XP Activation Problem

I am having trouble with a T41 that I purchased used about a month back. The laptop came with a recently added hard drive with a clean install of XP pro. Windows has repeatedly asked for activation, when I try to activate it, they tell me it is already active. This is an endless loop and I am now locked out of my computer. I do not have any system CDs or a copy of XP- I purchased the laptop with everything loaded, as is. Am I doomed? please help!

 

Where did you get your computer? Sounds like you have an illegal copy of Windows XP. The only way to fix this is to get yourself another XP Pro license key. Contact the seller and explain what's going on. If you are a victim of an illegal practice, a call to Microsoft's piracy line would definitely be in order

 

I purchased the computer off a private seller from Craigslist. I contacted him today and he said he loaded XP pro from the disc he recieved with his new computer. From my research it seems that this can happen when you change hardware, and the laptop does have a new hardrive. Is there any way to fix this without spending the $$ on a new copy of XP? If I had extra cash around I wouldnt have bought a used PC in the first place. Also, if I do end up needing a new copy of XP, will a new install delete all my files and programs?

 

it could just be a problem with the new hard drive. either way, you should call microsoft. they can give you an activation code over the phone. if they say no dice, contact the seller and tell him to hook you up.

 

Ill give them a shot this evening when I get home from work and let you guys know how it turns out.

Thanks

 

does it have a winxp license key sticker on the underside of your machine? if it does and it corresponds to the win xp edition currently installed on your computer there is a possible workaround. can you boot on safemode? if you can you can tweak the registry so as to allow you to get a new activation configuration.

regedit>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>WindowsNT>CurrentVersion>WPAEvents>OOBETimer. Edit values (erase them if you wish). Reboot machine. Go activate using Telephone Activation. Insert the CD license key to generate new activation code. Call Microsoft to activate. Most probably automatic phone validator could not validate your activation key and you would be redirected to a MS agent. the agent would ask for the first batch code of your machine generated key. from the outset you'll know that your win xp is not genuine if the machine generated key starts with a number other than 0. if it starts with a 2 or a 3 you have a pirated version and the MS agent would tell you that your winxp machine generated key cannot be authenticated and you would be asked to call another MS number to get a valid activation Key. forget about this if that is the case. go and get yourself an authentic windows installer.

If the WinXP software installed in your machine is a genuine edition and not bootlegged you will not have problems in the re-activation. If it is a tampered version (pirated) you are stuck. get an aunthentic win xp installer that corresponds exactly to the version of your oem license (WinXP Home = WinXP Home not SP1 nor SP2. If oem license is WinXP Home SP1 get an installer of WinXP Home SP1). you can borrow from a colleague, a friend, a classmate.

 

okay.. But would a reinstallation erase the files/programs that I have already on my laptop? or can I just replace the windows files? Also, Why does it say that it is already activated?

 

a reinstallation (clean install) would destroy your data files if it is in the same partition as the OS and certainly the integration of softwares with Windows. so better back up your data files. if you choose not to format during installation but simply to install OS on a new directory you would be able to retain your documents/data files but just the same lose the integration of your softwares to Windows. you wouldneed to reinstall the other softwares as well.