invalid / unauth Product Key

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Chuck

2010-02-01 20:23:02 UTC

I recently purchased a tablet PC (Fujitsu ST5011D) on ebay. In the item
description, it stated that "I just installed Windows TabletXP, but it needs
to be activated." Fine and dandy, valid COA on the back per auction images.
Well. Upon attempting
activation, I was informed that I had an "invalid product key". I downloaded
and ran Magical Jellybean to get the PK from within the system itself, and it
gave me a completely *DIFFERENT* PK than the COA (and said it was running
Windows XP Pro). When I tried to activate with that, I was told that I had an
"unauthorized" PK. Tried the "activate via phone" option, and after reading
the eight-zillion-number string off to Friendly Computer Lady, I was told it
was invalid, and given the steps to change the PK, which, of course,
basically just takes you back the the beginning again. I have read that
somewhere in the depths of that call, I can get to a real person, and they
should be able to activate for me. Is this true, or is there some other
option, or do I need to sic Paypal on this guy's keister?

Jaime

2010-02-01 21:38:23 UTC

Permalink

Well, it sure doesn't sound like you got a valid key from the ebayer.

Personally, I would be contacting the seller first before messing around
playing phone tag.

don't think you need to contact Paypal, just directly contact the seller
first.
--
James
Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like hippies."

Post by Chuck
I recently purchased a tablet PC (Fujitsu ST5011D) on ebay. In the item
description, it stated that "I just installed Windows TabletXP, but it needs
to be activated." Fine and dandy, valid COA on the back per auction images.
Well. Upon attempting
activation, I was informed that I had an "invalid product key". I downloaded
and ran Magical Jellybean to get the PK from within the system itself, and it
gave me a completely *DIFFERENT* PK than the COA (and said it was running
Windows XP Pro). When I tried to activate with that, I was told that I had an
"unauthorized" PK. Tried the "activate via phone" option, and after reading
the eight-zillion-number string off to Friendly Computer Lady, I was told it
was invalid, and given the steps to change the PK, which, of course,
basically just takes you back the the beginning again. I have read that
somewhere in the depths of that call, I can get to a real person, and they
should be able to activate for me. Is this true, or is there some other
option, or do I need to sic Paypal on this guy's keister?

Rainald Taesler

2010-02-02 10:30:30 UTC

Permalink

... I have
read that somewhere in the depths of that call, I can get to a real
person, and they should be able to activate for me. Is this true, or
is there some other option, or do I need to sic Paypal on this guy's
keister?

Rainald Taesler

2010-02-02 12:33:14 UTC

Permalink

Yes, this is true.
MS will help you on this.
You have a valid licence sticking to your TabletPC - this a special
thing for the TabletPC OS-version which ever was sold separately.

As to my experience this way will be a lot shorter than fighting with
the seller who obviously has installed the OS with an invalid version.

Prior to calling MS you might try the following:
1.) Use the MS "Windows Product Key Update Tool"
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=35531b27-4ba3-4849-8054-6c84abc82d6f
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668

2.) Read KB-Article 328874 and follow the steps shown there
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us

3.) Try to change the key with "Magical Jelly Bean" v. 1.5.1.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/old.shtml
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/files/keyfinder.v1.51.zip
This version was the last one which had the feature of *changing* the
key.

HTH
Rainald
P.P. Pls report back
P.P.S. It seems that you did not get the CDs for the OS. This is a very
important issue as in case of a necessary re-install you will have no
media und be in biggest possible troubles. Contact Fujitsu support and
ask if the still have CDs available.

Chuck

2010-02-05 17:47:01 UTC

Permalink

OK, none of this stuff seems to have worked, or at least not in the way I was
anticipating. When I bring up the activation window, it shows the PK that's
on the back of the tablet. Whether this is an actual change, or just because
it's the last thing I manually input, I don't know. Either way, it still
won't activate. Called MS and got to a real person--"Ben", riiiight--who told
me the same thing Friendly Computer lady did: change the PK and call us
back., Well, $^#%^*, if it was working right, I wouldn't call you guys at
all, would I?? Arghh. I'll give it one more try and try to head "Bob" or
whoever I get off at the pass and explain the situation. I just don't
understand why it won't activate--you basically can't get a bad copy; they
were ONLY given to OEMs. It's TabletXP--why won't the tabletXP PK &$#@(*
activate it?!?

Post by Rainald Taesler

Yes, this is true.
MS will help you on this.
You have a valid licence sticking to your TabletPC - this a special
thing for the TabletPC OS-version which ever was sold separately.
As to my experience this way will be a lot shorter than fighting with
the seller who obviously has installed the OS with an invalid version.
1.) Use the MS "Windows Product Key Update Tool"
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=35531b27-4ba3-4849-8054-6c84abc82d6f
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668
2.) Read KB-Article 328874 and follow the steps shown there
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us
3.) Try to change the key with "Magical Jelly Bean" v. 1.5.1.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/old.shtml
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/files/keyfinder.v1.51.zip
This version was the last one which had the feature of *changing* the
key.
HTH
Rainald
P.P. Pls report back
P.P.S. It seems that you did not get the CDs for the OS. This is a very
important issue as in case of a necessary re-install you will have no
media und be in biggest possible troubles. Contact Fujitsu support and
ask if the still have CDs available.
.

Jaime

2010-02-05 19:56:03 UTC

Permalink

No chance the installed version doesn't match the Label version on the back?
For example, the label was for a the original XP Tablet version (2002), but
the 2005 is installed. That would cause a non-activation as well.
--
James
Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like hippies."

Post by Chuck
OK, none of this stuff seems to have worked, or at least not in the way I was
anticipating. When I bring up the activation window, it shows the PK that's
on the back of the tablet. Whether this is an actual change, or just because
it's the last thing I manually input, I don't know. Either way, it still
won't activate. Called MS and got to a real person--"Ben", riiiight--who told
me the same thing Friendly Computer lady did: change the PK and call us
back., Well, $^#%^*, if it was working right, I wouldn't call you guys at
all, would I?? Arghh. I'll give it one more try and try to head "Bob" or
whoever I get off at the pass and explain the situation. I just don't
understand why it won't activate--you basically can't get a bad copy; they
activate it?!?

Post by Rainald Taesler

Yes, this is true.
MS will help you on this.
You have a valid licence sticking to your TabletPC - this a special
thing for the TabletPC OS-version which ever was sold separately.
As to my experience this way will be a lot shorter than fighting with
the seller who obviously has installed the OS with an invalid version.
1.) Use the MS "Windows Product Key Update Tool"
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=35531b27-4ba3-4849-8054-6c84abc82d6f
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668
2.) Read KB-Article 328874 and follow the steps shown there
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us
3.) Try to change the key with "Magical Jelly Bean" v. 1.5.1.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/old.shtml
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/files/keyfinder.v1.51.zip
This version was the last one which had the feature of *changing* the
key.
HTH
Rainald
P.P. Pls report back
P.P.S. It seems that you did not get the CDs for the OS. This is a very
important issue as in case of a necessary re-install you will have no
media und be in biggest possible troubles. Contact Fujitsu support and
ask if the still have CDs available.
.

Chuck

2010-02-05 23:49:02 UTC

Permalink

Hm. I dunno. System Properties tells me I have "MS Windows XP Tablet PC
Edition 2005 Version 2002 Service Pack 3".
I can't find anything on the hardware to tell me the original version. It
just says "MS Windows XP Tablet PC Edition" with no date or version or
anything.

Post by Jaime
No chance the installed version doesn't match the Label version on the back?
For example, the label was for a the original XP Tablet version (2002), but
the 2005 is installed. That would cause a non-activation as well.
--
James
Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like hippies."

Post by Rainald Taesler

Yes, this is true.
MS will help you on this.
You have a valid licence sticking to your TabletPC - this a special
thing for the TabletPC OS-version which ever was sold separately.
As to my experience this way will be a lot shorter than fighting with
the seller who obviously has installed the OS with an invalid version.
1.) Use the MS "Windows Product Key Update Tool"
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=35531b27-4ba3-4849-8054-6c84abc82d6f
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668
2.) Read KB-Article 328874 and follow the steps shown there
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us
3.) Try to change the key with "Magical Jelly Bean" v. 1.5.1.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/old.shtml
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/files/keyfinder.v1.51.zip
This version was the last one which had the feature of *changing* the
key.
HTH
Rainald
P.P. Pls report back
P.P.S. It seems that you did not get the CDs for the OS. This is a very
important issue as in case of a necessary re-install you will have no
media und be in biggest possible troubles. Contact Fujitsu support and
ask if the still have CDs available.
.

Jaime

2010-02-08 17:11:01 UTC

Permalink

If the sticker doesn't say SP[something], there is a chance that the
original install (and that key) was the first release. I haven't seen enough
of the Tablet OEM stickers to say, but I have seen some standard XP ones
that do say XP w/SP2 (or whatever).

I also have systems around that I know came preloaded with SP2 (or 3), but
the sticker just says XP.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida

Post by Chuck
Hm. I dunno. System Properties tells me I have "MS Windows XP Tablet PC
Edition 2005 Version 2002 Service Pack 3".
I can't find anything on the hardware to tell me the original version. It
just says "MS Windows XP Tablet PC Edition" with no date or version or
anything.

Post by Chuck
OK, none of this stuff seems to have worked, or at least not in the way
I
was
anticipating. When I bring up the activation window, it shows the PK that's
on the back of the tablet. Whether this is an actual change, or just because
it's the last thing I manually input, I don't know. Either way, it still
won't activate. Called MS and got to a real person--"Ben",
riiiight--who
told
me the same thing Friendly Computer lady did: change the PK and call us
back., Well, $^#%^*, if it was working right, I wouldn't call you guys at
all, would I?? Arghh. I'll give it one more try and try to head "Bob" or
whoever I get off at the pass and explain the situation. I just don't
understand why it won't activate--you basically can't get a bad copy; they
activate it?!?

Post by Rainald Taesler

Yes, this is true.
MS will help you on this.
You have a valid licence sticking to your TabletPC - this a special
thing for the TabletPC OS-version which ever was sold separately.
As to my experience this way will be a lot shorter than fighting with
the seller who obviously has installed the OS with an invalid version.
1.) Use the MS "Windows Product Key Update Tool"
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=35531b27-4ba3-4849-8054-6c84abc82d6f
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668
2.) Read KB-Article 328874 and follow the steps shown there
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us
3.) Try to change the key with "Magical Jelly Bean" v. 1.5.1.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/old.shtml
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/files/keyfinder.v1.51.zip
This version was the last one which had the feature of *changing* the
key.
HTH
Rainald
P.P. Pls report back
P.P.S. It seems that you did not get the CDs for the OS. This is a very
important issue as in case of a necessary re-install you will have no
media und be in biggest possible troubles. Contact Fujitsu support and
ask if the still have CDs available.
.

Rainald Taesler

2010-02-10 18:02:56 UTC

Permalink

Just to make sure:
Did you try the steps I recommebded?

Rainald

Post by Chuck
OK, none of this stuff seems to have worked, or at least not in the
way I was anticipating. When I bring up the activation window, it
shows the PK that's on the back of the tablet. Whether this is an
actual change, or just because it's the last thing I manually input,
I don't know. Either way, it still won't activate. Called MS and got
to a real person--"Ben", riiiight--who told me the same thing
Friendly Computer lady did: change the PK and call us back., Well,
$^#%^*, if it was working right, I wouldn't call you guys at all,
would I?? Arghh. I'll give it one more try and try to head "Bob" or
whoever I get off at the pass and explain the situation. I just don't
understand why it won't activate--you basically can't get a bad copy;
they were ONLY given to OEMs. It's TabletXP--why won't the tabletXP

Post by Rainald Taesler

... I have
read that somewhere in the depths of that call, I can get to a real
person, and they should be able to activate for me. Is this true,
or is there some other option, or do I need to sic Paypal on this
guy's keister?

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=35531b27-4ba3-4849-8054-6c84abc82d6f

Post by Chuck

Post by Rainald Taesler
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668
2.) Read KB-Article 328874 and follow the steps shown there
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us
3.) Try to change the key with "Magical Jelly Bean" v. 1.5.1.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/old.shtml
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/files/keyfinder.v1.51.zip
This version was the last one which had the feature of *changing* the
key.
HTH
Rainald
P.P. Pls report back
P.P.S. It seems that you did not get the CDs for the OS. This is a
very important issue as in case of a necessary re-install you will
have no media und be in biggest possible troubles. Contact Fujitsu
support and ask if the still have CDs available.
.

Chuck

2010-02-11 01:07:01 UTC

Permalink

Yup. No activation. Zip, zero, nada. And the COA makes no notes of any SPs.
Which shouldn't make any difference (logically speaking, but we are talking
about MS here). If I somehow managed to reinstall a "virgin" XP, no SPs or
anything, what's the first thing that's gonna happen? Windows Update is gonna
download 'em. So updates in place really shouldn't matter. But I don't expect
common sense from Redmond.

Post by Rainald Taesler
Did you try the steps I recommebded?
Rainald

Post by Chuck
OK, none of this stuff seems to have worked, or at least not in the
way I was anticipating. When I bring up the activation window, it
shows the PK that's on the back of the tablet. Whether this is an
actual change, or just because it's the last thing I manually input,
I don't know. Either way, it still won't activate. Called MS and got
to a real person--"Ben", riiiight--who told me the same thing
Friendly Computer lady did: change the PK and call us back., Well,
$^#%^*, if it was working right, I wouldn't call you guys at all,
would I?? Arghh. I'll give it one more try and try to head "Bob" or
whoever I get off at the pass and explain the situation. I just don't
understand why it won't activate--you basically can't get a bad copy;
they were ONLY given to OEMs. It's TabletXP--why won't the tabletXP

Post by Rainald Taesler

... I have
read that somewhere in the depths of that call, I can get to a real
person, and they should be able to activate for me. Is this true,
or is there some other option, or do I need to sic Paypal on this
guy's keister?

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=35531b27-4ba3-4849-8054-6c84abc82d6f

Post by Chuck