30 day trial expires

[JWollman]

Had a new PC built- we put 30 trial while waiting for XP to arrive via order. While installing another software accidently entered in todays date- which would have made it past the 30 days that the trial was installed.
Now we cant log in
Called microsoft- gave them number- they gave us new code-
we are logged in now
The question:
The XP CD has arrived...do we do anything with it now that we have our 'orginal' copy with the license and all???

[Panama Red]

If you have a working, activated XP installation right now, the other disk you received is an extra!

[JWollman]

So I purchased a version of XP that I really did not need then???

[Panama Red]

If you didn't use the disk or the Product Key, that's right. You didn't need it.

[MaxRat]

is the 30day trial from another pc....

If you had the pc built...did they install the xp for you...if you called MS what numbers did you give them and where did you get them from....

Only asking because... you are only allowed to install xp on one pc....If you already have that xp installed on another pc and you installed it on the new pc temporarily (hence the 30-day trial) you are not running legal.... just affix the new product key to the pc and use the new one next time you activate it...

If the place you had it built installed the xp for you and the product code sticker was on the side of the pc..all you needed to do was activate it....If it is not activated... you will get the 30-day pop-up and will count down till it expires if not activated...If this was the case you should have gotten the xp cd with the build and did not need to buy a new one...

[JWollman]

I bought all the parts and someone else put it together for me- they installed Xp and told me in 30 days it would expire- I bought the CD and called Microsoft- the voice system told me to tell it what numbers were on the screen so I did, the automated system then gave me a new code- so I put it in. Never did they ask for anything from my New XP disk. So if the guy who installed this used his version- did I mess him up?

[Panama Red]

If he used his copy to install and you've now activated it on your pc, he may have a problem doing any updates and will certainly have a problem if he does any major hardware updates on his pc that require reactivation.

[rspassey]

It seems you were misled somewhere. You have 30 Days to activate your XP . Not that you have to buy a new CD after 30 Days. You already have a legal, working XP installation, and all they did was activate it for you when your 30 day activation period ended.

But if he used his XP, and did not install a new one on your PC, it is another issue.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by ryan124712 It seems you were misled somewhere. You have 30 Days to activate your XP . Not that you have to buy a new CD after 30 Days. You already have a legal, working XP installation, and all they did was activate it for you when your 30 day activation period ended. But if he used his XP, and did not install a new one on your PC, it is another issue.

Ah, but if his was a legal install to begin with, it would seem logical that the guy who installed XP would have give him the disk. I don't think it was a legit install to begin with.

[MaxRat]

MS gave you a new key because the one you had installed was already activated....depending on the level of the person you talked to they may have known this or not....

If you ever have to re-activate for some reason... just click for telephone...then change key...enter your key...just like you did when they had you change it.....hit the back button and activate it over the internet.....

OR you can change the key with Magic Jellybean

[JWollman]

so how do i change it to be my activitation for XP? He told me when I got the CD to click on this icon on the taskbar and enter in my number. Well... the CD was supposed to arrive in the mail- and I did not see it (The mailman put it at another door) I was on the PC and installed a disk I had- and I noticed the date was not right- so I changed it..TOTALLY NOT thinking it would kick me out of windows becuase the 30 days was now up. SO when I saw the CD sitting out there in the cold 3 hrs later I tried to activate it. Since I could not log into windows at all because it kept saying i had to register- I clicked next, and a bunch of numbers appeared. I called MS and was put into this automated system that asked me all these questions. NEver did it ask for my license number.

Now I have messed this up- is there an easy solution to fix it, becuase I do not want this guy to get into trouble

[JWollman]

Ok I found this on Microsofts web site-- will this work??
Use the Activation Wizard
Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

If you have only a few volume licensing product keys to change, you can use the Activation Wizard.

Note Microsoft recommends that you run System Restore to create a new restore point before you follow these steps. For information about how to create a restore point by using System Restore, see the "To Create a Restore Point" help topic in Help and Support. 1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. In the left pane, locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents
4. In the right pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
5. Change at least one digit of this value to deactivate Windows.
6. Click Start, and then click Run.
7. In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK.
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
8. Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows, and then click Next.
9. Click Change Product key.
10. Type the new product key in the New key boxes, and then click Update.

If you are returned to the previous window, click Remind me later, and then restart the computer.
11. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to verify that Windows is activated. You receive the following message:
Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit.
12. Click OK.
13. Install SP1 for Windows XP.

If you cannot restart Windows after you install SP1, press F8 when you restart the computer, select Last Known Good Configuration, and then repeat this procedure.

[glc]

Honestly - if your XP is working, I'd just leave it be.

[MaxRat]

Yes that will work....but...

I'd do as glc mentioned....if it's working leave it be...the guy who has that installed on his computer will be just fine....

The only problem that may arise is if you goto Windows Update it may fail the windows validation...and tell you that key has already been validated...

You will still get all the critical updates as long as you have the automatic updates turned on...

[glc]

If it activated, it should validate.

[doubledragon5]

Just to be safe, keep you new copy and if you ever have to reinstall windows use it with the new product key.....

[flawedreality5]

Originally Posted by doubledragon5 Just to be safe, keep you new copy and if you ever have to reinstall windows use it with the new product key.....

I agree. If they didn't give you the Windows cd or product key, you'll need one down the road if you reinstall or even if you upgrade the computer to a degree.