Can't activate XP Pro

[MarkJohnson]

I am working on a clients machine and she got a message saying that her copy of windows is not genuine. This was installed on her machine when her son built it in 2002 and her files are dated back to x-mas 2001.

I then click on the systray icon and there is no option to activate or enter a new key. I only have an option to,"Purchase a Genuine License", which you can't do for XP.

How can I enter a key? I checked the start menu and seen nothing about activation.

Thanks for any help

-=Mark=-

[Guest]

Why do you say you can't do that for XP? As far as I know you should be able to purchase a genuine key from MS.

Purchase the Windows XP Home or Pro WGA Kit online at a reduced price (estimated at $99 for Windows XP Home, $149 for Windows XP Pro). With this option, a new product key will be e-mailed to you after payment is confirmed. You will also receive the Windows XP CD and media by mail within four to six weeks. The kit will include Windows XP Service Pack 2. When you use the kit, you may have to reinstall the operating system. To purchase the WGA legalization kit, visit the following Web site to validate your software, and then select Buy Now after validation is unsuccessful:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932300

[MarkJohnson]

Why do you say you can't do that for XP? As far as I know you should be able to purchase a genuine key from MS.

Purchase the Windows XP Home or Pro WGA Kit online at a reduced price (estimated at $99 for Windows XP Home, $149 for Windows XP Pro). With this option, a new product key will be e-mailed to you after payment is confirmed. You will also receive the Windows XP CD and media by mail within four to six weeks. The kit will include Windows XP Service Pack 2. When you use the kit, you may have to reinstall the operating system. To purchase the WGA legalization kit, visit the following Web site to validate your software, and then select Buy Now after validation is unsuccessful:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932300

None of those links work. The article is also 3 years old. XP has been officially unsupported by Microsoft for quite a while now.

so now what? Am I screwed out of activation as there seems no way to enter a product key anywhere. I even tried updating to SP1 then SP3 to see if that helps, but SP1 says not genuine and wont install.

Where is activation suppose to be located? Maybe I missed it.

-=Mark=-

[Guest]

Links work for me. XP is supported until 2014.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/genuine/product-key

Try this command - oobe/msoobe /a

Edited February 18, 2011 by -X-

[allen2]

Or use this kb article : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874 the reset of oobetimer in registry part should help.

[MarkJohnson]

I ended up backing-up and reinstalling windows with my CD and her key and all is fine.

Thanks for the help

-=Mark=-