That was one of Micro-scam's ploys to make sure everyone was paying for their OS's. XP home is big on examining the hardware of the system on which it is running. That information is then registered with Microsoft. If you later try to install your legitimately owned copy on a machine other than the original, the database will recognize the fact that the hardware is different, and it will call you "pirate." Without further information, I'm guessing that is what is happening here. > > A client has a Compaq computer that originally had XP Home installed on > it. It crashed and there were not any recovery disks, etc. .. so I put a > brand new version of XP Pro on it at the time because that was the fastest > solution to get it back on line. > > So ... he has the license key (Product key) attached to the side of the > machine for XP Home. He has a new machine with no OS ... I get a copy of > XP Home from a buddy ... go to install it and it tells me the key is not > valid. > > Questions: Any one else ever have this problem? Is there an OEM Version > of XP Home or something that needs to be used rather than the standard XP > Home? > > He has the legit license key - not being used .. I was hoping there was > some way he could use it. > > Randy > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > Help beta test TCLUG's potential new home: http://plone.mn-linux.org > Got pictures for TCLUG? Beta test http://plone.mn-linux.org/gallery > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list _______________________________________________ TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota Help beta test TCLUG's potential new home: http://plone.mn-linux.org Got pictures for TCLUG? Beta test http://plone.mn-linux.org/gallery tclug-list at mn-linux.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list