For the love of GOD please help me with Windows XP Pro!!!

I had to replace the motherboard in my custom built computer.

When I booted the computer back up with the new motherboard, windows said I had to activate again within three days using the product key that is given to you when you buy a copy of windows.

I am running windows xp professional 32 bit with service pack 3

It was loaded onto my computer at my friend's house with his copy of windows when we put the computer together.

His key is no longer valid.
I've tried all manner of keys posted on the internet, keyfinders, keygens ect. and nothing works. No matter what I put in, it says incorrect key.

After so many trys, it devided to lock me out of windows entirely until i input a correct product key. Here is how my computer works now: power on -> boot up -> user log in, and once I log in, I see my desk top background but thats it, not task bar, no start button, no icons. Then a little window pops up telling me I must activate windows. If I choose no, close the window, or choose remind me later I am automaticly logged off. The only reason I'm online now to post this plea for help is because on the activation window it gives me an option to view the microsoft troubleshooting website, and an internet explorer window pops up, and I can use it to browse the web. Other then that, this PC is useless right now...

I've tried calling customer service to try and get a new key from them, unfortunately the woman telling me the key had a thick indian accent and bad sound quality (probably from being all the way in india, I'm in the US) so somehow I ended up with a key that didn't work, and she told me to call general customer service...So I called them, they directed me back to the first people I called....

Please
Does ANYONE have a VALID, WORKING product key for windows xp pro sp3 that they wouldn't mind sharing with me...or any kind of alternate solution...

I've spent the last 3 days trying to fix this, I've spent nearly a thousand dollars to build this computer and replace some of the parts...I REALLY don't want to have to spend another 100+ dollars on a new copy of windows, and then lose all my data in the process of installing said new copy....

Any help or advice would be GREATLY appreciated

Don't they have some manner of telephone hotline for this sort of thing ? I remember something about a "Activate over the phone" optiion

Alright, well first off, I'm going to inform you, anytime you change a major piece of hardware (aka, motherboard or processor), you will usually have to completely reinstall, but on some cases you njust need to reactivate.

I understand your problem, but there is not much we can do here. Your best bet is to call the customer support line again, and hope you can understand the key given. Also, when you get the key, ask the person to stay on the line with you so you can verify the key worked. If the key then works after you have tried it, you can thank them, and slam the phone down as hard as you can. If it doesn't work, tell them it didn't work, and ask for the key again.

And yes, the customer support is outsourced to india. I have dealt with the issue of getting product keys for friends when I would be working on their computers, and it sucks to have to call the customer support. Supposedly, the guy is "Chad from Glendale", when it's really "Pradip from Bangladesh".

I'd say your best bet is if you don't have optimum voice, or verizon fios, if you have a friend who does, call the customer support from their house. Optimum Voice and Verizon Fios have a better reception rate for overseas calls than most standard services, especially if using a 6.0 DHCT phone.

Sorry there wasn't much more I could do to help, but this is my suggestion.



Also, this topic is more fit for the Help Desk, so moving it there.

Yeah I figured there wasn't much that could be done but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

My girlfriend's aunt is really good with computers and software, I'm seeing her today to get a disc she made for me with a preactivated version of windows which should overwrite mine without deleting my files. If that doesn't work I'll probably have to go and buy a new windows disc...Maybe I'll take that chance to upgrade to windows 7...

Thanks for the advice.