How do I install windows xp? Keeps telling me it's illegal

JonJ678 · 11 Mar 2010 at 23:00

And to answer the obvious question, no I'm not trying to pirate it.

I have a netbook which came with windows xp installed. I promptly change the hard drive to a new one and discover samsung don't bother to supply an installation disk. I've been struggling with this for a while, I'm informed that my key is incorrect and that I can't use windows anymore until I activate it. I'm pretty sick of reinstalling XP every 40 days.

So, what am I to do? I have about 80% of the licence key for the netbook, the rest has rubbed off the sticker. I also have the key which the laptop came with, being different, and presumably a generic oem one. It's the latter that I've been using, but while it lets me install it doesn't let me activate.

How do I resolve this? If it's as simple as sourcing an oem disk I can probably do so, but there must be an easier way.

Help would be appreciated

Mp4 · 11 Mar 2010 at 23:08

cant you get all of the install items off the samsung website?

or clone the old hdd that was in there 1st?

or use the old HDD and recover the key?(http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/) and use it with the new hdd?

MikeHunt79 · 11 Mar 2010 at 23:38

many OEM CD's are pre-activated, using a shared key.

JonJ678 · 12 Mar 2010 at 01:43

Their website isn't willing to let me download an xp cd, not too surprisingly really. Annoying that they didn't supply one.

I'm not very willing to clone the old hard drive for various reasons, one being that it's in use by the girlfriend in an external enclosure. Magical jelly bean is how I got the key from the original drive, I have this key, windows won't let me activate using it. I believe because I'm using a retail cd and it expects a different version.

Do I need to source a samsung specific oem key?

Sylver123 · 12 Mar 2010 at 02:50

Well, If you can figure out what version of windows xp that came pre-intalled onto your laptop, since you have the key, ones you figured it out, you just need to download the XP CD from the internet.

lokkers · 12 Mar 2010 at 06:44

Do you get an issue with WGA, or is it simply failing to activate? If the latter, have you tried calling the MS number and activating over the phone?

.Simon · 12 Mar 2010 at 07:18

Just so you know, you can rearm XP for 30 more days legally using the following command:

Code:

rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

You can use that for up to 120 days in total (3 rearms). Could come in handy till you sort the problem.

marmalade · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:54

Your Samsung came with XP home. Which copy (CD) are you using on the new hard disk?

warren_1979 · 12 Mar 2010 at 18:12

.Simon said:
Just so you know, you can rearm XP for 30 more days legally using the following command:

Code:

rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

You can use that for up to 120 days in total (3 rearms). Could come in handy till you sort the problem.

Can you get updates with that rearm?

.Simon · 13 Mar 2010 at 00:14

warren_1979 said:
Can you get updates with that rearm?

All it does is reset the 30 day limit you have. It will still be unactivated, so you can only get security updates through Automatic Updates like before (if that is still how it is, I haven't checked in a while).

ajf · 13 Mar 2010 at 00:43

You quite often cannot activate OEM keys - I believe Microsoft intentionally block these to reduce copying etc.
Did the Samsung as it came not allow any kind of external recovery source to be created?
My Advent (MSI) had an app that allowed you to create a recovery 'disk' on either a USB memory stick or SD Card.
Might be worth checking that if you still have access to the original install on the old drive?

Brian Stuart · 13 Mar 2010 at 08:29

You will need a Samsung recovery disc if you cannot read the license key on the bottom of the laptop. MS really need to get their act together regarding the durability of the OEM stickers though.
You could try the old HDD and Magicjellybean to recover the OEM key from the original XP install but if it is different to the one on the bottom of the laptop it will not install as it is a preactivated key.