OS and Software > Microsoft Help > [XPHome] Xp home activation issues... crack?

[XPHome] Xp home activation issues... crack?

reply to cowboyro

Re: [XPHome] Xp home activation issues... crack?

I'd make sure you're entering the number/letters right... like B could look like an 8 or vice versa. The COA number SHOULD work on XP Home OEM. Go to System Properties of "My Computer" and does it say OEM in that product string?

reply to cowboyro
Did you try calling Dell? There might be a Dell tag on the box that you could use with them. With my first Dell system, the product key for Windows XP did not match what was on the outside of the box, but MS allowed updates based simply on the fact that it was a Dell.
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It is easier for a camel to put on a bikini than an old man to thread a needle.

reply to Razzy12345

reply to rcdailey

reply to cowboyro
From my experience the number on the sticker of an OEM computer is not important and pretty meaningless, because the PC comes with an OEM copy of Windows that has a preloaded number within it that I don't think requires activation. When I have done a HD wipe and fresh install using the OEM disk it just installs and never asks for a serial to be entered. I guess a "master" Dell number is just preloaded in a file somewhere on the disk and just gets entered during install. No activation needed.

Now when I have tried to use a commercial disk (because my OEM got scratched or something so I borrowed a disk from a friend) and I tried to enter my correct OEM serial number it then try to authenticate and failed. I called and was told that that happened because the version disk I used was commercial and the serial number I used was OEM. I then found another friend that had a Dell OEM disk; used that and it worked just fine. I'm guessing because the BIOS told it that the PC it was installing on was a Dell so all OK.

Of course this is just anecdotal info and not necessarily what happens in every situation. But I have found it to be true on quite a few Dells.

reply to cowboyro
Yes, that's what I meant. WGA probably isn't as sloppy as MS product activation was in years past when they accepted Dell without a key just because it was Dell and Dell did what you said. I can state that the keys that should work definitely did not work when I had that box. I even used a key discovery tool to find the key and that key did not work, either. That may be the problem here. I also have a OEM version of XP, but the last time I had to reinstall was in 2007 and the replacement drive has not yet failed on me.

Oh, I see what Sentinel posted and that is probably the accurate explanation. You would not need to activate an OEM version since it was already activated by the OEM. As for Windows update, I did not have any problem with update when I reinstalled Windows in 2007, but can't say what would happen now.

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It is easier for a camel to put on a bikini than an old man to thread a needle.

reply to cowboyro
I want to spend as little as possible on this machine right now. SO honestly looking into anything that will make it work, including a crack. It's not my computer, I'm doing this pro-bono. Suggestions?

If it was a Dell, it should have come with a Windows re-installation disc and that did not ask for a key when used, at least not for me with my old Dell. Updates were allowed by MS with no problem. Maybe you will have to reformat and start over to get out of this.

Added: If the original re-installation disc is XP without a service pack as mine was, then you have to put in all the service packs, plus deal with the partition limit for the original XP, making for extra work after you get SP2 in place, but not a lot of work. These are things you grit your teeth and do if it is your own system, of course.

Sadly, I have nothing else to offer, and if MS isn't recognizing Dell OEM XP installations without activation, then that may be their way of helping Dell to sell new systems.

The problem with a cracked OS is that the user won't be able to get security patches even though they should be available until 2014. That is not a good thing.
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It is easier for a camel to put on a bikini than an old man to thread a needle.

Just my 2 cents worth ...
If it were me, I would install the hard drive in a working Windows PC and then find and copy the email files (PST files) to another hard drive in the working PC. Then invoke the email application (Windows Live Mail, Outook, etc) and import the old mail from the PST files.

reply to cowboyro
I hear what you are saying. Tell him to get a new computer real soon because this one is near death. If he hasn't used it for a couple of years, he must not need it that much.

When I lost the hard drive in 2007, I lost e-mail and some files and the licensed copy of Eudora, which I could not replace because it was the last one released. I just had to go on without those. I had backups of essential stuff.

Also, if you have some linux live CD hanging around, try booting with that and see if the hard drive is recognized. If it is, you could copy files over to an external USB drive and transfer them later. If it is not recognized, then maybe you can't get any data off and maybe he needs a new hard drive, which probably isn't worth buying for an old system like that.

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It is easier for a camel to put on a bikini than an old man to thread a needle.

reply to cowboyro
Ok, as I asked earlier... in the System Properties of My Computer - those numbers underneath "Registered to:"

XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX

Do you see OEM in those numbers? If not, then the COA sticker product key will NOT work on that Windows XP as it could be a retail or upgrade version.

reply to cowboyro
Find a Dell XP Home install CD and reinstall the OS. Any Dell XP CD will work with any Dell computer. No activation needed, if you use a Dell XP CD. You could actually use ANY Dell XP version, Home or Pro, to reinstall and it will not need to be activated.

Other then that call Dell and have them send out a Dell XP Home CD.

Cantact me off the forum as I have many Dell XP CDs, Home or Pro.
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Shooter Ready--Stand By BEEP ********

reply to cowboyro
What I think happened is the owner of that computer installed a Retail version of XP Home and tried to use the Dell OEM key that is on the sticker on the computer. That will not work. With XP if you install a retail version you have to use a retail key. If you installed a OEM version you have to use a OEM key.

So that is why the key is coming up Invalid. If you can get an OEM XP Home CD you could reinstall over the top of the current install and then use the Dell Key that is on the sticker. If that doesn't work then you are going to have to wipe the drive and reinstall using either a Dell XP Home, or Pro, CD or a OEM version and use the key on the sticker.
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Shooter Ready--Stand By BEEP ********

reply to cowboyro
Cracked, fixed. Killed WGA, computer is usable.
Pirating a legit install beats trying to fix through the proper channels.

Wait till you see that crack start causing problems...... I'd never crack anything.. ever. (I run a computer shop)