validate

[bentaxle]

Ime in a muddle again I just down loaded sp3 ,and everything went well( for me),but then it asked me to validate the pc ,but when I put the number off the side of the unit in microsoft tells me its been used to often ,Its a second hand pc bought from a shop who does lots of that sort of thing ,but is honest as the day is long ,is there something i can do or is it back to the man

[Ethel]

Back to the man

[bentaxle]

Thank you Ethel , why do I interfere with these things ,should have left well alone ,I will learn one day
all the best and thank you again

[rov1200]

Maybe this will explain it

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/v ol/default.mspx

[vehelpfulguy]

If you have the number on the label on the side of your PC then phone Microsoft and tell them that.

It may not be the fault of the shop that sold it to you, it may be the fault of the person who sold it to the shop. They may have kept the original Windows CD and the number on the side of your box and have used it elsewhere.

If you have the genuine sticker why should you be penalised for what someone else did. It is not your fault that someone else wrote down your number and is using it on other computers.

[ACtheTROLL]

it depends what version you have .... but you are allowed x number of no-questions reloads. after that the serial needs to be unlocked .... but there isn't an overall limit

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/licensing/homeuser /basics.mspx

if the shop is local - it might be worth a word .... but the MS customer service
You can also call our customer service centre on 0870 60 10 100 or email [email protected] - we'll come back to you within 48 hours.

or if the pc is branded
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/oemphone

[Hymie]

When Microsoft launched Windows XP, users had to validate the software serial number with Microsoft to ensure the software was genuine, and had not been installed on multiple machines.

To protect the software from being installed on other machines, Microsoft added a logged scoring system, where by changes to the PC were given a points value (e.g. change of processor 4 points, change of hard disk drive 3 points etc). Once this points total reached a preset value, Microsoft considered this a new PC, and hence an invalid system install. It could be that your XP version is genuine, but sufficient changes have been made to the machine since initial install to cause the problem.

Microsoft will not do a lot to help you if you find yourself in this position � other than to sell you another copy of their software.

[rojash]

If a number of changes have been made to the machine, you can't get it automatically validated, BUT, all you need do is elect to validate by phone, then go through the whole process again using your touch phone, at which point, you will finally get through to a human being. Explain to them that you've replaced the hard disk (or whatever) and they will validate it for you. I've done this squillions of times.

[rov1200]

This site useful for getting a direct line usually an 0800 number. This will get through to microsoft on an 0800 free to validate.


http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php

[rov1200]

This is the proper page to enter microsoft

http://www.saynoto0870.com/search.php

[bentaxle]

Well thank you all for your advice ,and as I have 29 days left to chase the problem ,I have started with (licensing @ microsoft contact) as advised by ac And I think what hymie said could have something to do with it ,as I think the chap recycle parts and put them in a new cases ,but thats ok ime all for recycling ,thats how it should be ,so if I dont win its all experience and I had 18 months of enjoyment out of it for �150
all the best

[bentaxle]

Thank you all again ,the address ac gave (licensing@ms contact) did the trick and was reasonably easy to follow
all the best