Attn: Those who have called MS for XP key

[Architect4122]

Howdy,

Quick question. I'm in the same boat about having to call Microsoft to obtain a new CD key for XP. I used XP on a MBP about a year ago, but had to return the MBP for various reasons. Now I have a new MBP, and I would like to install it again...though I had already activated it on the other MBP

QUESTION:

What number do you call (a link would work as well) to get a new product key?

I searched the site (these forums and MS's) and only came across something that seemed like a $250 phone call!

Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks!

 

[janey]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/activation.mspx

 

[MacDonaldsd]

Howdy,

Quick question. I'm in the same boat about having to call Microsoft to obtain a new CD key for XP. I used XP on a MBP about a year ago, but had to return the MBP for various reasons. Now I have a new MBP, and I would like to install it again...though I had already activated it on the other MBP

QUESTION:

What number do you call (a link would work as well) to get a new product key?

I searched the site (these forums and MS's) and only came across something that seemed like a $250 phone call!

Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks!

My key worked fine on my MBP even though I had it installed on a computer a year ago.

 

[Bearxor]

They give you a certain amount of activations. You should be fine reactiviatiing it online. You don't have to worry about having the phone number and stuff to call beforehand. If it won't activate automatically online it will give you the number to call right in the activatiion window. Just tell them you're reinstalling from a format and that you only have it installed on one computer. The people on the phone couldn't care less.

 

[jamesybsu]

when you try to activate it, and it says that his key has been used too many times, then it gives you the toll free number to call and get one over the phone. When I did mine, I talked to some guy from India, but I was only on the phone for like 5 minutes max. I told him I formatted my computer and I needed a new activation key, he asked me if I was using this copy of windows on two computers or just one, and I said just one, and he gave me a new key and it works great.

 

[thegrifman]

XP's activation limit only spans about 120 days. Once it's been 120 days since you reached the activation limit you can activate again without getting a new key. I've moved my copy of XP between about 3 or 4 different machines over the last 4 years and only once had it tell me I had activated too many times. I used Linux for a couple of months then installed XP and activated just fine.