70 yr old needs help - reactivating XP

Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We are going
to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old IBM laptop
and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a hidden
sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wanted to
do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do it
so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.

When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I went to
input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it would
not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number "O"
(zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they just
do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.

Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any suggestions.


Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)

Tony,

You do not need to 'type' in an activation code unless you have to telephone
Microsoft and they tell you what the number is, it certainly isn't on the
bottom of your computer.

What 'is' on the bottom of your computer is your 'product code' for the
operating system and you only use this when installing XP. You have already
said that you 'took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.' so he typed
in the product code number when he installed XP.

To activate XP all you have to do is click the activation button (usually in
the system tray. it usually say's 'you have xx days left' Make sure you are
logged onto the internet before you click this button and then follow the
online instructions. Activation online shouldn't take no more than a minute
at the most, probably less than that and you don't have to type in any
numbers; as I've said, the only time you need to type in activation codes is
when you activate via the telephone.


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurferguide.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"Anthont" <Anthont@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E4475466-4BD6-459F-A8AB-506B46B96C1E@microsoft.com...
> Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We are
> going
> to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old IBM
> laptop
> and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
> programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
> space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a
> hidden
> sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wanted
> to
> do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do
> it
> so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
>
> When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I went
> to
> input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it
> would
> not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number
> "O"
> (zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they
> just
> do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
>
> Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
> Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any
> suggestions.
>
>
> Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)

"Anthont" wrote:

> Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We are going
> to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old IBM laptop
> and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
> programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
> space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a hidden
> sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wanted to
> do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do it
> so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
>
> When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I went to
> input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it would
> not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number "O"
> (zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they just
> do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
>
> Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
> Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any suggestions.
>
>
> Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)

On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:30:01 -0700, Anthont
<Anthont@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We are going
>to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old IBM laptop
>and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
>programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
>space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a hidden
>sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wanted to
>do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do it
>so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
>
>When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I went to
>input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it would
>not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number "O"
>(zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they just
>do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
>
>Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
>Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any suggestions.
>
>
>Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)


You can activate Windows when connected to the Internet by just a
couple mouse clicks. Or you can activate over the telephone if
needed, but this will require you to enter a long series of
keystrokes. (Your unique Product Key is entered at the installation
time and this has already been done for you.) You can also call
Microsoft if you have any problem with activation. It's very easy and
simple--a 6 year old or a 100-year old can do it without much thought.
Older computer drives, especially laptops, may not be reliable so you
will want to burn DVDs or flash drive for backups.

On Aug 31, 12:30*pm, Anthont <Anth...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. *We aregoing
> to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. *We intend to take a old IBM laptop
> and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
> programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
> space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a hidden
> sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wantedto
> do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do it
> so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
>
> When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I wentto
> input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it would
> not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number "O"
> (zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they just
> do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
>
> Not being sufficiently computer wise, *I am asking help from any of
> Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any suggestions.
>
> Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)

If you wrote down the activation code from your previosu time, it will
not work. Every time you (re)install XP, it generates a new "token"
for the activation system. This "token" will never be the same twice.

John,

Thanks to you, and everyone, for the advice given. As I said I am not
computer-wise, but did go through the procedure as you suggested. Everything
went well until a pop-up stated - "Incorrect product key" / "The product
key below was mistyped, please correct it and Retry"
There is a product key field which is empty. When I go to fill the field,
with the product key from the bottom of the computer, I cannot input certain
letters/numbers, eg: A,E,I/1,5,0. These are available when using Notepad or
Google, but not for this function.
Again I would be grateful for any further advice, but in the first instance
I am now going to return the computer to the "Guru", as I have paid him £35,
for his services. This afternoon I am taking the wife to Wales, to visit her
sister (oh boy!) and should return on Thursday. I will let you know on any
further progress - thanks again

Tony Evans

"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> Tony,
>
> You do not need to 'type' in an activation code unless you have to telephone
> Microsoft and they tell you what the number is, it certainly isn't on the
> bottom of your computer.
>
> What 'is' on the bottom of your computer is your 'product code' for the
> operating system and you only use this when installing XP. You have already
> said that you 'took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.' so he typed
> in the product code number when he installed XP.
>
> To activate XP all you have to do is click the activation button (usually in
> the system tray. it usually say's 'you have xx days left' Make sure you are
> logged onto the internet before you click this button and then follow the
> online instructions. Activation online shouldn't take no more than a minute
> at the most, probably less than that and you don't have to type in any
> numbers; as I've said, the only time you need to type in activation codes is
> when you activate via the telephone.
>
>
> --
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> Windows Desktop Experience
>
> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
> Web: http://www.silversurferguide.org
>
> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail/post..
>
>
> "Anthont" <Anthont@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E4475466-4BD6-459F-A8AB-506B46B96C1E@microsoft.com...
> > Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We are
> > going
> > to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old IBM
> > laptop
> > and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
> > programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
> > space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a
> > hidden
> > sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wanted
> > to
> > do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do
> > it
> > so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
> >
> > When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I went
> > to
> > input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it
> > would
> > not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number
> > "O"
> > (zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they
> > just
> > do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
> >
> > Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
> > Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any
> > suggestions.
> >
> >
> > Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)
>
>

Phisherman,
Thanks a lot, please see reply to John above

regards - Tony Evans

"Phisherman" wrote:

> On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:30:01 -0700, Anthont
> <Anthont@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We are going
> >to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old IBM laptop
> >and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
> >programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
> >space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a hidden
> >sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wanted to
> >do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do it
> >so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
> >
> >When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I went to
> >input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it would
> >not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number "O"
> >(zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they just
> >do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
> >
> >Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
> >Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any suggestions.
> >
> >
> >Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)
>
>
> You can activate Windows when connected to the Internet by just a
> couple mouse clicks. Or you can activate over the telephone if
> needed, but this will require you to enter a long series of
> keystrokes. (Your unique Product Key is entered at the installation
> time and this has already been done for you.) You can also call
> Microsoft if you have any problem with activation. It's very easy and
> simple--a 6 year old or a 100-year old can do it without much thought.
> Older computer drives, especially laptops, may not be reliable so you
> will want to burn DVDs or flash drive for backups.
>

smlunatick

Thanks a lot, please see reply to John above

regards - Tony Evans

"smlunatick" wrote:

> On Aug 31, 12:30 pm, Anthont <Anth...@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
> > Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We are going
> > to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old IBM laptop
> > and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather full of
> > programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give enough
> > space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in a hidden
> > sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I wanted to
> > do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I couldn't do it
> > so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
> >
> > When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When I went to
> > input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer, it would
> > not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the number "O"
> > (zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but they just
> > do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
> >
> > Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
> > Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any suggestions.
> >
> > Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)
>
> If you wrote down the activation code from your previosu time, it will
> not work. Every time you (re)install XP, it generates a new "token"
> for the activation system. This "token" will never be the same twice.
>

I believe that if your PC utilizes SLP and you are running the 32-bit
version of XP Pro, you need to enter the following key:

MVF4D-W774K-MC4VM-QY6XY-R38TB

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_...reinstallation

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb457078.aspx


"Anthont" <Anthont@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6AFA7B7E-38E8-4B0F-A055-826D0EC234DA@microsoft.com...
> John,
>
> Thanks to you, and everyone, for the advice given. As I said I am not
> computer-wise, but did go through the procedure as you suggested.
> Everything
> went well until a pop-up stated - "Incorrect product key" / "The
> product
> key below was mistyped, please correct it and Retry"
> There is a product key field which is empty. When I go to fill the
> field,
> with the product key from the bottom of the computer, I cannot input
> certain
> letters/numbers, eg: A,E,I/1,5,0. These are available when using
> Notepad or
> Google, but not for this function.
> Again I would be grateful for any further advice, but in the first
> instance
> I am now going to return the computer to the "Guru", as I have paid
> him £35,
> for his services. This afternoon I am taking the wife to Wales, to
> visit her
> sister (oh boy!) and should return on Thursday. I will let you know
> on any
> further progress - thanks again
>
> Tony Evans
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>
>> Tony,
>>
>> You do not need to 'type' in an activation code unless you have to
>> telephone
>> Microsoft and they tell you what the number is, it certainly isn't on
>> the
>> bottom of your computer.
>>
>> What 'is' on the bottom of your computer is your 'product code' for
>> the
>> operating system and you only use this when installing XP. You have
>> already
>> said that you 'took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.' so he
>> typed
>> in the product code number when he installed XP.
>>
>> To activate XP all you have to do is click the activation button
>> (usually in
>> the system tray. it usually say's 'you have xx days left' Make sure
>> you are
>> logged onto the internet before you click this button and then follow
>> the
>> online instructions. Activation online shouldn't take no more than a
>> minute
>> at the most, probably less than that and you don't have to type in
>> any
>> numbers; as I've said, the only time you need to type in activation
>> codes is
>> when you activate via the telephone.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Associate Expert
>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>
>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://www.silversurferguide.org
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of
>> any
>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the
>> accuracy,
>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be
>> liable for
>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out
>> of the
>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in
>> this
>> mail/post..
>>
>>
>> "Anthont" <Anthont@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:E4475466-4BD6-459F-A8AB-506B46B96C1E@microsoft.com...
>> > Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We
>> > are
>> > going
>> > to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old
>> > IBM
>> > laptop
>> > and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather
>> > full of
>> > programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did not give
>> > enough
>> > space on the hard disk. The original XP operating system is held in
>> > a
>> > hidden
>> > sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I
>> > wanted
>> > to
>> > do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I
>> > couldn't do
>> > it
>> > so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
>> >
>> > When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When
>> > I went
>> > to
>> > input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer,
>> > it
>> > would
>> > not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the
>> > number
>> > "O"
>> > (zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but
>> > they
>> > just
>> > do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
>> >
>> > Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
>> > Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any
>> > suggestions.
>> >
>> >
>> > Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)
>>
>>

> John,
>
> Thanks to you, and everyone, for the advice given. As I said I am not
> computer-wise, but did go through the procedure as you suggested.
> Everything went well until a pop-up stated - "Incorrect product
> key" / "The product key below was mistyped, please correct it and
> Retry"
> There is a product key field which is empty. When I go to fill the
> field, with the product key from the bottom of the computer, I cannot
> input certain letters/numbers, eg: A,E,I/1,5,0. These are available
> when using Notepad or Google, but not for this function.
> Again I would be grateful for any further advice, but in the first
> instance I am now going to return the computer to the "Guru", as I
> have paid him £35, for his services. This afternoon I am taking the
> wife to Wales, to visit her sister (oh boy!) and should return on
> Thursday. I will let you know on any further progress - thanks again
>
> Tony Evans
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>
>> Tony,
>>
>> You do not need to 'type' in an activation code unless you have to
>> telephone Microsoft and they tell you what the number is, it
>> certainly isn't on the bottom of your computer.
>>
>> What 'is' on the bottom of your computer is your 'product code' for
>> the operating system and you only use this when installing XP. You
>> have already said that you 'took it to the local "Guru" who done it
>> for me.' so he typed in the product code number when he installed XP.
>>
>> To activate XP all you have to do is click the activation button
>> (usually in the system tray. it usually say's 'you have xx days
>> left' Make sure you are logged onto the internet before you click
>> this button and then follow the online instructions. Activation
>> online shouldn't take no more than a minute at the most, probably
>> less than that and you don't have to type in any numbers; as I've
>> said, the only time you need to type in activation codes is when you
>> activate via the telephone.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Associate Expert
>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>
>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://www.silversurferguide.org
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty
>> of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the
>> accuracy, reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall
>> not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential
>> damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, information
>> or opinions expressed in this mail/post..
>>
>>
>> "Anthont" <Anthont@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:E4475466-4BD6-459F-A8AB-506B46B96C1E@microsoft.com...
>>> Wife and I are going to the States for 50th wedding aniversary. We
>>> are going
>>> to drive from Los Angeles to Washington. We intend to take a old
>>> IBM laptop
>>> and use it to download videos onto. Trouble was that it was rather
>>> full of programs which, although I deleted as many as I could, did
>>> not give enough space on the hard disk. The original XP operating
>>> system is held in a hidden
>>> sector on the hard disk but I didn't know how to get to it. What I
>>> wanted to
>>> do was to format the disk and then reinstall the OS. However I
>>> couldn't do it
>>> so I took it to the local "Guru" who done it for me.
>>>
>>> When I switched it on I was asked to "actviate" the software. When
>>> I went to
>>> input the activation code, which is on the bottom of the computer,
>>> it would
>>> not take it. Specifically I could not input the letter "O" or the
>>> number "O"
>>> (zero). I can input these in other programs, eg: Wordpad , etc, but
>>> they just
>>> do not appear when I try to input them into the activation wizard.
>>>
>>> Not being sufficiently computer wise, I am asking help from any of
>>> Knowledge Army that supports this forum and would appreciate any
>>> suggestions.
>>>
>>>
>>> Many thanks - Tony Evans (England)

No help for your predicament, but it looks like it's been taken care of.
I just wanted to say that, IMO Wales is the greenest, most quaint
and interesting place I've ever been to and I've traveled a LOT. And
the drive to/from London to Wales is spectacular too; especially
crossing that (forget the name) bridge over part of the ocean where the
tides are so noticeable. Fascinating. I think it was the M4 from
London to Port skewet, Gwent or Port Skewet, Caldicot, something like
that. I never did understand the address there<g>. We stayed at a
castle-motel (business trips) most times and the locals took us
sightseeing to a lot of ruins and castles, old stone buildings,
churches, etc.. It was always interesting. I swore someday I'd bring
my wife over there for a vacation but my health got in the way
unfortunately.

Have a beer/soda for me!

Cheers,

Twayne