Windows Serial number!

Greets.
I'm trying to do a fresh install of windows xp, but the instalation don't accept my serial (the one that is on the sticker in the laptop).
The windows is the same, Windows XP Professional, it's just the cd from Microsoft... because I don't want to do an restore (it will kill all info on my hdd).
Why does windows does not accept this serial?
God damn it! I payed for windows and now I can't use it the way I want?

 

You can only use it once, that's why. You have to call Microsoft to use it again.

 

what? ...never heard...

 

Are you serious? Once you activate windows or ... office for that matter..... if you delete it and drive to reinstall it... as long as you're using a legal copy to begin with, it'll say that code has already been activated and for you to call Microsoft to get a new activation code.

 

not true to my desktop though. I reinstalled windows (legal copy of corz) about 3 times and they still let me activate it!

 

Windoze sux

 

Are we talking retail copy, oem copy, or "restore disc" copy?

 

I think he means it dont accept the sn number on install not on registration. Can you elaborate a bit. What are you trying to do? Second Repair option?

 

i'm planning to wipe out my w3v and reinstall with plain XP as well...

not sure what I'm going to grab from a friend... oem or corp or retail...

with each case, i'm expecting a different install experience?

I don't remember, because in the 'real world' outside of the home, we just use workstation images to build machines.

 

Windows serial keys are not universal. Older serials dont work on newer oem disks and vise versa. Google "windows xp corp crack" see what you find. Its a very small exe file.

 

Are you trying to use the Key from your notebook on a retail or corporate version of XP? If so you are going to find that it doesnt work. Oviouslly because XP Pro OEM has different algorithms for keys than XP Pro Retail. Use the retail key if you bought it, or use the Corp key if you took it from work ;oP

 

I had no problema doing a fesh install of windows xp pro (borrowed the cd from the office) and using the serial that's on the sticker on my W3.

I even have dual boot, so I unlocked both versions with the same key, without problems.

Maybe you should just check if you entered the serial correctly?

 

hmm so your cd from the office is XP Prof - Corp, or XP Prof - OEM?

 

I now understood my problem.
I have an WindowsXP Retail disc, but I guess asus serial is for OEM version.
Oh my. I will install the one from my office too.

 

You can change A retail cd to accept OEM keys. Just google "Unlocking WinXP's setupp.ini".

 

Will probably happen with an OEM disc also. The big OEMs doesn't actually use the product key when 'installing' the OS. Instead they just ghost in a preactivated image with an embedded key. The actual licence stickers are separate. This will generate an invalid installation ID when performing a repair install using the sticker key. Happened to me on two Asus notebooks. Once with a slipstreamed CD made from the files in the i386 directory (XP home) and the other one with a 'retail' (non vendor specific) OEM copy of XP Pro. Bost installs worked fine after the (admittedly annoying) 3 minute call to MS.

 

Just so anyone else who is having this problem knows:

Windows XP will only take a code so many times (I believe the limit is 3). It registers on thier system each time you use it so you don't use one copy on multipul computers.

They give you a number to call (somewhere, I'm not sure where) and you call there and tell the microsoft people that you need a new code. They ask you a few questions about why you need one (like "I reformated my computer to clean it up a few times") and they issue you a new one. It's a fairly simple, yet frustrating, procedure. Use the new code, you get windows back.

 

Yeah thats right...infact most major softwear has a limit on the number of times you can use a serial number, but this usually is picked up at the activation stage of the process...ie when you connect to the internet. I have never ever had windows refuse my key no matter how many times I have re-formatted and installed (have done this at least 10X with my M6N for eg)...its only upon activation of the softwear that issues arise. I know that norton for eg gives you 10 activations before you need to call support for a new key.

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man, refresh my memory please.... product code VS. serial key?