Re-activation

Have a friends 5-6 year old Packard Bell PC for repair. No Recovery CD's etc
available or can be found.

I undertook a repair install using MCE 2005 discs I had. Used associated
Product Key to install.

After repair, no 30/60 day activation period; has to activate prior no log
on. No problem, or so I thought.

Changed product key to the one on sticker attached to PC but having gone
through the telephone process to activate, I'm told that I may be subject to
piracy ?!? I've double checked that I'd inserted the correct and valid
product key - I had. What do I do now ???

Sounds like a OEM disc mismatch.

The codes for OEM /mfr's is not the same as the system builders "retail"
versions (or the same between mfr's for that matter). The number on the
system is a Packard Bell-specific code and MCE was not installed with their
media. Where did the install discs you used come from?
--
James Wolf [MS-MVP]
Orlando, FL

"barrowhill" <> wrote in message
news:09439635-8931-47C3-A781-...
> Have a friends 5-6 year old Packard Bell PC for repair. No Recovery CD's
> etc
> available or can be found.
>
> I undertook a repair install using MCE 2005 discs I had. Used associated
> Product Key to install.
>
> After repair, no 30/60 day activation period; has to activate prior no log
> on. No problem, or so I thought.
>
> Changed product key to the one on sticker attached to PC but having gone
> through the telephone process to activate, I'm told that I may be subject
> to
> piracy ?!? I've double checked that I'd inserted the correct and valid
> product key - I had. What do I do now ???