SERIAL NUMBER TURNED OFF BY MICROSOFT

[moveit]

For 6 years I have used a serial number that came with an authorised XP Professional for a single user. Just gone to download updates and now been told it is a corporate number. I know this copy is genuine.

Is there a way to check this serial number as my computer man has told me Microsoft are turning off other users who also have single user SN?

 

[moveit]

The COA states XP Professional OEM. Jelly Bean agrees that the 25 digit number and letters is the same as that on the sticker. The validation went through okay when I have re-installed in the past. It was only when I tried to up-grade to Media player 11 that the problem started.

 

[BadBigBen]

How to identify the Windows XP Version using Product IDs:

http://techietechno.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-identify-windows-xp-version.html

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[strongm]

goombawaho already linked a site that allows you to identify your product from the ID code. It's good to see a second site confirming that 76487-640-9311511-23453 is a VLK (and thus may well have been recently blocked for any number of reasons). The only problem is that this does not seem to match what the COA sticker claims the product actually is ...

 

[BadBigBen]

strongm,

yup, I missed that... ;-)

here a few pictures of the COA's in use, if yours does look different then please let us know or take a picture (and black out the KEY)...

example of a OEM Manufacturers COA (here DELL):

newer versions:

Retail:

accompanied with the key (POLL) sticker:

VLK or corporate keys do not come with a COA for individual PC's, in this regard they are similar to the Retail COA and separate license sticker/cert...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[moveit]

Hi BadBigBen. The third sticker down is what is on the computer. The only difference is the name Microsoft does not have the green part round it.

 

[goombawaho]

Bottom line, and I think we're finally there - I think you're hosed with this license.

Wondering if that's a bootleg C.O.A. sticker now!!!! Who built your computer??? They are responsible for sticking on the C.O.A. sticker and ultimately for its authenticity.

A great trick by system builders would be to stick on a fake C.O.A. and load a bootleg corporate key code. Costs them nothing and you don't know the difference until......... bam.

 

[moveit]

The people who made the origianl computer and supplied the OS have gone. My present computerman has used the same case so that is why he used the C.O.A on the side of the case. He had no problems when installing it and until now, I haven't when I have reformatted and re-installed the OS.

Looks like I will have to buy another C.O.A.

Thanks all for your help over this problem.

 

[BadBigBen]

Yes, I agree with Goom there, that it could be a fake/counterfeit sticker, as the Product-ID from these stickers are something along the lines of: xxxxx-OEM-zzzzzzz-zzzzz...

FYI, the third (yellow) sticker is usually the one that System Builders use, where as the second (and first) are the ones that come on pre-build (OEM - HP, Dell, etc.) computers... from my experience...





Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[moveit]

I have bought a new C.O.A from my computerman and it has been authorised okay. It was interesting to see all those different copies of C.O.A stickers. I didn't know there were so many.

Again thanks to all.

 

[MasterRacker]

So Ben, how were you special enough to get animated stickers? ;-)

Jeff
[small][purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day
"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/small]

 

[goombawaho]

How did you get an XP C.O.A.?? Haven't those gone the way of the dodo bird?? Why am I still suspicious???

 

[BadBigBen]

Jeff,

PSST, don't tell anyone, I got them directly from MicroSoft...;-)

[small]darn it, now I spilled the beans...[/small]



Goom,

there are still a few flying around, but are hard to get your hands on (unused ones that is)... I got one or two laying around, and I do sell them if need be, to customers, and at work we have three in reserve, though we only sell Windows 7 installs presently... so yes, one should be vary...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[moveit]

As I originally supplied the case with the OS and C.O.A sticker on it I did not need a new OS. As now I do need a new one the computerman said as he had put all new equipment in the old case he could supply a new stciker and OS. It is genuine.