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Windows XP activation issue.

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3 replies

by macmaha

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Hi,
I am working with a mid sized organization. We have around 300 + desktop systems with mix environment of Linux and Windows XP. I joined this company few weeks ago. so I dont have much of the knowledge about the licensing of windows. My problem is, When I install windows Xp on any desktop I give the product key sticked on to the desktop, as I think, these desktops were came along with window pre-installed on it. so once the installation is over, it ask me to activate the windows, now I hav not installed the network drivers so it cannot validate the windows over the internet, and when I go for telephone option, It is not generating the installation ID because I am not using the exact media disc for the installation. It is simply impossible to find the proper media disc for the desktop, because we have more that 150 windows installation discs so I cannot identify which one is used for which desktop.
I spoke to microsoft guys, but they told me that even they are helpless. I think there must be the way out.
I cannot afford to loose the licenses, and I am not allowed to purchase new ones. Please help me. If you cant understand this issue you can again contact me on macmaha@gmail.com

Thanks

Mac Maha.

3 replies

by oh smeg

You will end up with lots of SPAM if you [b]Do Not[/b] do this.

As for this issue look at the Install Media you are using what is it labeled as? I'm betting it's a Volume License which uses 1 Product key for all Windows Workstations and not the one on the COA as Volume License Software from M$ does not come with COA's. They just supply 1 Install Disc and you buy the number of Licenses that are required as long as the number is greater than 5 when you buy the Volume License Product. If required latter you can buy 1 License at a Time from M$ as Volume License Product as required. As this is a Paper License M$ keep a Record on the Number of Volume Licenses that the Company Buys and can perform an Audit whenever they feel like it. hey are also able to instigate Legal Action for Piracy if the company is caught with Unlicensed Volume License Product in use. What that means is if you bought 5 Volume Licenses and installed this on 300 Computers you are liable for 295 Counts of Piracy.

What you need to find what the Volume License Kay is and use that. The remaining XP Install Media was probably supplied with the Hardware and is not being used. This happens because the Company Owns the Volume License Product and [b]Can Not[/b] sell loaded computers with it installed. They can however sell the computers after they are of no further benefit to the company with a Blank HDD and the Original Install Media for the Computer. With XP you [b]Do Not[/b] need a Install Disc for the Computer all that is required is a Install Disc of the [b]Same Type[/b] so if you have XP Home COA any XP Home OEM Install Disc will allow you to install that OS and use the Product Key on the COA.

What you can not do is use a XP Home Install Media with a Volume License or Pro Key and the other ways around either if you have a XP Home COA you need a XP Home Install Disc and so on through the Product Range.

Col

by 1bn0

Each manufacture has different PID numbers to identify the installation media. The COA key will only work witht the installation disk bearing the associated PID.

You may be able to identify your installation disks using the pid numbers

From:
http://forums.hexus.net/operating-systems-applications/98834-finding-right-xp-cd-my-cd-key.html

"Open the I386 folder on your XP CD and find a file called SETUPP.INI. That file will contain a line starting PID=
The numbers following the '=' indicate which version of XP is on the disc.

Here's a list of all the various types of disc along with the volume name, date and PID numbers:
Windows XP Home Retail = WXHFPP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Retail w/ SP1 = XRMHFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Retail w/ SP1a = X1AHFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Retail w/ SP2 = VRMHFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277000
Windows XP Home Upgrade = WXHCCP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home Upgrade W/SP1 = XRMHCCP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home Upgrade W/SP1a = X1AHCCP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home Upgrade W/SP2 = VRMHCCP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55285000
Windows XP Home OEM = WXHOEM_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home OEM w/ SP1 = XRMHOEM_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home OEM w/ SP1a = X1AHOEM_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home OEM w/ SP2 = VRMHOEM_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55277OEM
Windows XP Home Volume = WXHVOL_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Home Volume W/ SP1 = XRMHVOL_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Home Volume W/ SP1a = X1AHVOL_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Home Volume W/ SP2 = VRMHVOL_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270

Windows XP Pro Retail = WXPFPP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Retail w/ SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Retail w/ SP1a = X1APFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Retail w/ SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade = WXPCCP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade w/ SP1 = XRMPCCP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade w/ SP1a = X1APCCP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro Upgrade w/ SP2 = VRMPCCP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55276000
Windows XP Pro OEM = WXPOEM_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro OEM w/ SP1 = XRMPOEM_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro OEM w/ SP1a = X1APOEM_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro OEM w/ SP2 = VRMPOEM_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274OEM
Windows XP Pro Volume = WXPVOL_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Volume w/ SP1 = XRMPVOL_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Volume w/ SP1a = X1APVOL_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Volume w/ SP2 = VRMPVOL_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274270
Windows XP Pro Tablet PC w/SP1 Disc1 = XRMPFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Tablet PC w/SP1a Disc1 = X1APFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Tablet PC w/SP2 Disc1 = VRMPFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN = WXPFPP_EN 08/23/01 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN w/ SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN 08/29/02 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN w/ SP1a = X1APFPP_EN 03/31/03 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro MSDN w/ SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN 08/04/04 8:00 AM (08:00:00) 55274000
Windows XP Pro Evaluation = WXPEVL_EN"

There are other sites with similar/better lists.

http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Product_IDs

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