Activate windows... wtf?

About 6 months ago, my buddy wiped my computer clean and started it out fresh again. He put windows xp media center on it for me and I have sinced used it and everything was fine. This morning when I got up and went to my computer it was at the log in page of windows and so I put my password in and it seemed to be working until a message popped up saying that windows needed to be activated. If I click no it logs me off and I'm back where I started, so when I click yes, it takes me to the activation wizard fairy thingy. It basically wants a product key, something I obviously do not have. Of course I wonder what would do the trick for that, but my main question is why did it all of a sudden go to this activation nonesense and lock me out of my computer? Is there anything that can be done or am I screwed? thanks for your time

 

You're screwed.
Your buddy used an illegal key or a crack, and you are now paying the consequences.

Don't bother asking us any other questions on how to solve that, cuase the only reply you get will be to go and buy a legal version of media center.

 

Can I just use the cd key off of the new legal version that I buy or will I have to wipe my comp clean again? thanks again for your time

 

In theory, you should be able to use the storebought key, but it would be safer to wipe the HD and reinstall it.

 

yoiu can use any key for any cd.... but yeah,just to let yoiu know

 

Uh, just to let you know....No, you can't.

 

Again, I want to thank everyone for their input

Also, is there any way to save the information on my computer before having to wipe it clean to reinstall XP?


And, why did this happen in the first place?

thank you again for your time.

 

more specifically if you had a OS such a s win xp pro sp2...then you can use any win xp pro sp2 key for any... and it goes for the other os, other than that, i know there are some software where one serial is dedicated to one software

 

And to repeat what morph just said, No, you can't.
Once the reuglar key is registered with a computer, any duplicate entries will be recorded by microsoft.
And don't even think of using a regular windows xp password with, for example, xp pro, cause that definately won't work.

 

Well, to anybody having this problem, I have found a way to access your computer without activating windows.

On the activation wizard, you can find a link to Microsoft's home page. If you are connected to the internet, click on the link and then go to the url bar and type in, C:\my documents and settings\computername\desktop

something along those lines will atleast open up a folder for you and you can navigate around from there

 

@dejahboi:

Uh....No, you can't. You think that all XP SP2 CDs are the same type of installation and they are not. The version off the shelf is either Retail, or Upgrade. It'll say it right on the package. The version you get buying a whole system presinstalled (Dell for instance) is OEM. The version a business would buy for their massive computer systems is called Corporate. There is a file Windows setup uses to match the installation key to the installation type...and if they don't match, it will tell you, and installation stops.

@bdizzle - Never thought of that!

 

seriously try it, if you never done it, then you cant back it up....so where's the proof? I 've already try it,

 

Yeah, you can't use one for the other. I was trying to obtain the right key code for my windows xp media center (25 characters long) and dell sent me a new windows xp cd, the key code on the back is only 20 characters long.

 

I've done more XP installations than I have brain cells to remember. Here's the proof you seek:

Here are your different XP key windows for each type of install. They are not interchangable. I think you're getting confused because you think you're using a different key when you are not.

OEM Installatin.


Retail Installatin. (also Upgrade Installation)


Volume License Installation.

 

I'm not saying I'm correct, but my understanding is that you can you say a volume license on an xp home edition, but not the opposite. Basically, I've heard licenses are backwards compatible. I've never tested this myself though. I can say that you can use a key from a pro sp1 disk on a pro sp2 disk, since I've personally siplstreamed many sp1 disks with sp2 and used the same key.

 

That's because slipstreamed XP sp2 installations are different than regular, storebought sp2 discs.
Try using an sp1 key on a storebought sp2 disc... I can tell you now that it won't work, but....

 

Regarding the reason it all of a sudden said it wasn't activated, Microsoft issued an update on April 25th (MS06-015). You probably had your PC set to automatically receive and install updates. Part of the update process now is to verify that you have a genuine copy of windows. When you rebooted the next day you got the message that it needed activated. I guess for some reason it failed the validation test, more than likely your friend used a blacklisted key.

 

AAAHHH, thank you Xian. Pretty sneaky of them if you ask me, of course I'm the one with the black listed key code... thanks again though