Activation by Phone to a "Real" Person at Microsoft

[Alan]

Hi all,



I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq Presario

2500 laptop for a client of mine.



Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came with

the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However, because the

laptop is so old by their standards they had no installation media that I

could buy.



I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using that --

which it did.



I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code on the

bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just work over the

Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.



I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an automated

voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54 character message

code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to validate my

installation right now."



Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can call and

activate this installation?



Thanks very much.



Alan

 

[Volunteer J]

Alan wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq

> Presario 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>

> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came

> with the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However,

> because the laptop is so old by their standards they had no

> installation media that I could buy.

>

> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD

> that came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay

> using that -- which it did.

>

> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code

> on the bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just

> work over the Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>

> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an

> automated voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54

> character message code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to

> validate my

> installation right now."

>

> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can

> call and activate this installation?

>

> Thanks very much.

>

> Alan

=====================================

Maybe the following links would be worth a look:



(307890) How to activate Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890/en-us



(295539) How and When to Contact Microsoft

Customer Service

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=295539



--



Volunteer J - MS-MVP

Digital Media Experience



Notice

This is not tech support

I am a volunteer



Solutions that work for

me may not work for you



Proceed at your own risk

 

[Daave]

Alan wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq

> Presario 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>

> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came

> with the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However,

> because the laptop is so old by their standards they had no

> installation media that I could buy.

>

> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD

> that came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay

> using that -- which it did.



You should *not* have used a Dell-branded XP installation CD, and the

HP/Compaq rep should not have told you this would work! The Dell-branded

XP installation CD is locked to Dell motherboards.



> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code

> on the bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just

> work over the Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.



This can happen when you use a branded OEM installation CD!



> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an

> automated voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54

> character message code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able

> to validate my

> installation right now."

>

> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can

> call and activate this installation?



I doubt it. You are not permitted to use the Dell CD on an HP product. I

agree it sucks since your customer obviously has a license to run XP

Home on that PC.



Here are some ideas:



1. Search online for the generic HP product key for XP Home. This might

help:



http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...fai=CBDggzkL3S6u1KZy2yATNhvGqDwAAAKoEBU_QC2B1



Maybe if you use that Product Key, Activation will work (not

Registration, that's something else!).



2. Obtain the correct restoration media from a site like this:



http://www.restoredisks.com/



3. Obtain a *generic* OEM XP Home installation CD. Also, it is possible

to create your own, using the Dell-branded one as a base:



http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml



FWIW, I had issues performing a Clean Install of XP Pro onto an HP

laptop once, using a generic OEM XP Pro installation CD. What worked for

me was to enter the generic product key first, during the installation.

Later I needed to enter the Product Key on the COA sticker when it was

time to activate:



http://groups.google.com/group/micr...pport/msg/35e37f9b9b54654f?hl=en&dmode=source



Good luck and let us know how you make out!

 

[Andrew E.]

That xp cd will not work with another pc..The 25 letters/numbers was

not issued by microsoft,it is thru the pc mfg with a volume

license...Microsoft

keys are always seperate from the pc,usually in or with its packaging.



"Alan" wrote:



> Hi all,

>

> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq Presario

> 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>

> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came with

> the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However, because the

> laptop is so old by their standards they had no installation media that I

> could buy.

>

> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using that --

> which it did.

>

> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code on the

> bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just work over the

> Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>

> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an automated

> voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54 character message

> code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to validate my

> installation right now."

>

> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can call and

> activate this installation?

>

> Thanks very much.

>

> Alan

>

>

> .

>

 

[Daniel]

Just to confirm that you used the CD Key numbers on the HP during install ,

then

tried to activate, the CD key numbers are not the activation numbers,

automatic activation over the net should work fine, and so should manual

activation

if you follow the correct procedures including using the activation codes

generated,

you may be asked to confirm that the software is not installed elsewhere,

but I doubt it.



I only carry one XP install disk with me (and it happens to be a Dell) and

use it on many different

machines I repair and I have never had any problem with activation.



cheers



Daniel

"Alan" wrote in message

news:ulHgx3U#KHA.4316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Hi all,

>

> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq Presario

> 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>

> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came with

> the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However, because

> the laptop is so old by their standards they had no installation media

> that I could buy.

>

> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using

> that -- which it did.

>

> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code on

> the bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just work over

> the Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>

> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an automated

> voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54 character message

> code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to validate my

> installation right now."

>

> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can call

> and activate this installation?

>

> Thanks very much.

>

> Alan

>

 

[Daniel]

Clarification: The CD Key used in install must be the CD key that belongs to

the machine

being installed on, not the key on the install disk being used.



Daniel



"Daniel" wrote in message

news:#5D3J9W#KHA.4652@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Just to confirm that you used the CD Key numbers on the HP during install

> , then

> tried to activate, the CD key numbers are not the activation numbers,

> automatic activation over the net should work fine, and so should manual

> activation

> if you follow the correct procedures including using the activation codes

> generated,

> you may be asked to confirm that the software is not installed elsewhere,

> but I doubt it.

>

> I only carry one XP install disk with me (and it happens to be a Dell) and

> use it on many different

> machines I repair and I have never had any problem with activation.

>

> cheers

>

> Daniel

> "Alan" wrote in message

> news:ulHgx3U#KHA.4316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Hi all,

>>

>> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq Presario

>> 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>>

>> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came with

>> the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However, because

>> the laptop is so old by their standards they had no installation media

>> that I could buy.

>>

>> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

>> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using

>> that -- which it did.

>>

>> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code on

>> the bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just work over

>> the Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>>

>> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an automated

>> voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54 character message

>> code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to validate my

>> installation right now."

>>

>> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can call

>> and activate this installation?

>>

>> Thanks very much.

>>

>> Alan

>>

>

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using

> that --

> which it did.



But did he say you'd be able to Activate the install?



And what about the Compaq-specific drivers?



I think you're SOL here. That being said...





Please visit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ and click on the Validate

Windows button then restart your computer.



If you weren't able to Validate, proceed as follows:



1. Download this diagnostic tool, saving it to your desktop:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062



=> WinXP: Double-click on the executable to run the tool.



=> Vista & Win7: Right-click on the executable and select Run as

Administrator to run the tool.



2. After running the tool, click on the Windows and/or Office tab as

appropriate and then click on Copy (to clipboard).



NB: You may want to open a new Notepad file, paste the contents of your

clipboard into it & save for future reference.



3. Begin a new thread in the following Microsoft Genuine Advantage forum and

paste the results from the WGA and/or OGA Diagnostic Data tool in a detailed

post: http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/threads



4. A troubleshooting specialist will analyze the data and recommend an

appropriate solution.







Alan wrote:

> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq Presario

> 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>

> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came with

> the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However, because

> the

> laptop is so old by their standards they had no installation media that I

> could buy.

>

> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using

> that --

> which it did.

>

> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code on

> the

> bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just work over the

> Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>

> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an automated

> voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54 character message

> code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to validate my

> installation right now."

>

> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can call

> and

> activate this installation?

>

> Thanks very much.

>

> Alan

 

[Alan]

Thanks to everyone for your replies, since I first posted this message last

night.



I managed to get a "real person" at Microsoft by calling the phone number

listed in http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=295539. (Fortunately, for me it

was before 9:00 PM Pacific time.)



I explained the situation to the first person, who checked the 25 character

Product Key affixed to the Compaq machine. He then escalated me to an

Windows XP Activation support rep.



This rep asked me for both the 25 character Product Key on the Compaq

machine as well as the number shown in the Registered To field -- the one

that displays in Properties after right-clicking on the My Computer icon.

This number was the same as that which shows on my own Dell E520:

76477-OEM-x x x x x x x - x x x x x.



Either the numbers verified my story -- or I just had an honest voice --

but he believed me. :->



He had me go to the following page via Internet Explorer to bring up the The

Windows Product Key Update Tool:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/se...en&sGuid=0549415e-e9b3-465a-bd03-f178df022063.



I agreed to the I understand this tool will send the above information to

Microsoft message and then clicked on the Download radio button. In the File

Download dialog box, I clicked Run and the application started.



It was a simple process: I inserted the 25 character Product Key from the

sticker on the Compaq machine and was instructed to re-boot. After

re-booting, the Microsoft tech had me click on Start | Run and type in

"oobe/msoobe /a" (without the quotation marks) to bring up the Windows

Activation screen. I clicked on the "Validate by Internet" choice and

received a message stating that Windows had been validated.



As the last step, the rep had me go to the

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en where I clicked

on the

Validate Windows radio button.



Everything is now kosher!



Alan







He then had me click on Start | Run. In the command window I typed

"oobe/msoobe /a" to bring up the Windows activation screen. In the space

where it says Enter Product Key if instructed



As expected

"Alan" wrote in message

news:ulHgx3U%23KHA.4316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Hi all,

>

> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq Presario

> 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>

> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came with

> the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However, because

> the laptop is so old by their standards they had no installation media

> that I could buy.

>

> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using

> that -- which it did.

>

> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code on

> the bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just work over

> the Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>

> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an automated

> voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54 character message

> code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to validate my

> installation right now."

>

> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can call

> and activate this installation?

>

> Thanks very much.

>

> Alan

>

 

[Alan]

PA Bear,



The Compaq drivers were not a problem. I went to the H-P website using my

Dell PC, and downloaded whatever I needed.



Then, using a thumb drive, I transferred whatever drivers I had downloaded

to the Compaq laptop and installed.



Alan



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message

news:%232wrAcX%23KHA.4316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

>> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using

>> that --

>> which it did.

>

> But did he say you'd be able to Activate the install?

>

> And what about the Compaq-specific drivers?

>

> I think you're SOL here. That being said...

>

>

> Please visit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ and click on the Validate

> Windows button then restart your computer.

>

> If you weren't able to Validate, proceed as follows:

>

> 1. Download this diagnostic tool, saving it to your desktop:

> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062

>

> => WinXP: Double-click on the executable to run the tool.

>

> => Vista & Win7: Right-click on the executable and select Run as

> Administrator to run the tool.

>

> 2. After running the tool, click on the Windows and/or Office tab as

> appropriate and then click on Copy (to clipboard).

>

> NB: You may want to open a new Notepad file, paste the contents of your

> clipboard into it & save for future reference.

>

> 3. Begin a new thread in the following Microsoft Genuine Advantage forum

> and paste the results from the WGA and/or OGA Diagnostic Data tool in a

> detailed post:

> http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/threads

>

> 4. A troubleshooting specialist will analyze the data and recommend an

> appropriate solution.

>

>

>

> Alan wrote:

>> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq Presario

>> 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>>

>> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came with

>> the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set. However, because

>> the

>> laptop is so old by their standards they had no installation media that I

>> could buy.

>>

>> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD that

>> came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay using

>> that --

>> which it did.

>>

>> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code on

>> the

>> bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just work over the

>> Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>>

>> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an automated

>> voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54 character message

>> code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be able to validate my

>> installation right now."

>>

>> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can call

>> and

>> activate this installation?

>>

>> Thanks very much.

>>

>> Alan

>

 

[Volunteer J]

You're welcome.



Thanks for the update.



--



Volunteer J - MS-MVP

Digital Media Experience



Notice

This is not tech support

I am a volunteer



Solutions that work for

me may not work for you



Proceed at your own risk



=====================



> Thanks to everyone for your replies, since I first posted this

> message last night.

>

> I managed to get a "real person" at Microsoft by calling the phone

> number listed in http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=295539.

> (Fortunately, for me it was before 9:00 PM Pacific time.)

>

> I explained the situation to the first person, who checked the 25

> character Product Key affixed to the Compaq machine. He then

> escalated me to an Windows XP Activation support rep.

>

> This rep asked me for both the 25 character Product Key on the Compaq

> machine as well as the number shown in the Registered To field -- the

> one that displays in Properties after right-clicking on the My

> Computer icon. This number was the same as that which shows on my own

> Dell E520: 76477-OEM-x x x x x x x - x x x x x.

>

> Either the numbers verified my story -- or I just had an honest voice

> -- but he believed me. :->

>

> He had me go to the following page via Internet Explorer to bring up

> the The Windows Product Key Update Tool:

> http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/se...en&sGuid=0549415e-e9b3-465a-bd03-f178df022063.

>

> I agreed to the I understand this tool will send the above

> information to Microsoft message and then clicked on the Download

> radio button. In the File Download dialog box, I clicked Run and the

> application started.

> It was a simple process: I inserted the 25 character Product Key from

> the sticker on the Compaq machine and was instructed to re-boot. After

> re-booting, the Microsoft tech had me click on Start | Run and type in

> "oobe/msoobe /a" (without the quotation marks) to bring up the Windows

> Activation screen. I clicked on the "Validate by Internet" choice and

> received a message stating that Windows had been validated.

>

> As the last step, the rep had me go to the

> http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en where I

> clicked on the

> Validate Windows radio button.

>

> Everything is now kosher!

>

> Alan

>

>

>

> He then had me click on Start | Run. In the command window I typed

> "oobe/msoobe /a" to bring up the Windows activation screen. In the

> space where it says Enter Product Key if instructed

>

> As expected

> "Alan" wrote in message

> news:ulHgx3U%23KHA.4316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Hi all,

>>

>> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old Compaq

>> Presario 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>>

>> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs that came

>> with the machine, I called H-P to request a replacement set.

>> However, because the laptop is so old by their standards they had no

>> installation media that I could buy.

>>

>> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows XP Home CD

>> that came with my own machine. He said that XP should install okay

>> using that -- which it did.

>>

>> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25 Character XP Code

>> on the bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just

>> work over the Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>>

>> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is an

>> automated voice response which tells me -- after I read the 54

>> character message code -- that the code is wrong and "I won't be

>> able to validate my installation right now."

>>

>> Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft, who I can

>> call and activate this installation?

>>

>> Thanks very much.

>>

>> Alan

 

[Doum]

"Daniel" écrivait

news:uyJn2AX#KHA.348@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:



> Clarification: The CD Key used in install must be the CD key that

> belongs to the machine

> being installed on, not the key on the install disk being used.

>

> Daniel

>





And the version on the CD must match the version on the COA sticker on the

PC, ie : Home CD for Home sticker, Pro CD for Pro COA sticker, language

must be the same.

 

[Daniel]

"Doum" wrote in message

news:XnF9D80AEF5B7AC5doumdomainnet@207.46.248.16...

> "Daniel" écrivait

> news:uyJn2AX#KHA.348@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

>

>> Clarification: The CD Key used in install must be the CD key that

>> belongs to the machine

>> being installed on, not the key on the install disk being used.

>>

>> Daniel

>>

>

>

> And the version on the CD must match the version on the COA sticker on the

> PC, ie : Home CD for Home sticker, Pro CD for Pro COA sticker, language

> must be the same.

>

Yep, that's right.

 

[Twayne]

In news:uDt2BmV%23KHA.1892@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl,

Daave typed:

> Alan wrote:

>> Hi all,

>>



....

>

> You should *not* have used a Dell-branded XP installation

> CD, and the HP/Compaq rep should not have told you this

> would work! The Dell-branded XP installation CD is locked

> to Dell motherboards.



Not so. My Dell T3400 workstation came with a complete, unlocked XP system

disk and at the SP3 level along with a win7 install disc, but it was older,

sans the SP for it. It's a win7 machine but I asked for XP Pro to be

preinstalled, so they did that. First thing I did was wipe/reinstall XP Pro

to my likings & partitions. So far, as long as I had their code, I've used

it (a copy of course) to install two other XP machines; one an Acer and the

other an HP. Dell gives the discs on certain, not all models. You have to

read to see which is which, or ask.



HTH,



Twayne`

....

 

[Twayne]

In news:%232wrAcX%23KHA.4316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl,

PA Bear [MS MVP] typed:

>> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows

>> XP Home CD that came with my own machine. He said that XP

>> should install okay using that --

>> which it did.

>

> But did he say you'd be able to Activate the install?



That would be a silly omission and a silly comment, no offense.



>

> And what about the Compaq-specific drivers?



Assuming the disc isn't locked to the Dell, which many are not: Any non-XP

Compaq specific drivers are on the Drivers disc and a Programs Disk maybe

with a different name anyway. If the only recovery ware is on-disk in a

hidden partition, then what you say may be true. Dell is still a Quality

outfit and provides the legit XP disc on many of its models.

>

> I think you're SOL here. That being said...



Depends; chances are good he's OK.

Good links below, BTW.



HTH,



Twayne`



>

> Please visit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ and click on

> the Validate Windows button then restart your computer.

>

> If you weren't able to Validate, proceed as follows:

>

> 1. Download this diagnostic tool, saving it to your desktop:

> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062

>

> => WinXP: Double-click on the executable to run the tool.

>

> => Vista & Win7: Right-click on the executable and select

> Run as Administrator to run the tool.

>

> 2. After running the tool, click on the Windows and/or

> Office tab as appropriate and then click on Copy (to

> clipboard).

> NB: You may want to open a new Notepad file, paste the

> contents of your clipboard into it & save for future

> reference.

> 3. Begin a new thread in the following Microsoft Genuine

> Advantage forum and paste the results from the WGA and/or

> OGA Diagnostic Data tool in a detailed post:

> http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/threads

>

> 4. A troubleshooting specialist will analyze the data and

> recommend an appropriate solution.

>

>

>

> Alan wrote:

>> I had to do a clean XP Home installation today on an old

>> Compaq Presario 2500 laptop for a client of mine.

>>

>> Because he had none of the Recovery or XP Installation CDs

>> that came with the machine, I called H-P to request a

>> replacement set. However, because the

>> laptop is so old by their standards they had no

>> installation media that I could buy.

>>

>> I told the H-P/Compaq rep that I have a Dell OEM Windows

>> XP Home CD that came with my own machine. He said that XP

>> should install okay using that --

>> which it did.

>>

>> I'm now trying to register Windows XP using the 25

>> Character XP Code on the

>> bottom of the Compaq laptop. While I thought it MIGHT just

>> work over the Internet, it was flagged as being incorrect.

>>

>> I then called the phone number listed and all I can get is

>> an automated voice response which tells me -- after I read

>> the 54 character message code -- that the code is wrong

>> and "I won't be able to validate my installation right

>> now." Is there a phone number with a real person at Microsoft,

>> who I can call and

>> activate this installation?

>>

>> Thanks very much.

>>

>> Alan