Problems with Windows XP reinstallation

[mrSHEiK124]

I recently gave a friend an older HP computer that I had lying around the house. The hard drive was giving me the click of death, so he put a new hard drive in it and called me over to install Windows.
HP didn't supply any CDs with the computer; I still have the original packaging, I checked. The only option I had to reinstall Windows was a recovery partition on the hard drive, which went bye bye when the original hard drive gave up. The PC has an OEM Windows XP Home COA on it, and I've got quite a few OEM Windows XP Home CDs at home, so I broght one over.
The problem is the stupid Windows Product Activation. It INSISTS that my key is invalid, even though I re-entered it half a dozen times just to make sure I wasn't making any typos. When I go to the activate over the telephone screen, the installation ID field is blank. I think the problem may be the fact that the COA sticker says Hewlett Packard on a line underneath "Windows XP Home Edition," although I can't fathom why. I've done quite a few installs of Windows XP Home Edition using a Dell branded XP CD on an unmarked COA label, and I think I reinstalled Windows on a Dell box that had a Dell COA using an unbranded OEM Windows XP CD. Microsoft told me to call HP. HP told me to call Microsoft. My common sense told me to post here. Anyone have a clue as to what's wrong here?

EDIT: The CD itself says Includes Service Pack 1a on it, the COA product key is for plain jane build 2600, although I can't see how that would cause the problem; otherwise people wouldn't be able to slipstream service packs onto Windows CDs and install Windows without getting a bunch of activation errors.

 

[mnaz14]

Ive had to do this about a dozen times for customers. Every time I get the message that the key is invalid I just end up calling Microsoft, read them the installation ID and they give you an activation code after asking a few questions.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I think the problem may be the fact that the COA sticker says Hewlett Packard on a line underneath "Windows XP Home Edition," although I can't fathom why.

You have two choices if you want to have trouble-free online Activation with an HP computer:

Either use an original HP XP Install CD, or buy a Retail or "Generic OEM" version of XP. If you use an original HP CD, you shouldn't have to Activate at all.

The use of ANY other type of XP Install CD will require the use of a NON-HP Key. Microsoft won't allow you to do an online Activation with ANY version of XP using the Key from an HP COA sticker. However, if you telephone Microsoft, you MAY be allowed to use the HP COA Key to Activate. Microsoft changed its online Activation policy nearly two years ago.

For furture use, you should recommend that your friend never buy a PC without obtaining a factory OS recovery disk. If the PC maker won't provide one, buy a different PC.

 

[John]

FWIW this week I have done a few clean installs of XP Home OEM using my unbranded OEM Home SP2 disc (like the kind you buy from Newegg) and the customer's OEM branded COA w/ product key that is affixed to the bottom of the laptop chassis. One was a Dell i6000, the other was an HP zv6000, and both activated using the internet option. Maybe Microsoft is loosening up?

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: mnaz14
Ive had to do this about a dozen times for customers. Every time I get the message that the key is invalid I just end up calling Microsoft, read them the installation ID and they give you an activation code after asking a few questions.

That's the problem, it's not giving me an installation ID.

Originally posted by: John
FWIW this week I have done a few clean installs of XP Home OEM using my unbranded OEM Home SP2 disc (like the kind you buy from Newegg) and the customer's OEM branded COA w/ product key that is affixed to the bottom of the laptop chassis. One was a Dell i6000, the other was an HP zv6000, and both activated using the internet option. Maybe Microsoft is loosening up?

My XP Home CD is also the unbranded kind you buy from NewEgg (cept it's from a couple of years ago, SP1a instead of SP2). I've used it to format quite a few computers that have Dell branded COAs on them, I didn't expect it to give me a problem with the HP.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Oh, and this is what I fsckin hate about WPA. The only people it bothers are those who legally purchased Windows; what a load of sh!t, Microsoft :roll:

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Bump

 

[John]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
When I go to the activate over the telephone screen, the installation ID field is blank.

This happend to one of my co-workers last week. Try activating in safe mode w/ networking or after you've installed all of the drivers.

I think the problem may be the fact that the COA sticker says Hewlett Packard on a line underneath "Windows XP Home Edition," although I can't fathom why.

If it were a true key problem it would tell you invalid key during installation.

 

[bchivers]

It's been a few yaers since I had my HP but when I did I called HP a bought one from them for $12(?). The only problem was it came as a 7 CD set full of all kinds of crap.

 

[Dooyas]

The only computer manufactur that supplies CD's now is Toshiba and Dell. The rest prompt you to make them as soon as Windows boots up and is a 3 hour process.

As to the OP, did you click on the button that says Activate by Telephone and then pick the country you are calling from? I have ran into a few cases where the number would not appear until after I picked the country.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Dooyas
The only computer manufactur that supplies CD's now is Toshiba and Dell. The rest prompt you to make them as soon as Windows boots up and is a 3 hour process.

As to the OP, did you click on the button that says Activate by Telephone and then pick the country you are calling from? I have ran into a few cases where the number would not appear until after I picked the country.

Asked him to try that, no good.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Any other suggestions before I call HP and reformat using the $12 discs I'll have to buy?

 

[mrSHEiK124]

...

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Anyone?

 

[mrSHEiK124]

I think I'll get a vacation if I bump this anymore :Q
Last call for any help with this

 

[MrChad]

HP's use pre-activated, BIOS-locked installations with special OEM CDs/keys.

You should be able to recreate a proper HP OEM CD.

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?act=ST&f=34&t=90352

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=63258

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: MrChad
HP's use pre-activated, BIOS-locked installations with special OEM CDs/keys.

You should be able to recreate a proper HP OEM CD.

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?act=ST&f=34&t=90352

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=63258

My problem is still unresolved, both fixes involve being able to start the computer with the original factory installation of Windows.

 

[mechBgon]

The last time I had to reinstall WinXP on an HP, using the key on the case's sticker, I simply called Microsoft and said I was reinstalling WinXP on one of our HP d325's, and they Activated it over the phone. Have you tried calling them?