XP activation woes

Today I have installed Windows XP Home on Parallels Desktop. The disk I used was an original retail CD. It was not an OEM or update disk. When installing XP, Parallels prompted me for the 25 digit product key which I entered and it let me continue. Then after installing XP I was again prompted for the 25 digit product key - this time by Windows itself.

The problem I have though is that the Windows Activation application wont accept my key and every time I start XP a balloon in the system tray warns me that I only have so many days left in which to activate! After which period, I don't know what would happen. Also, sometimes I launch Windows Activation from the start menu and nothing happens.

To add to confusion though, when I go to the Windows Genuine Software site (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx) and run the validation test, I get the following message:

Regardless of XP's prompts though, I was able to run software update and update to SP2 and get many other updates.

So the question is, has my XP install validated or not and if it has, how do I switch off the registration prompts?

 

This seems like an XP problem, you should ask Microsoft.

Personally, I would just reinstall and activate Windows since this is a fresh installation.

 

Try to activate Windows by phone, calling to Microsoft

 

Thanks for your reply. I sorted out this issue a few weeks ago, but just through I would let you know that I got everything sorted in the end.

Unfortunately, Microsoft were very unhelpful over the phone. First I was told it is a breach of the user agreement to install XP on a Mac and then they tried a hard-sell of Windows Vista on me! Very unprofessional.

In the end, I had to turn to other 'means and methods' to activate my copy of Windows XP. But my conscience is clear in that I DO hold a genuine license and boxed copy of Windows XP!

 

Thank you for provided information

 

Actually one of my first posts was about just this issue. It was one of the reasons I binned Boot Camp (plus I wanted to run XP OSX 'parallel').

Personally, I have had nothing but help from Microsoft on the phone - this is over the last 12 years or so (I used to regularly re-install clean copies of the OS, which 'exceeded' the number of times THEY expect you to do it).

Perhaps a definitive guide to the correct order of operations would be good - I mean do Microsoft talk to Parallels (they should as this is a 'new' market for Windows)?

 

The problem is that Microsoft interest is now Windows Vista, not Windows XP.

 

Yes of course it is - a decision I think they'll live to regret.

But let's be honest, they're about turn-over and the next product life-cycle rather than perfecting a product we're all happy with.

Why would they ever conceive about making the product so good you wouldn't want to change - I WILL NOT 'UPGRADE' . . . EVER to Vista. In fact my signature on the Mac Forum is 'Certified Vista free area'. Every friend I have with a Vista machine is less happy than they were with XP.