help!.....bought a used dell computer with windows xp. works fine. but. keeps asking me to activate windows .?

Question

it is a dell dimension computer. it was originally a millenium 2000 computer. but the owner before me put windows xp into it. so the original product key code. doesn't work. the technicians keep saying something about an 8 digit code that begins with a x but it is nowhere to be found on my computer. so they can't give me a product key without it. what do i do. will my computer still work if it counts down to 0 days and closes. what's the worst that could happen....is there any way to get around it......thanks for any help anyone can give me.........

Answer 1

I hate saying this, but you may have to buy an xp disk from a computer shop in order to have a code. If you ever do an upgrade, there is a chance you will need it again. The last I checked it cost around $100. I hope that I am wrong and that someone else has a different idea, but, I know that this way will work, because I had to do it myself a few years back.

Answer 2

The guy who installed Windows XP on your machine never activated windows and probably used an illegal copy of it. After the 30 days is up Windows XP will only bring up that register now box and you will not be able to use it. You will probably have to buy a copy off of the internet, its still $100 - $150 dollars depending upon where you buy it from.

Answer 3

From the sounds of it, you have a useable version of XP. You will still need an XP key, which should be on the Authentication sticker on the side or back of the computer box. There are many versions, so not all keys will work with all versions...for example version sp1 has a predefined group of keys and version sp2 has its own predefined set of keys. They are not interchangable. Once you start the install, you have to finish it, or you will be stuck in a partial install boot up situation....ugly. Keep in mind, if you cannot validate your key, (one registration per mac address) then you cannot get your updates. Good Luck

Answer 4

ur have to buy a new win xp .cd now and install that . or call microsoft tell them what happen and you can buy a license fromthem but watch oput microsoft will ask a lot of $$$$ ur be better off buying windows xp from walmart you can buy it for $

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition With Service Pack 2
Online only!
$191.92


Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM Version
Online only!
$119.98
from walmart microsoft will ask more then that

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&search_query=windows+xp&Continue.x=24&Continue.y=17&Continue=Find&ic=24_0

when the 30 days activate is up you cant login to ur desktop windows xp will shut down

call microsoft and buy a electronic license of Windows XP Home for $99
"Qualifying customers who fill out a counterfeit report, provide proof of purchase, and send in their counterfeit CDs may receive a genuine copy at no cost. Customers may also purchase an electronic license of Windows XP Home for $99 or Windows XP Pro for $149, or from their favorite local resellers,"

Answer 5

did he give you the xp cd? the product code is on the xp cd's sleeve, it's on an orange sticker on the sleeve. If you don't have it, you are screwed. You can call the number on the activation screen talk to microsoft, they will sell you a license over the phone, or you can download a WGA activation crack off the web or a peer file sharing service, but you won't be able to get any of the updates.

Answer 6

I might not give you an answwer but maybe little help
you dont wanna see what happens on day 0 you might wanna do some search couse you definetly gonna need that number. I would actually do some research and see if you can buy only the number from micrisoft instead of the whole cd

Answer 7

If you have a friend that has xp use there product key. then pick activate without register . it will take care all your problems. that way it will just check to see if it is a valid key.

Answer 8

just buy a windows xp home upgrade and install it

Answer 9

dells suck