XP Pro registration failed on a laptop

[Sadruddin]

Hi.
We bought a laptop on ebay.
The period for registration hadn't expired but microsoft bounced the registration online.
I looked around and there were a variety of ways - one clearly explained by msoft - to deal with this.
My problem is that the date for registration has now expired, and xppro won't load in order for me to do the online registration.
Also I'm a bit confused as in the past I've not needed to register - but this may be 'cos I've used a slipstreamed copy of xppro and just put in the key off a new box.

Any ideas how I can fix this without the godawful pain of a reinstall?

Ta.

S

 

[BadBigBen]

Two options...

1.) Fresh install and then do an online registration...

2.) Call MS and do a registration per Telephone...

or you may try this, but I am not sure it will work... set the BIOS time back a month and see if it will allow you to at least get into the OS to do the Online Registration...

btw. Slipstreaming does not kill the Registration of either Home or PRO, only a Corporate/VLK version is Activation free...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[Sadruddin]

OK. Thanks for the try, but it's a Toshy Portege, where you can only get at the bios from windoze, so I had to do a full reinstall.
Ho hum. At least I slipped SP2 in at the same time.
Again, thanks for the help.

S

 

[teckystuff]

You definately should be able to get into the bios without windows. I mean you might not even have windows loaded. If memory serves I think you have to hit the Esc key.

*****************************************
Your mouse has moved - reboot for changes to take effect

 

[BadBigBen]

Toshy Portege, where you can only get at the bios from windoze

Hmmm... since when does MS do BIOS's? maybe you got an XBOX desguised as a Toshiba... hmmm... AFAIK it is an AWARD BIOS...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[barny2006]

depending on your ocmputer, as tecky says, you can hit del, esc, f1, f2 to get into the bios. you have to do it quick. you only get a few seconds to press the right key.

 

[Sadruddin]

Actually, you have to press F12 when starting up, and this gives you the boot media options, and then it's possible to get in to load from cd, but only to install XP from new. Seemed to be no way into BIOS at all.

S