Absolutely DESPERATE Please Help!?!

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SuperAntMD

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Hi, (I know its a bit long so feel free to skip to the part with the *'s)

A friend of mine was having major problems with his computer so I offered to help (big mistake). His windows XP was completely unusable, all the drivers were fscked, weird folders constantly open, extremely slow everything, no internet, nothing working.

I advised him to back up his data onto a couple dvds and then clean install windows.

He couldn't because windows couldnt use his dvd burner. So we shoved his harddrive into my pc and after BitDefender got rid of the 45 Viruses! and over 600 infected files we backed up his data.

This is where the trouble began. He doesn't have a windows cd, but he does have a very legitimate version of windows with the original sticker stuck to the pc with the licence number.

We tried to do a repair install (from a not so legal windows cd) but it wouldnt work, got about half way then froze for over 12 hours. So the only thing left to do was format the hdd and reinstall.

*This is the important part*

Format went fine but when the install asked for the product key it wouldn't accept his!! According to Microsoft it is because the cd needs to come from the OEM supplier, (I didn't mention it was a copy, just that it was "another XP cd"). The problem is the supplier is Gateway computers, and once again according to microsoft, they are not registered in SOuth Africa so I can not pay and get another cd for R130 like evryone else. In short they said the only thing I can do is buy another version of XP which i am not inclined to do as it is expensive and I/He already has a fully legitimate windows license.

So what I need is if anyone has or knows anyone who has a Gateway windows XP professional cd that I can buy/borrow. I just need it for the install not the license as his original one is still perfectly acceptable. Please, Please help because i have now deleted everything off his computer and can not explain to him that there is no way to put it back without forking out some major cash.

I know this is a long shot but i thought if anyone can help me I'll find them here.
 
As a side note a tried this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874 "How to change a product key from the hacked cd to the real one AFTER the install but it wouldn't work. i think that this maybe because the cd i need to change it from still needed to come from the OEM supplier originally but i have no way of verifying that.

Please I am pulling out my hair.
 
you do not need a cd from a gateway computer specifically, just a proper xp OEM cd.

the algorythms to determine the keycodes differ from retail /ugrade /oem versions, so the sticker on the back of his machine will not work for normal retail versions of the cd and wont work for upgrade versions and wont work for vlk versions. but it will work for oem version.

for activation, use the telephone, or search through his original recovered data looking for files starting with "oembios"..like oembios.bin etc...and copy them to the new xp installation to the same locations once you have completed the install

trust me, i am a doktor.
 
also you can try finding a cd on the internet or wherever that's roughly the same version they installed. Example June 2006, December 2006 etc. Then the key will work
 
Try this..

Step1 : Find any illegal CD key that works and enter it during the WinXP install
Step2 : Once installation is finished it should ask you to activate the copy of windows.When you try activate it will complain.It will then give you an option to enter a new cd key.Enter the cdkey on the sticker
 
Pretty difficult to get to activation if during install you can't get past where it asks you for the key.

Try using a Dell install CD, they're OEM.

PM me.

Is it XP SP1 or SP2?
 
JUGGY said:
Pretty difficult to get to activation if during install you can't get past where it asks you for the key.

Try using a Dell install CD, they're OEM.

PM me.

Is it XP SP1 or SP2?
Click to expand...

Dell OEM CD should not work, they are pre loaded/configured for the machine, I've tried it.
 
ubercal said:
Try this..

Step1 : Find any illegal CD key that works and enter it during the WinXP install
Step2 : Once installation is finished it should ask you to activate the copy of windows.When you try activate it will complain.It will then give you an option to enter a new cd key.Enter the cdkey on the sticker
Click to expand...

An illegal Key wont work on an OEM CD. It will work on an illegal CD though. The problem with that is that you cant do any updates via the internet to stop say... 45 Viruses from infecting your computer ;)

Even if you could make it accept the new key, the product will then want to activate using the internet, and OEM Installations doesn't activate so I guess that wont work either.
 
3g usr said:
Dell OEM CD should not work, they are pre loaded/configured for the machine, I've tried it.
Click to expand...


With the Dell CD's you install and when finished you need to activate. It doesn't ask you for a key during installation. I know because I installed my Acer laptop over the weekend and had exactly this happen to me.
 
But will the key on the sticker work on the Dell OEM software or will he have to crack it and then still not get critical updates?
 
Worked with my Acer. Activated fine, you just have to change the key to the one on your sticker. Did a full windows update as well.
 
Hi, thanks for all the advice- has given me some hope and some more avenues to explore. I will try and track down another OEM cd and see what i can do.

Really appreciate all the feedback
 
There is a very useful utility called WinKeyFinder. Download "Winkeyfinder 1.72 Final" from the Downloads section at http://www.winkeyfinder.com/. It can retrieve the original Windows key from a system and will even allow you to backup the activation. It also has a function to change the key. So you could try this:

1. Install from any WinXP disk that matches the version he had (i.e. Home/Pro SP1/SP2 etc) using the key from that CD. This should get Windows installed onto his PC. DO NOT activate yet!
2. Install and run WinKeyFinder and change the key to that on the label on his PC.
3. Might be a good idea to reboot now before proceeding.
4. Now activate.
5. Backup the activation using WinKeyFinder.
 
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