Re: Volume License Key problem

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP] (jmaltz_at_mvps.org)
Date: 03/30/04 

Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 23:46:51 -0500

Hi Cindy,

That's for you to decide. You will not be able to install SP1 if you are
using an illegal key, which it sounds like you are.

What you can try is:
Backup the server, completely
Run an in-place upgrade/repair install

But I'm not sure that the OEM disk will allow you to do that
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=315341 (method 2) 

-- 
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server, Virtual PC]
http://www.visualwin.com - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site :-)
http://vpc.visualwin.com - Does <insert OS name> work on VPC 2004?  Find out
here
Only reply by newsgroup.  I do not do technical support via email.  Any
emails I have not authorized are deleted before I see them.
"cindy" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10e7901c4160c$bcdaa1c0$a001280a@phx.gbl...
> Is our only option to reinstall?
> This is a single Domain with a single Domain controler.
> Used 24-7.
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Hi Cindy,
> >
> >That error message still means it was a volume licensed
> copy.  Even if there
> >were a way to change the product key (which there is,
> it's a WMI script -
> >this should work
> >http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
> us;Q328874), it won't
> >work since an OEM key only works on an OEM installation
> (which this doesn't
> >appear to be)
> >
> >-- 
> >--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server,
> Virtual PC]
> >http://www.visualwin.com - A Windows Server 2003 visual,
> step-by-step
> >tutorial site :-)
> >http://vpc.visualwin.com - Does <insert OS name> work on
> VPC 2004?  Find out
> >here
> >Only reply by newsgroup.  I do not do technical support
> via email.  Any
> >emails I have not authorized are deleted before I see
> them.
> >
> >
> >"cindy" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> message
> >news:10e0901c415fd$e77e2690$a001280a@phx.gbl...
> >> Hi- thanks for your responses...
> >> My error in terminology...  I should not have
> put "Volume"
> >> License Key in the title.  Sorry....
> >>
> >> Here is the Exact Error Message we get when running
> >> Windows Update:
> >> "Cannot Validate the Product Key"
> >> The product key used to install Windows is not valid.
> >> ...........and contact your sys admin.....
> >> ***************
> >> We DO have a legal license key code .... however, when
> >> the third party did the upgrade, they used a number
> other
> >> than ours.
> >> We just want to get it corrected - the wrong number out
> >> and ours in!  Windows XP allows you to change the
> license
> >> code by making some registry changes.  What I'm looking
> >> for is a safe method to do this on Server 2003.  or Can
> >> we use that same procedure?  (I do not have that
> >> knowledge base number right now.)  I'm not at work now,
> >> so can not check to see if those log files are there -
> >> but can do so tomorrow.
> >> Does this additional information help at all in
> >> determining whether or not this can be changed without
> >> reloading?
> >>
> >> thanks again for your time and knowledge..
> >> Cindy
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >Hi,
> >> >
> >> >It is true that you can't upgrade with an OEM license.
> >> Unfortunately, it is
> >> >also true that an OEM license isn't a volume license,
> so
> >> unless you have a
> >> >certificate of authenticity with the new key, then
> your
> >> installation of
> >> >Windows is unlicensed, and judging by that error
> >> message, the third party
> >> >just used a pirated copy of Windows Server 2003 and
> >> charged you for it
> >> >
> >> >http://www.microsoft.com/piracy
> >> >
> >> >-- 
> >> >--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server,
> >> Virtual PC]
> >> >http://www.visualwin.com - A Windows Server 2003
> visual,
> >> step-by-step
> >> >tutorial site :-)
> >> >http://vpc.visualwin.com - Does <insert OS name> work
> on
> >> VPC 2004?  Find out
> >> >here
> >> >Only reply by newsgroup.  I do not do technical
> support
> >> via email.  Any
> >> >emails I have not authorized are deleted before I see
> >> them.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >"Cindy" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> >> message
> >> >news:10d1301c415dd$eee30e70$a001280a@phx.gbl...
> >> >> Hi-
> >> >> We purchased a server with Windows 2003 Standard
> Server
> >> >> installed.  Due to some unforseen circumstances -- 
> we
> >> >> ended up uninstalling Windows 2003 Server software -
>  We
> >> >> loaded Windows NT server- copied over all of our NT
> >> >> server data - and then UPGRADED to Windows 2003
> Server.
> >> >> (The 3rd party that we contracted to do this - had a
> >> >> License Key that they were able to use, since the
> >> upgrade
> >> >> would not take our OEM number)
> >> >> All seemed OK - until we tried to get our security
> >> >> patches and service packs up to date. Now when we
> run
> >> the
> >> >> Windows Update - we get a message that says we have
> >> >> an "Invalid License Key".
> >> >> What can we do to correct this problem?  I can find
> >> >> instructions for XP - but have not been able to find
> >> >> anything for Server 2003.
> >> >> Does anyone know where there is documentation for
> this?
> >> >> Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions you
> >> might
> >> >> have....
> >> >> Cindy
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

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