Windows OEM?

[webs2slow4me]

I recently purchased a Window's XP home edition. It is the OEM version of the disc. It did not however come with an activation key. It will be installed via boot camp on my new macbook pro.

any advice on how to make it work?

thanks.

 

[JNB]

Without a valid activation key supplied with the disk, no help to be found here.

 

[The Flashing Fi]

I recently purchased a Window's XP home edition. It is the OEM version of the disc. It did not however come with an activation key. It will be installed via boot camp on my new macbook pro.

any advice on how to make it work?

thanks.

If it didn't come with an activation key, then you're SOL. The only way to get it to work is to tell you a method which isn't to be discussed here.

 

[millar876]

the only other way that your copy of windows may work is if its a vendor/machine specific one. i.e. its windows xp for a dell inspiron. IF thats the case, it should only be installed on that type of machine, and if not why not contact the person/company tou purchased it from. In my experiance, OEM copys usually come in a card sheel, with a cutout to insert the disc that only covers the bottom of the disc, and the licence key (named as such and not activation Key) is printed on a sticker affixed to the back of the package.

 

[JNB]

the only other way that your copy of windows may work is if its a vendor/machine specific one. i.e. its windows xp for a dell inspiron. IF thats the case, it should only be installed on that type of machine

Not true. It's only branded for a particular OEM, but the contents of the disk are identical. Same as "System Builder" disks in Vista.

 

[webs2slow4me]

Yea, there is a box on the back of the package that says the code was placed on the pc that i bought, but i didnt buy a pc. I bought a cable to satisfy the "hardware" requirement. Anyone know a number i can call to get a key or anything. I paid to get a legit copy and now it's not working. It's frustrating.

I bought it from amazon if that helps anything.

 

[Osarkon]

This doesn't make sense.

You bought an OEM disk of XP, and it didn't come with an activation key?

Buying the cable would make you eligible, but the disk supposed to be used on computers you build yourself. So as far as this goes, you could have built a computer, and now you have a disk but no license key.

It wouldn't say 'the key is on the side of the computer' because it wouldn't be.

You might want to ring Amazon and explain this to them.

 

[CWallace]

Yea, there is a box on the back of the package that says the code was placed on the pc that i bought, but i didn't buy a PC.

This sounds more like a specific OEM disc (like one that would ship with an HP or Dell computer, for example) as opposed to the "generic" OEM disc designed for system builders who use their own parts (case, systemboard, etc.).

All of our HPs and Dells come with a Windows OS disc, but the Certificate of Authenticity and license key is on a sticker on the side of the PC. When we reinstall the OS, we use the license key on the side of the PC we are re-imaging.

In the case of the "generic systembuilder" OEM versions, it is included in the packaging with the Windows CD/DVD.

When you say you bought it from Amazon, did you buy it from Amazon directly or through Amazon's Marketplace from another vendor?

 

[The Flashing Fi]

Yea, there is a box on the back of the package that says the code was placed on the pc that i bought

I need this clarified. There is NO number there and the sticker is GONE? Or there is a number there and it tells you to place it on a computer (which you don't need to do)? If there is a number there, that's the key.

I bought a cable to satisfy the "hardware" requirement.

And where did you buy Windows from? Store, website? Give a link to the product, not just to the website.

 

[DaveF]

An OEM Windows XP disc from e.g. NewEgg comes in a slim package with a long alphanumeric activation code (32 digits?) printed in the packaging. This is the code entered during the Windows installation-activation step.

I assume Vista is the same.

If your disc and packaging does not have any such number then you were either sold an illegitimate disc, or bought some other form of OEM disc tied to a specific computer's documentation.

 

[stainlessliquid]

I bought XP oem on newegg a few years ago and the sticker was located on the warranty book, or license, whatever that book is. You have to peel the cover off it to reveal the serial, did you do that?

http://www.mingsports.com/wz/11770006059/14473_20078125393174310.gif

They arent supposed to open it when you order one, if it wasnt sealed then it was probably tampered with.