changing hard drives

batterken · 06-21-2008, 03:14 AM

hi,
First of all sorry for my mistakes I wright (I'm dutch).
This is my story: I have a compaq computer with a 20gb hard-drive and 160gb extra hard-drive(20gb wasn't enough). But the 20gb hard-drive is a total loss, so we bought a new computer. But I tried to put away the 20gb and replace with the 160gb. So i did, and started resetting my computer (formatting). blablabla... Done, windows installed done. But then! My computer asks the product-code (code of authenticity which I found on a sticker on the desktop) so i give the 25 characters long number and press next, but it fails!! The number is wrong they say... Does any of you know what to do?
Thanks

Tumbleweed36 · 06-21-2008, 03:36 AM

YOu will have to call Mircrosoft for assistance with that issue. They can help you.

craigwatanabe · 06-21-2008, 09:39 PM

sounds like the OS disk is the wrong one for your computer. Is it a factory OEM disk, Compaq recovery disk, or a burned disk someone made for you?

IF it's a Compaq recovery disk, I'm surprized it let you install it on another computer. Most times it won't.

batterken · 06-22-2008, 05:49 AM

I don't know which kind of hard-drive it is... I'm not that familiair with computers... But it's not from compaq, the brand is seagate...

**linderman** · 06-22-2008, 05:35 PM

Compaq used to be one of the most proprietary systems I have ever known!

they had code written on their hard drives so when the computer booted it looked for a compaq ID on the hard drive

so basically what its done is to trigger your windows activation, a simple call to microsoft activation center and they will get you going on the right path

batterken · 07-09-2008, 06:33 AM

oke so i called microsoft (belgium), a computer voice asks all these questions, i dial the numbers, then they ask my activation code and i have to type them in per 6 numbers. first of all they are devided in 5 groups of 5and it are numbers and letters.....
am i doing something wrong?

**linderman** · 07-09-2008, 07:53 AM

call them directly instead of the computer

**linderman** · 07-09-2008, 07:55 AM

http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_activate_windows_xp.html

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

**linderman** · 07-09-2008, 07:56 AM

the actual activation code is not the same as the 25 character windows key ..... the code they are referring to is usually seen at the activation screen when you try to connect your computer to the windows activation service

**linderman** · 07-09-2008, 08:03 AM

see the section on "activate windows by phone"

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-5034890.html

batterken · 07-10-2008, 06:13 AM

i tried to call directly and they said they would connect me, i waited and ended up with the same computerquestions....
i also tried to read some of your links but i really dont understand....
can u please explain me in 'human' language what i have to do step by step?
thanks

donk · 07-17-2008, 10:23 AM

1-866-242-4609, try this number.

Cypherclown · 07-17-2008, 11:24 AM

when you get to the activation window and it ask you if you want to activate by phone or over the internet click on activate by phone select your region and it will give you a number you can call when it ask you for the 25 character key give them the 25 character key listed below the phone numbers you called (it should be above the blank spaces that you will use in a min) after giving them the 25 character key they will ask you how many computers is this activated on simply say 1 then you will be asked has there been any hardware changes say no then it should give you your new key it will read you instructions on where to put it it is also a 25 character key that you will put into the blank spaces on your screen (the A,B,C and so on slots) then click next or validate whatever the button is to continue and if it activates your done :) hope this helps lets us know how it goes

donk · 07-18-2008, 08:34 AM

From what I gather, BatterKen has called Microsoft, entered his numbers, not sure what numbers though, and from their he is saying the numbers he entered failed when he clicks on retry. He is wanting to TALK to someone over the phone. The number I provided may or may not get him through to an actual person, but the activation over the phone has failed for him up to this point. I may be wrong, but that's what I am getting out of all this, he has tried the phone activation with negitive results.

donk · 07-18-2008, 08:48 AM

My bad, I went back and read his first entry which does sounds like he tried activating his product over the Internet which did not take. Sorry about that.
Donk,
PS, Hope the number works, I know how frustrating it can be trying to contact anyone over the phone nowwa days.

06-21-2008, 03:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
batterken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 OS: xp	changing hard drives hi, First of all sorry for my mistakes I wright (I'm dutch). This is my story: I have a compaq computer with a 20gb hard-drive and 160gb extra hard-drive(20gb wasn't enough). But the 20gb hard-drive is a total loss, so we bought a new computer. But I tried to put away the 20gb and replace with the 160gb. So i did, and started resetting my computer (formatting). blablabla... Done, windows installed done. But then! My computer asks the product-code (code of authenticity which I found on a sticker on the desktop) so i give the 25 characters long number and press next, but it fails!! The number is wrong they say... Does any of you know what to do? Thanks

06-21-2008, 03:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 14,117 OS: XP Professional	Re: changing hard drives YOu will have to call Mircrosoft for assistance with that issue. They can help you. __________________ ----------

06-21-2008, 09:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
craigwatanabe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 264 OS: xp	Re: changing hard drives sounds like the OS disk is the wrong one for your computer. Is it a factory OEM disk, Compaq recovery disk, or a burned disk someone made for you? IF it's a Compaq recovery disk, I'm surprized it let you install it on another computer. Most times it won't. __________________ A computer is only as powerful as it's user so build wisely.

06-22-2008, 05:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
batterken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 OS: xp	Re: changing hard drives I don't know which kind of hard-drive it is... I'm not that familiair with computers... But it's not from compaq, the brand is seagate...

06-22-2008, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14,037 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: changing hard drives Compaq used to be one of the most proprietary systems I have ever known! they had code written on their hard drives so when the computer booted it looked for a compaq ID on the hard drive so basically what its done is to trigger your windows activation, a simple call to microsoft activation center and they will get you going on the right path __________________ If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

07-09-2008, 06:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
batterken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 OS: xp	Re: changing hard drives oke so i called microsoft (belgium), a computer voice asks all these questions, i dial the numbers, then they ask my activation code and i have to type them in per 6 numbers. first of all they are devided in 5 groups of 5and it are numbers and letters..... am i doing something wrong?

07-09-2008, 07:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14,037 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: changing hard drives call them directly instead of the computer __________________ If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

07-09-2008, 07:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14,037 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: changing hard drives http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_activate_windows_xp.html http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php __________________ If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent. Last edited by linderman : 07-09-2008 at 08:00 AM.

07-09-2008, 07:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14,037 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: changing hard drives the actual activation code is not the same as the 25 character windows key ..... the code they are referring to is usually seen at the activation screen when you try to connect your computer to the windows activation service __________________ If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

07-09-2008, 08:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14,037 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: changing hard drives see the section on "activate windows by phone" http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-5034890.html __________________ If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

07-10-2008, 06:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
batterken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 OS: xp	Re: changing hard drives i tried to call directly and they said they would connect me, i waited and ended up with the same computerquestions.... i also tried to read some of your links but i really dont understand.... can u please explain me in 'human' language what i have to do step by step? thanks

07-17-2008, 10:23 AM	#12 (permalink)
donk Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 200 OS: xp	Re: changing hard drives 1-866-242-4609, try this number.

07-17-2008, 11:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
Cypherclown Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 39 OS: XP pro SP3	Re: changing hard drives when you get to the activation window and it ask you if you want to activate by phone or over the internet click on activate by phone select your region and it will give you a number you can call when it ask you for the 25 character key give them the 25 character key listed below the phone numbers you called (it should be above the blank spaces that you will use in a min) after giving them the 25 character key they will ask you how many computers is this activated on simply say 1 then you will be asked has there been any hardware changes say no then it should give you your new key it will read you instructions on where to put it it is also a 25 character key that you will put into the blank spaces on your screen (the A,B,C and so on slots) then click next or validate whatever the button is to continue and if it activates your done :) hope this helps lets us know how it goes __________________ Hang Time: The amount of time it takes for a computer to hit the ground after being thrown out of a second story window.

07-18-2008, 08:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
donk Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 200 OS: xp	Re: changing hard drives From what I gather, BatterKen has called Microsoft, entered his numbers, not sure what numbers though, and from their he is saying the numbers he entered failed when he clicks on retry. He is wanting to TALK to someone over the phone. The number I provided may or may not get him through to an actual person, but the activation over the phone has failed for him up to this point. I may be wrong, but that's what I am getting out of all this, he has tried the phone activation with negitive results.

07-18-2008, 08:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
donk Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 200 OS: xp	Re: changing hard drives My bad, I went back and read his first entry which does sounds like he tried activating his product over the Internet which did not take. Sorry about that. Donk, PS, Hope the number works, I know how frustrating it can be trying to contact anyone over the phone nowwa days.