Activation Problem

I'm re-installing windows and I'm having problems with activating Windows XP
Home Edition. I didn't have the original media but there is a valid XP home
sticker on the machine and it was built by a reputable builder mdg.ca here in
Canada. So I got a copy of XP Home with service pack 3 from MSDN and when I
use the product key from the sticker I keep getting an error. I tried to
call the phone number but all I get is the voice messaging system. I'm
trying to follow the proper procedures but this is getting frustrating. Any
one has a suggestion how I can talk to a real customer service rep without
having to pay for support or can someone explain me if I'm doing something
wrong. I suspect that because I'm not using the original CD from the
manufacturer I'm screwed but I don't have it for this PC but it does have a
calid XP home license and I have a good working copy of XP home with service
pack 3 which is much quicker to install this way.

mapoitras wrote:
> I'm re-installing windows and I'm having problems with activating
> Windows XP Home Edition. I didn't have the original media but
> there is a valid XP home sticker on the machine and it was built by
> a reputable builder mdg.ca here in Canada. So I got a copy of XP
> Home with service pack 3 from MSDN and when I use the product key
> from the sticker I keep getting an error. I tried to call the
> phone number but all I get is the voice messaging system. I'm
> trying to follow the proper procedures but this is getting
> frustrating. Any one has a suggestion how I can talk to a real
> customer service rep without having to pay for support or can
> someone explain me if I'm doing something wrong. I suspect that
> because I'm not using the original CD from the manufacturer I'm
> screwed but I don't have it for this PC but it does have a calid XP
> home license and I have a good working copy of XP home with service
> pack 3 which is much quicker to install this way.

Since the sticker in *on the machine* it is pretty safe for me to assume it
is an OEM licensed copy of Windows XP Home Edition. In that case - and
given what you have in information, here are the choices you have as I see
it...

1) You obtain a generic copy of Windows XP Home Edition OEM licensed. Yes -
there is a difference between OEM, Retail, MSDN, Volume and Upgrade Licensed
Media.

2) You change the MSDN copy you downloaded/burned to CD to a copy that will
accept OEM product keys. Google for "setupp.ini" - that is not a typo.
I'll give you a head start:
http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html

3) You install the MSDN copy using the MSDN key and then you use the
Microsoft utility to change the product key to the one you have on your
sticker. This utility from Microsoft...
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Link...46&clcid=0x409

Hope that helps!

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I see. Well its too bad that I have to do a re-install but option 2 or 3
will hopefully work me.

Thanks


"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> mapoitras wrote:
> > I'm re-installing windows and I'm having problems with activating
> > Windows XP Home Edition. I didn't have the original media but
> > there is a valid XP home sticker on the machine and it was built by
> > a reputable builder mdg.ca here in Canada. So I got a copy of XP
> > Home with service pack 3 from MSDN and when I use the product key
> > from the sticker I keep getting an error. I tried to call the
> > phone number but all I get is the voice messaging system. I'm
> > trying to follow the proper procedures but this is getting
> > frustrating. Any one has a suggestion how I can talk to a real
> > customer service rep without having to pay for support or can
> > someone explain me if I'm doing something wrong. I suspect that
> > because I'm not using the original CD from the manufacturer I'm
> > screwed but I don't have it for this PC but it does have a calid XP
> > home license and I have a good working copy of XP home with service
> > pack 3 which is much quicker to install this way.
>
> Since the sticker in *on the machine* it is pretty safe for me to assume it
> is an OEM licensed copy of Windows XP Home Edition. In that case - and
> given what you have in information, here are the choices you have as I see
> it...
>
> 1) You obtain a generic copy of Windows XP Home Edition OEM licensed. Yes -
> there is a difference between OEM, Retail, MSDN, Volume and Upgrade Licensed
> Media.
>
> 2) You change the MSDN copy you downloaded/burned to CD to a copy that will
> accept OEM product keys. Google for "setupp.ini" - that is not a typo.
> I'll give you a head start:
> http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html
>
> 3) You install the MSDN copy using the MSDN key and then you use the
> Microsoft utility to change the product key to the one you have on your
> sticker. This utility from Microsoft...
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Link...46&clcid=0x409
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

mapoitras wrote:
> I see. Well its too bad that I have to do a re-install but option 2 or 3
> will hopefully work me.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
>
>> mapoitras wrote:
>>> I'm re-installing windows and I'm having problems with activating
>>> Windows XP Home Edition. I didn't have the original media but
>>> there is a valid XP home sticker on the machine and it was built by
>>> a reputable builder mdg.ca here in Canada. So I got a copy of XP
>>> Home with service pack 3 from MSDN and when I use the product key
>>> from the sticker I keep getting an error. I tried to call the
>>> phone number but all I get is the voice messaging system. I'm
>>> trying to follow the proper procedures but this is getting
>>> frustrating. Any one has a suggestion how I can talk to a real
>>> customer service rep without having to pay for support or can
>>> someone explain me if I'm doing something wrong. I suspect that
>>> because I'm not using the original CD from the manufacturer I'm
>>> screwed but I don't have it for this PC but it does have a calid XP
>>> home license and I have a good working copy of XP home with service
>>> pack 3 which is much quicker to install this way.
>> Since the sticker in *on the machine* it is pretty safe for me to assume it
>> is an OEM licensed copy of Windows XP Home Edition. In that case - and
>> given what you have in information, here are the choices you have as I see
>> it...
>>
>> 1) You obtain a generic copy of Windows XP Home Edition OEM licensed. Yes -
>> there is a difference between OEM, Retail, MSDN, Volume and Upgrade Licensed
>> Media.
>>
>> 2) You change the MSDN copy you downloaded/burned to CD to a copy that will
>> accept OEM product keys. Google for "setupp.ini" - that is not a typo.
>> I'll give you a head start:
>> http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html
>>
>> 3) You install the MSDN copy using the MSDN key and then you use the
>> Microsoft utility to change the product key to the one you have on your
>> sticker. This utility from Microsoft...
>> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Link...46&clcid=0x409
>>
>> Hope that helps!
>>
>> --
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>> --
>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>>
>>
>>
You must use an OEM media in this case.