Can't get Update support, wrong product ID!

My XP OS product ID is 76487-OEM-0057234-48731, but the OS is a purchased
retail copy, that I have been using for 3 or 4 years. It never was an OEM
version.
I guess I could do an inplace upgrade reinstall of the OS, but is there a
better way to fix this error? I don't know how the product ID could have been
changed or why.
Can I edit this in the registry? How do I get a correct product ID? I refuse
to pay MS for support for this kind of issue. I discovered the problem trying
to get support for failed updates.

John;
You will need to perform a Repair Installation using the correct CD and
Product Key:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm

One of a few things has happened since the Product ID does not just change
from a retail key to OEM key.
1. Someone reinstalled using the incorrect media and CD.
2. You used an OEM CD.

OEM are available at many locations selling software.
OEM differ from the retail mainly without the retail packaging and the
Product Key is a sticker intended to be affixed to the computer
The retail has an orange label on the back of the CD package.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"john stuart" wrote in message
...
My XP OS product ID is 76487-OEM-0057234-48731, but the OS is a purchased
retail copy, that I have been using for 3 or 4 years. It never was an OEM
version.
I guess I could do an inplace upgrade reinstall of the OS, but is there a
better way to fix this error? I don't know how the product ID could have
been
changed or why.
Can I edit this in the registry? How do I get a correct product ID? I
refuse
to pay MS for support for this kind of issue. I discovered the problem
trying
to get support for failed updates.

Any XP with OEM in the product key can not receive any support directly
from Microsoft. Several retail outlets do sell OEM software like they
are retail versions. They should not be doing this unless they:

1) Sell a qualifinf hardware component
2) Are willing to support this version of XP.


john stuart wrote:
My XP OS product ID is 76487-OEM-0057234-48731, but the OS is a purchased
retail copy, that I have been using for 3 or 4 years. It never was an OEM
version.
I guess I could do an inplace upgrade reinstall of the OS, but is there a
better way to fix this error? I don't know how the product ID could have been
changed or why.
Can I edit this in the registry? How do I get a correct product ID? I refuse
to pay MS for support for this kind of issue. I discovered the problem trying
to get support for failed updates.

john stuart wrote:

My XP OS product ID is 76487-OEM-0057234-48731, but the OS is a
purchased retail copy, that I have been using for 3 or 4 years. It
never was an OEM version.


Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense. If the Product ID has the letters
"OEM" in it, it *is* an OEM version, not a retail one.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


I guess I could do an inplace upgrade reinstall of the OS, but is
there a better way to fix this error? I don't know how the product ID
could have been changed or why.
Can I edit this in the registry? How do I get a correct product ID? I
refuse to pay MS for support for this kind of issue. I discovered the
problem trying to get support for failed updates.

Some on-line retailers "sell" the OEM version just like a full-blown
retail version, usually without selling the required qualifing hardware
component. A lot a purchasers do not know the difference after they
purchase these version.


Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
john stuart wrote:

My XP OS product ID is 76487-OEM-0057234-48731, but the OS is a
purchased retail copy, that I have been using for 3 or 4 years. It
never was an OEM version.


Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense. If the Product ID has the letters
"OEM" in it, it *is* an OEM version, not a retail one.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


I guess I could do an inplace upgrade reinstall of the OS, but is
there a better way to fix this error? I don't know how the product ID
could have been changed or why.
Can I edit this in the registry? How do I get a correct product ID? I
refuse to pay MS for support for this kind of issue. I discovered the
problem trying to get support for failed updates.

True, but nevertheless it is still an OEM product.

--
Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW Assoc.,
CIW Certified Instructor



"smlunatick" wrote in message
ups.com:

Some on-line retailers "sell" the OEM version just like a full-blown
retail version, usually without selling the required qualifing hardware
component. A lot a purchasers do not know the difference after they
purchase these version.


Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
john stuart wrote:

My XP OS product ID is 76487-OEM-0057234-48731, but the OS is a
purchased retail copy, that I have been using for 3 or 4 years. It
never was an OEM version.


Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense. If the Product ID has the letters
"OEM" in it, it *is* an OEM version, not a retail one.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


I guess I could do an inplace upgrade reinstall of the OS, but is
there a better way to fix this error? I don't know how the product ID
could have been changed or why.
Can I edit this in the registry? How do I get a correct product ID? I
refuse to pay MS for support for this kind of issue. I discovered the
problem trying to get support for failed updates.