Upgrading BIOS, Windows XP Re-Activation

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From: JohnnyG (JohnnyG_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 01/03/05 

Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 07:17:03 -0800

I'm helping a friend who is using Win XP Home Edition, an OEM edition that
was loaded at the factory. No CD was shipped with the unit, and we don't
have access to the XP KEY. This is an eMachines W2260. We went to Control
Panel/System and wrote down the registration number, but that's all we have.
 
We recently attempted to install an ATI graphics card and found out that we
needed to upgrade the BIOS first. The BIOS upgrade went fine, but when we
try to boot Windows and get to the login screen, click "JOE" (my friend) who
is the only user on this PC, we get a message saying that we must activate
this copy of windows, Y/N. When we click YES, a message comes back saying
the copy is already activated and proceeds to log JOE off. When you try it
again, the same thing happens. We were told that upgrading the BIOS might
require us to enter the XP KEY when prompted for activation, but we have not
found that to be the case. We reverted back to the old BIOS and we're back
to where we started without the new graphics card.

I'm having trouble understanding why something as common as a BIOS upgrade
would create this problem. I know MS wants to curb piracy, but this is
little ridiculous IMHO.

Do you have any suggestions or references that you can point us to that
would help resolve this without having to purchase another license?
 
Thanks in advance.

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