Windows XP activation

Genesis4455 · 26 Nov 2010

I got a computer from my girlfriends mom, And the hardrive was broken, So I get another one and she doesnt have any XP disks, So i say to my self, "Well I can just burn some" I burned XP home sp1 and sp2 and I installed sp1 says the Key doesnt work, So i install SP2 and still says the key doesnt work, I have a legit key its on the side its a HP pavilion a1019h and I work at a computer repair shop and the senior tech gave me some HP pavilion disk he said that should work if it doesn't bring them back... they didnt work it says it doesnt work with this model, Sooo anyone have an idea.

roban · 26 Nov 2010

The only idea I have is to post this in a Windows XP forum.

DocBrown · 26 Nov 2010

Call HP support 800 number. For $14.95 you can get their recovery Discs if you provide them with your Model number & serial #. At least that's what I was able to do with HP.

Petey7 · 26 Nov 2010

Did the thing not give you a number to call. Try to activate manually, when it fails, it should tell you to call a number. All you have to do is read them the product key and you will either be transfered to a person if there is a problem or the automated voice will give you a new key to type in. Even if you get transfered to a person, you should still be given a new key to use.

Genesis4455 · 26 Nov 2010

Burning a disk isnt illegal right just using a keygen or activator is? Because I have the key but not disk i had to burn one, asking before i call

Petey7 · 26 Nov 2010

Genesis4455 said:

Burning a disk isnt illegal right just using a keygen or activator is? Because I have the key but not disk i had to burn one, asking before i call

I don't think they want people to make copies of the disc, but it shouldn't matter and I doubt they will ask. In cases like this I prefer the "don't ask, don't tell" approach. If they don't ask, don't bring it up yourself. When it comes to legality, I believe you are right; only using cracks and other ways of avoiding activation is actually illegal. When purchasing the PC you (or is this case your GFs mom) you also paid for a copy of Windows, so you have a legal right to reinstall Windows using the key that came with the computer.

smarteyeball · 26 Nov 2010

Genesis4455 said:

I have a legit key its on the side its a HP pavilion a1019h

That would make it an OEM copy (most likely XP Home) which has already been activated.

You're not installing XP Pro by any chance are you?

Genesis4455 · 26 Nov 2010

smarteyeball said:

Genesis4455 said:

I have a legit key its on the side its a HP pavilion a1019h

That would make it an OEM copy (most likely XP Home) which has already been activated.

You're not installing XP Pro by any chance are you?

Nope im stalling or installed a windows xp home edition sp2 =/ its the legit copy no activators nor keygens

alphanumeric · 27 Nov 2010

I worked on a PC for a friend. I had to reinstall the OS and use my disks, they couldn't find theirs. I had to use an XP Home CD with no service packs before it would accept the product code on the sticker on the case. Installing XP home with SP1 or SP2 resulted in the product code being rejected. Even then I had to activate by phone. They didn't hassle me though and gave me the number to type in manually. The phone part ended up being the easiest part of the whole deal.

Bill2 · 27 Nov 2010

In XP, all disks are not identical as in win7. That means you cant use an OEM key such as the one on the computer with a retail disk. Also, disks with integrated service packs may not work. Easiest thing is to contact HP and buy the recovery disks from them- they're pretty cheap.