Checking Serial Key For Windows To Find Out If Genuine?

Kel1981

Kel1981

Kel1981

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Hi everyone.

I recently bought an old(ish)PC which has Windows Vista Ultimate on it.

Vista will not update, I've tried everything I always get the same thing (Error '80070490')

Now, the point of my post.

It has an 'XP Media Center Edition 2005' serial code on the side. I think it would run much better on XP and want to download and install it via USB if possible.

Can I check if this serial will still work by any means?

Thankyou
 
You say your PC has a MCE key sticker but has Windows Vista installed.
If the motherboard is still the original the BIOS will hold SLP1.0.
What you need is an OEM disc which matches the manufacturer i.e. Acer, Dell etc etc.

This is what activated Windows XP back in the day.

Windows Vista OEM machines held SLIC2.0 in their BIOS.So the Vista installation is not genuine.

Simply downloading a XP MCE image and burning that to CD to install using that code on the sticker will not work.
You would have to make a XP MCE OEM disc. For this you would need to match the OEMBIOS Set to the SLP1.0 in the BIOS. Plus a matching OEM key.

All quite straight forward really.
 
tnx said:
You say your PC has a MCE key sticker but has Windows Vista installed.
If the motherboard is still the original the BIOS will hold SLP1.0.
What you need is an OEM disc which matches the manufacturer i.e. Acer, Dell etc etc.

This is what activated Windows XP back in the day.

Windows Vista OEM machines held SLIC2.0 in their BIOS.So the Vista installation is not genuine.

Simply downloading a XP MCE image and burning that to CD to install using that code on the sticker will not work.
You would have to make a XP MCE OEM disc. For this you would need to match the OEMBIOS Set to the SLP1.0 in the BIOS. Plus a matching OEM key.

All quite straight forward really.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response but I have no idea what you mean, I'm pretty much a novice (but I'm learning) :D
 
Kel1981 said:
Thank you for your response but I have no idea what you mean, I'm pretty much a novice (but I'm learning) :D
Click to expand...

Left it a bit late to learn about Windows XP....

I can not talk nor give info on these forums on how to make a Windows XP MCE OEM disc.

This would be deemed "Piracy" even though that machine has a fully paid license and M.Soft won't care much about it now any way.

Google. XP OEM discs.

"trust" me and I can point you to a place to find such info.

Question , what make of PC is it ? Acer ? Dell ?
 
That error was a common problem in vista from what I remember. I can't remember the fix though. It's not a validation issue.

As for licences, most people just go with: if it works, it's good. Trust me, even in businesses as long as the PC case has a licence key sticker of some kind, people just stick any old version on as long as it works. No one actually cares appart from MS :P
 
tnx said:
Windows Vista OEM machines held SLIC2.0 in their BIOS.So the Vista installation is not genuine.
Click to expand...

With all the xp to vista upgrade offers that were around when vista was near to release and the fact that an upgrade could have been purchased that is a rather sweeping statement that could be very wrong.
 
OEM means a disc supplied from someone like Dell, (Original equipment manufacturer)
These discs will be picked up by the motherboard bios and install an activated version of windows.
Retail Disks would install but require activation.
 
tnx said:
Left it a bit late to learn about Windows XP....

I can not talk nor give info on these forums on how to make a Windows XP MCE OEM disc.

This would be deemed "Piracy" even though that machine has a fully paid license and M.Soft won't care much about it now any way.

Google. XP OEM discs.

"trust" me and I can point you to a place to find such info.

Question , what make of PC is it ? Acer ? Dell ?
Click to expand...
Hi. It's a HP Pavilion s7000 slimline PC. Thanks again for your responses.

By the way, it's a low spec PC (as you probably know) I bought for my daughter but it runs a bit sluggish. It was designed for XP Media Edition (so it says on the case anyway) and it was only bought for learning/schoolwork and a few fun games for her to play every now and again.
 
Last edited:
Jakus said:
OEM means a disc supplied from someone like Dell, (Original equipment manufacturer)
These discs will be picked up by the motherboard bios and install an activated version of windows.
Retail Disks would install but require activation.
Click to expand...
Ah I see. Would the serial key definitely work though if I was to obtain these OEM discs? Is there anyway to check?
 
Generally HP XP machines could come with up to 4 OEM BIOS Set files.

To find out which info is in your boards BIOS a tool has to run from DOS, NOT within Windows.

This tells us what the BIOS info is and which OEMBIOS SET is needed to match to help make XP HP OEM disc.

Use the TRUST. Button and email me. I will then help you further in this matter.
If this is what you want.

Thats what I meant in my earlier post when I said

"TRUST" me......
 
Kel1981 said:
Ah I see. Would the serial key definitely work though if I was to obtain these OEM discs? Is there anyway to check?
Click to expand...

You won't even have to put that serial in while installing, on install a Dell or HP etc serial number is installed automatically, Your key will work with any generic OEM disk also then you need your key and would have to activate as normal.

If you tried to use a retail disk your key would not work.

Until windows 8 it has been a pain especially with manufactures not supplying OS discs (little good having a backup on the harddisk as that is what always fails first) Win 8 disks cover more versions dependent on the install key.

This might help ;)
http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-t...etween-retail-oem-and-volume-license-channel/

remember your sticker should say SP1 (service pack 1) etc if not you need the non service pack original version as sometimes a later service pack disk will not accept the key although it's still an OEM version.
 
Now that link is good.

@Kel1981
My Digital Life has a very good forum. Joining would be a good thing.

You may even find me there. I am using the same nik so if you do PM me.

All the info and more can be found there.
 
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