View Full Version : How could this happen?
I just put a spanking brand new hdd in my lappy. I installed windows xp and was expecting the screen to come up asking for my serial number. But it didnt come up at all. xp installed and I wasn't asked to activate it either. I have had a look at the installation key for my xp and It's not one of mine. I'm presently in the process of downloading sp2 but how did it install without a key? I'm a bit stumped lol.
Chris IOW
12-04-2004, 05:04 AM
Is it a genuine copy?? There are copies going around that have a pre installed key. Its one someone has put together.
No it's genuine. Just installed sp2 and it's totally messed my system up now. Think I might just re install xp and see what happens cos it doesn't seem to be running properly.
MasterMind
12-04-2004, 12:11 PM
I have had a look at the installation key for my xp and It's not one of mine.
:confused: Just curious!
OEM versions don't necessarily require a key, I thought they still required activation though there is a strong possibility that it was sp2 not the initial install that screwed things up.
:confused: Just curious!I installed a little proggy called Belarc advisor which runs an audit on the pc. It shows the serial numbers of installed programmes. The serial for my installation of xp is not the one on my coa. It's strange because I have installed this one a few times on my lappy and its always asked for the key and it's always asked me to activate windows but this time it did neither. It's definately a new hdd because I had to initialize it and format and it came in a sealed packet.
Very strange just reinstalled sp2 and it's running fine now, just a bit of a mystery to me lol. :)
kyle5077
12-04-2004, 06:28 PM
I installed a little proggy called Belarc advisor which runs an audit on the pc. It shows the serial numbers of installed programmes. The serial for my installation of xp is not the one on my coa. It's strange because I have installed this one a few times on my lappy and its always asked for the key and it's always asked me to activate windows but this time it did neither. It's definately a new hdd because I had to initialize it and format and it came in a sealed packet.
Very strange just reinstalled sp2 and it's running fine now, just a bit of a mystery to me lol. :) Lol. What do ya expect...it is from M$ ;)
jonifen
12-04-2004, 06:51 PM
Perhaps theres something in the disc to auto run through setup on a brand new hdd? Never heard of it myself though - certainly sounds odd.
If you work out what caused it, post back as I'm interested!
MasterMind
12-05-2004, 01:46 AM
@Kyle... LoL. You tell this to M$ and the next update patch will be ready to install. :laugh: Funny ppl they are!
kyle5077
12-05-2004, 08:28 AM
@Kyle... LoL. You tell this to M$ and the next update patch will be ready to install. :laugh: Funny ppl they are! Yea, but as soon as they patch that, Windows will get a few hundred more bugs :p
handyguy
12-05-2004, 09:59 AM
Some laptops & desktops use bios activation, they don't need a key. They are activated from code in the bios instead. Dell does that. You might have told us what laptop you have......
Maybe you installed XP Corporate.....?
And what you just said handy, is not really correct, dell has a hiden partition on their hard drives which contain all the windows setup files/drivers/programs and whatever they include on the computer. When you boot from the CD, it triggers it to copy and install all the files. Much faster then a CD to Hard Drive installation.
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