Oem windows xp product key doesn't work on computer it came with

[stvchris]

I have a dell xps 400 that took a dive. it was diagnosed as being the motherboard which i had replaced. it was misdiagnosed and was a bad hard drive. i didn't have to pay for the mobo and bought a hard drive. installed oem windows xp now it asks me to register with the product key. i used the one off of the sticker on the computer and it didn't take. i checked the cd by doing a seach for unattend.txt, verified that the product key was correct and tried again. no go, is there a prob with the mobo orsomething else. any help would be appreciated.

thx for your time, solved

 

[kimsland]

No it's the Windows disc (the key must match the version)
Please contact MS to have it replaced

By the way, OEM, means that you can only use the Windows key on the computer it was bought with

 

[stvchris]

the key does match the cd and the microsoft tag on the dell. i looked on microsoft's database. it told me to place the cd in the drive, do a search on that drive, D:, for unattend.txt in the hidden files. at the bottom of the text it has the exact same key as is on the sticker on the dell xps 400. since then i have talked to ms who said the oem, original eqipment manufacturer, win xp pro 2002, sp2 is no longer covered by customer service.

 

[stvchris]

just contacted dell who told me they could do nothing for me, the unit is out of warranty, unless i wanted to pay $39.95 per case

 

[kimsland]

I have just been looking through my notes re MS not supporting Windows Xp Sp2
I haven't found it yet, but I'm pretty sure (about 99%) that MS have incorrectly quoted you
Please hold ...

Found it

http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=lifecycle

Windows XP Service Pack 3 General Availability Date: 4/21/2008

Support ends 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first. For more information, please see the service pack policy at

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/#ServicePackSupport

Hmm, it seems you need the free SP3 update to be supported

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Edit

Newegg is selling XP CDs with SP3 already on the disc.

XP Pro: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116515

XP Home: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

 

[hrlow2]

Have read somewhere that Dell machines require Dell installation disks. Has problems with others,unless you have done a reformat and reinstall from another type of disk.

 

[kimsland]

The Newegg discs above can be used on any computer that can run Xp (Repair or new installation, no issue)

Dell Restore Disks can only be used on the computer it was intended for (and usually don't repair an installed version)

hrlow2 please be clear (and correct) with your advice\support.
According to your reply, Dell machines require Dell installation disks (implying only), which is incorrect

 

[stvchris]

thx kimsland, i received new os disk from dell, reinstalled and all is fine. again thx for your time

 

[kimsland]

Thanks for the update :grinthumb