clarifies the situation.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

***TominFL*** wrote:

Yes, that is a big help! Terminology -- sometimes like mud.
so, because I used my Upgrade CD then tried to change the product code from
mine to the one that is one the repaired machine, that will not work. I would
have to use an OEM version because that's what is represented by the product
key on the Emachines, right?

Exactly.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."