PureBasic Forums - English

OK, here's the scoop.... I am building a brand new computer and want to install XP Pro on it. XP Pro OEM is still going for a good chunk of change ($100+).... so, I bought Vista Business OEM for $60 to save some cash. Vista Business OEM has downgrade rights to XP Pro.

I installed XP Pro OEM from a copy that I have. Call Microsoft to activate it and they want me to give them the serial # off the CD (not the license key). They want to make sure that I installed XP using a legal copy before they activate it for me.

Basically, I did this to save a few bucks and there's no way I'm buying XP as well.

Can anyone share the serial # off their XP CD? It HAS to be XP Pro OEM. Not Dell, Not HP. System Builder type OEM you get from Newegg.

I am NOT asking for your license key!!!! I only need the SERIAL NUMBER or PART NUMBER from the CD. I was told "serial number" but if there are any other random numbers you can help provide, that would be great!

They make it so hard to follow their rules!

The OEM Version of XP is for OEM PCs. You'll need to obtain new XP via the downgrading procedure.
Your OEM XP can not beu used with any other PC except the one it was shipped with.

I've been through the re-activation process a number of times. I'd be willing to wager that what they want is the CD key as that is the only unique "number" that comes with any copy of Windows and is the only way Microsoft can really know you have a legal copy.

If Vista business does have a downgrade option to XP Pro, I'd suggest you find out what you need to do to use that option.

I seriously doubt that anyone will share their CD key, if you use it to activate your copy of Windows, their copy will become deactivated the next time they have to validate their copy at Microsoft's web site.

To keep things simple I'd have spent the extra money and bought exactly what I needed, in the end you'll more than likely spend way more than you thought you were saving in time, effort, and general hassle. To me it's just not worth the few bucks saved.

Seriously, what about going directly to Windows 7? It's a pretty good operation system and the support for XP will sooner or later be gone.

I don't advocate piracy, but jeez man, Google is your friend if you want it to be.

If you have a valid license with valid downgrade rights, then all this should be a non-issue. MS Support is who you have to talk to then.

If not, then we won't help you getting around product activation without a valid license. It doesn't matter if what you need is a product key or something else.