Today my XP Pro SP2 stopped working cause it wasn't activated. I couldn't Login, only access in safe mode. It gave me 3 options; activate over internet, activate by phone or cancel (which logged me out immediately). The CD/product-key I used was found on the web.
Since I only have slow GPRS connection at work, I thought it would be nice to activate by phone...
Now here's the thing:
I called MS activation helpdesk (Netherlands), told them the story of how I bought a laptop with Vista Ultimate (=not true), and wanted to downgrade to XP Pro. I was aked to give them my Installation ID, generated in the activationscreen, which I did. It failed two times. The helpdesk guy advised me to get another XP CD/product-key. I found another working CD/product-key on the web (,changed key,) and called again; gave them new generated Installation ID... And this guy gives me a working Confirmation ID.
XP Pro is now activated. I went to Windows Update; it's ok.
Wait, what? But why?
Shouldn't they at least ask me a Vista Ultimate CD/product-key?
Or am I missing something? Is it a trap?
Since I only have slow GPRS connection at work, I thought it would be nice to activate by phone...
Now here's the thing:
I called MS activation helpdesk (Netherlands), told them the story of how I bought a laptop with Vista Ultimate (=not true), and wanted to downgrade to XP Pro. I was aked to give them my Installation ID, generated in the activationscreen, which I did. It failed two times. The helpdesk guy advised me to get another XP CD/product-key. I found another working CD/product-key on the web (,changed key,) and called again; gave them new generated Installation ID... And this guy gives me a working Confirmation ID.
XP Pro is now activated. I went to Windows Update; it's ok.
Wait, what? But why?
Shouldn't they at least ask me a Vista Ultimate CD/product-key?
Or am I missing something? Is it a trap?