Re: Windows XP Home Edition Product Key

Chuck
What referenced website?
I never said an upgrade CD would not upgrade an OEM.
But the upgrade CD should not accept the OEM key affixed to the computer.
Since the upgrade was bought at Best Buy, the upgrade is Retail.
OEM and Retail alone make them incompatible, as well as the key affixed to
the computer would be for the full version while the CD is an Upgrade which
also makes the different key incompatible.

It seems from Jlls post, an upgrade CD accepted an OEM key affixed to the
computer "I tried the key listed on the side of my Dell. It took."
If everything is correct, that will not work.
As I already suggested Jll should attempt to resolve this to prevent future
activation problems.

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


"Chuck" <cdkuder@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ujnQ3K0QGHA.1576@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
All off this aside, the referenced software just identified the keys
already
present on a system. Besides that, the referenced website is closed (as of
Dec. 05)

As far as an upgrade cd not updating an OEM install, I'd find that hard to
believe. It would be one of the dumbest moves Microsoft ever made. Think
of
the Office Depot, Staples, and Best Buy nightmares that would result. The
last time I tried this, it did work, provided that you had a valid key or
CD. In some cases, it was necessary to call the OEM with the original key
in
hand, in order to get a new (Valid) key. This might have been because the
machine key was not the key actually used by the OEM to do the original
install, and the Key Stamp did not agree with the OEM install key. Gateway
and Dell did this sort of thing in the past by using a bulk distribution
key
to install the same image on hundreds of PC's.

It's gotten to the point that some companies buy PC's accompanied with a
corporate license. The PC's key(s) are changed on receipt to the corporate
key(s), even though the PC's came with an individual key stamp on them and
windows installed. Seems that the PC OEM decided that it was cheaper to do
things this way than to change the production process for a relatively few
PC's.

Another odd area was laptops, PC's, and the government. Some government
people are permitted to use the same licensed copy of software on a
government licensed PC and a personally owned PC. This used to also
include
encryption software that was illegal to take out of the country, unless
you
had an export license or were a direct government employee.

There are keys that can be obtained directly from Microsoft, usually
associated with some sort of development environment. These keys do not
usually behave as a normal retail or OEM key would when the activation
process occurs. I'd guess that they are some sort of multi-user key. Some
time ago, when I was more active in the development field, I had a
personal
key set assigned for various systems and applications. (These have
expired,
and are no longer valid for new installs) Two years or so ago, one key
that I have (obtained from this process) was supposedly compromised. A
call
to the appropriate Microsoft support number produced a new same type valid
replacement key within a few minutes. Since the
validation/verification/activation process seems to be a bit fluid, who
knows what will happen in the future. Somehow, I suspect that a future
"mandatory upgrade" will effectively lock a windows copy to the system it
is
currently running. Undoubtedly, the "upgrade" will contain a EULA revision
that covers the change.

The "third world" being what it is, any method/scheme used will be broken
shortly after it's implementation. I suppose increased law enforcement on
a
global scale may eventually make a dent in the underground industry.

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" <jones_jupiter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%230spLEzQGHA.2436@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Actually it is so.
Read the EULA you already agreed.
Whether it can be done is one thing, but it is another if you intend to
abide by what has already been agreed.
The clue to your circumstance is that the upgrade key did not work with
the
upgrade CD.
Now either something was wrong with the key or you read it wrong and that
particular key was intended for OEM.
Or possibly the CD was mis-marked.
A Retail upgrade CD will not work with the OEM key unless something else
is
wrong as is evidenced by the upgrade key not working with the upgrade CD.

What did Microsoft say when you asked them why the key did not work?
If you did not ask, you should do so soon since you may be denied
activation
at a later date.

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


"jll" <jll@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:aRKPf.12124$oL.10611@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Not so. I bought a copy of XP Home upgrade for my wife's W98 machine.
For
some reason, it would not accept the product key (I bought it at Best
Buy!). Rather than taking it back, I tried the key listed on the side
of
my Dell. It took. Her machine is a Gateway. Hopefully, I won't need it.
But if it comes to that, I'll try the one that came on the upgrade.
Otherwise, I'll think of something.
jll
"Harry Ohrn" <harry---@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23KF4APtQGHA.3896@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"irene1964" <irene1964.24cjmk@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:irene1964.24cjmk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ken Blake, MVP Wrote:
Jupiter Jones [MVP] wrote:

It sounds like you are offering stolen goods because I doubt you
would give away something worth about $100.

Also, you quoted a very old post.
Alex has not posted in a long while and I would be concerned if he
posted recently.


That's for sure. As a matter of fact, today is just two days short
of
the
first anniversary of his death.

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



"irene1964" irene1964.24bruj@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote in message if any
one wants to no the product key for xp home please email me and
i will gladly email u back with the correct product key.
irenemousley@xxxxxxx


--
irene1964
"i am offering stolen goods!!" i dont think so.. i was merely
offering
people who have lost the product key to there winxp! whats the
matter?
is it hard to believe that someone is offering to help others free of
charge!!! my pc was bought in cash from "curry's" for £600 and the
product key to the winxp is on the side of my pc! as for the other
person who has died (if thats true) i apologise. i dont go round
making
money out of peop[le i merely try and help people. FREE OF CHARGE.
and
if u think i am offering stolen goods then please contact the police!
i
havwe nothing to hide and i have all my reciepts for every thing!!
have
a good day.


--
irene1964

Irene the key is no good to anyone unless you also give or sell them
the
computer. The product key you have can only be used with computer that
it
came with and is not transferable without the computer. This is by
arrangement between Microsoft and the company that installed the
software. It is called an OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer
license
agreement.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp











.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: windows XP home upgrade with sp2
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