Windows Windows XP Pro Product Key Not Valid

Discussion in 'Software' started by ajack, 23 Sep 2005.

  1. ajack

    ajack rox

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    OK, I bought a laptop a few weeks ago, which came with a copy of Win XP Pro (an Acer corporate version bundled with the lappy) already installed on it. But it came with the proper XP manual (that blue one), but not with an actual XP CD - more of a set of random Acer "rescue" discs. The lappy itself has a sticker on the bottom with the XP product key on it. Now the lappy's HDD was formatted in FAT32 (wtf?) so I was reinstalling XP tonight, in order to change it to NTFS. When I got to the entering the licence key part, the key wasn't valid. (I was using another proper XP disc which I had (since the Acer discs don't give the option of which partition was to be formatted - it automatically just formats the first partition (which has SuSE on it atm))).

    So basically I'm thinking that a) it's a corporate key and it has got out and thus had to be blacklisted by MS, b) the key will only work with the Acer recovery discs.

    I looked on the MS site, since I'd heard that there was a page where you could enter your CD key and it would say if it was legit or not, but after 40 mins of searching the site, I just couldn't be arsed anymore. I've decided that I don't particularly want Windows installed on the lappy anymore, so it's just running SuSE now, but I'd like to have the option of using a legit copy of Windows (since that's what I paid for).

    So I'm thinking I need to call MS and sort it out, or what?
     
  2. TekMonkey

    TekMonkey I enjoy cheese.

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    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/default.mspx

    It takes you to that page if you open My Computer. Click Help Menu and choose "Is this copy of Winows legal?"

    Kevin Rose had the same problem with his IBM laptop. He just entered a key he found on the internet :p. The one on the bottom of my Dell laptop was valid for me. I would call up Acer and ask them about it or if they can give you a new license key.
     
  3. ajack

    ajack rox

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    Yeah I saw that page, and came to the conclusion that the only way you can test a CD key is from within a Windows install. Unfortunately I only found that the key wasn't valid while I was installing (post formatting stage).

    I have a number of XP keys which I could use, but feels a bit stupid to use a cracked copy of XP when I have paid for a legit copy.
     
  4. MrWillyWonka

    MrWillyWonka Chocolate computers galore!

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    There are many different versions and builds of XP Pro, there is not a universal product key that will work on any version, it is probably to reduce piracy.

    So you will have to get a version of XP that matches the version Acer uses. I am a bit surprised that there isn't an option to choose a partition to format, can't you format in linux?

    Try looking about for more info on partions for Acer laptops, or contact them.
     
  5. ajack

    ajack rox

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    The thing is that the Acer recovery thing makes 2 partitions at the beginning of the disk - one 2gb one for some wierd Acer apps, and one windows. I could just format that way, but the Linux partition is the one at the beginning of the disk.

    Anyway, the Acer restore formats in FAT32, which is the exact reason why I wanted to reformat.
     
  6. MrWillyWonka

    MrWillyWonka Chocolate computers galore!

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    I find it hard to believe that it is formatted in FAT32, how old is the laptop? Because FAT32 is pretty old stuff, pretty much everyone stopped using that about 4 years ago when XP came out and MS wanted to have NTFS as standard.
     
  7. ajack

    ajack rox

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    Find it as hard to believe as you want - the machine came with all partitions as FAT32 and when I was fiddling with the repair discs, it was formatting in FAT32 - there's no way to change it. (Hence why I was using a regular XP disc). The lappy is like 3 weeks old - I cannot understand why Acer use FAT32.
     
  8. kenco_uk

    kenco_uk I unsuccessfully then tried again

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    You could've gone to a command console in XP, typed in 'convert c: /fs:ntfs' and it would have converted the file system on next boot up.
     
  9. Enak

    Enak Also known as Kane

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    There are 3 versions of the XP CD.
    OEM
    Retail
    Corporate
    Each in Home or Professional flavours.

    The key on your laptop is an OEM key that will not work on either a retail or corporate installation.

    As part of the OEM system builders licence ACER are required to supply you with the media e.g. your recovery CDs.

    If you wish to install a clean copy you will need the correct installation CD which in your case will be Windows XP Professional OEM (not for resale). Obtaining this will likely be difficult as most people either have the recovery CD's or retail/ upgrade versions. Your best bet is finding someone with the original holographic CD from microsoft.
     
  10. ajack

    ajack rox

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    Ah great, didn't know all that. Thanks for clearing it up :)
     
  11. Firehed

    Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match.

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    Well part of the problem is each OEM has their own set of keys, and they are only compatible with their media. Like for instance a Dell key wouldn't work with an HP installation disk, nor would a plain bought-it-with-my-parts OEM key work with anything but that disk or another MS-OEM one. And retail keys won't be cross-compatible either.

    So basically if you can't reformat and reinstall using the recovery CDs and you can't get an OEM install disk from Acer, you're fooked.
     
  12. MrWillyWonka

    MrWillyWonka Chocolate computers galore!

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    NEver thought, but you could simply reformat in XP, simplest way as kenco_uk suggested. Really this solves your problem. :clap: to kenko!

    EDIT: Can you actually convert a partition when the OS is on it?
     
    Last edited: 24 Sep 2005
  13. Sp!

    Sp! Minimodder

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    Yep it just says can't get complete access to the partition do you want to convert next time you reboot, just say yes and it happens when you next start up
     
  14. Enak

    Enak Also known as Kane

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    As kenco_uk said :D

    But even so, sometimes it is nice to have a completely clean XP install without all the OEM crud.
     
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