Invalid Windows Key

[telboy1938]

Hi Guys, Thanks to ChuckFickens I managed to restore my corrupt PC back to its original state without the use a a new Windows XP Pro CD I had purchased from Ebay at £70.00.....So all was great until:-
My small netbook I use for travel was in need of a clean-up as it was running slow so I decided to install the new XP pro (originally it was XP Home) All seem fine until I tried to validate windows.....guess what??? it's an invalid key.
So my question is-----can I run without validating and if so how do I rid of the notice on my little 10.1" screen? Paying the 145$ they want to issue another key is not an option.
Needless to say I will be contacting the Ebay member.
Thanks Guys
Tel

[ChuckFickens]

OK, so to get this straight...

You used the CD that you got from Ebay to install windows on your netbook and the key that came with the CD (not the key on the bottom of the netbook)?.... If so yes, contact the ebay seller and demand a refund.

Windows will work for about 30 days without activating, then it will stop you logging in until you activate it.

What is the netbook, because chances are there is a recovery partition on the hard drive that would just take it back to factory install.

[telboy1938]

Hi ChuckFickens.......Hope your ok......Guess I got caught out again eh?
The Netbook is the Asus Eee 904 series. I've had it from new without any problem. I seem to remember I was told some time ago that a PC could funtion quite well without the aid of windows being activated but whether that is correct or not I don't know. I would be grateful for your advice. Tel

[ChuckFickens]

That netbook looks like it doesn't have a recovery partition, so you do need a disk of some type to reinstall it... if the CD you bought will not work with the key supplied then get back onto the seller and insist they sort it out so you have a matching key and CD!.... that said, the netbook would have come with it's own DVD that would enable you to reinstall windows.

I think the person who told you that windows would work without activating was getting confused between activating and registering (or you misunderstood).... windows will stop working if it is not activated after 30days... but you do not have to register it and it will work forever without being registered, they are totally separate things.

[Berkshirelad]

There is no matching between CD and key - all the CDs are identical.

The key, however, needs to be valid and the characters input are fed into an algorithm to generate a checksum, which must be valid. On activation. the microsoft site will check the key for valid use as information is transmitted about the computer (serial number, etc.)

[ChuckFickens]

"There is no matching between CD and key - all the CDs are identical."

Total rubbish! you get OEM, retail, upgrade, branded, and volume license keys, none of which will work with media meant for a different key.

[Berkshirelad]

OK

My statement was assumoing that we were discussing the same sort of build. (ie whichever build type of CD the OP has got from Ebay, all those CDs are the same - allowing for newer versions to include updates)

[telboy1938]

Thanks ChuckFichens.....Will follow your advice which has always been "Spot-On".......BFN....Tel