Re: Can't read HD, MS wants to activate first

"PeterM" <pmaston@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>One of our managers asked me to take off his family pictures on a Gateway
>computer, it is one of those machines that looks like it only a monitor and
>nothings else. I booted up the machine, and found out that the monitor is
>cracked. I can't tell from the outside, but the minute you see the Window
>log-on you can see it. So I decided to put it in a Dell Dimension 2400,
>which I have extra in the Garage. Much to my surprise, it asked me to
>activate the OS first. I called MS and via a message, gave them that awful
>long number, but they said it was not a valid number. I got disconnected at
>that point. I had no problems logging on with the original setup, but
>because of the broken screen, was not able to do what I had to do. Isn't
>there a way to hook up a second monitor to see if I could do what I need to
>do? Anyway, my question, how can I get around the activation, all I need is
>the family pictures, and the thing can go to hell as far as I and my manager
>is concerned. Any help is appreciated.........The model # is a Gateway GW
>P/N 3501-401 Model Profile 4 with a date 01/2003 and serial # 0029530563 it
>is running XP Home. It also seems to have a monitor plug on the back, but I
>could not figure out what the keystrokes would be to view the computer with
>an external monitor. Any help is appreciated.......Peter

Your Gateway machine would appear to have a BIOS locked OEM version of
Windows XP that is self-activating when used with a Gateway
motherboard but which requires normal activation when used with any
other motherboard/BIOS. Effective 1 March 2005 Microsoft will no
longer allow these versions to activate over the Internet and they
will also decline telephone activation requests.

Is the Gateway motherboard a standard ATX or Micro-ATX form factor? If
so then it might be possible to install that motherboard into a
standard PC case and use it that way. But if the motherboard is a
custom design (as these all-in-one systems often are) then this may
not be workable.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cant read HD, MS wants to activate first
    ... >>>One of our managers asked me to take off his family pictures on a Gateway ... and found out that the monitor is ... >> Is the Gateway motherboard a standard ATX or Micro-ATX form factor? ... >> In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Cant read HD, MS wants to activate first
    ... > One of our managers asked me to take off his family pictures on a Gateway ... it is one of those machines that looks like it only a monitor ... and found out that the monitor ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: cant see media center on my TV, Help!!
    ... Sounds like you got one without TV out on the video card (usable only with a monitor). ... Which Gateway model do you have? ... MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display\Security ...
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  • Re: PC monitor hell
    ... Staples phoned me up to say that Gateway couldn't repair the monitor. ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Re: PC monitor hell
    ... Staples phoned me up to say that Gateway couldn't repair the monitor. ... I just had to wait for Staples to call me back when it arrived so I could collect it. ... Another call from Staples today and apparently the replacement monitor isn't on its way as promised. ... Although strictly speaking you should have the monitor repaired, then sue them for the cost of repair, in practice I expect it would actually be cheaper to buy a new one. ...
    (uk.legal)
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