My PowerSpec desktop bought from Microcenter all of a sudden came with a blue screen. After trying various methods with Microcenter through chat, Windows XP Pro was reinstalled by tapping F10 key. Now the computer is in a state when I bought it. However it displays a message that activation is needed and asks to enter product key. The product key certificate on the machine is for Vista Business as Microcenter had downgrade rights to install XP Pro. I do not have any XP Installation CD. Win XP Pro was preinstalled on the machine with a restore copy in partition D. What I have is Vista Business CD. And the activation will not accept the product number from it. Microsoft wants to call me the computer manufacturer while Microcenter directs me to call Microsoft and I am caught in between. is there a way to find the product key of Win XP Pro that is installed on that computer? The applications I am using do not work with Vista and I have to have XP until new versions of the applications for Vista are released. Every day the computer displays that I have so many days left (less than 30 days) to activate my Win XP pro or advises to buy a new copy. What do I do? How do I resolve this? Thanks. N Murugesan

There is no way to find the product key if it's never been entered on the computer. It's pretty stupid that they put xp on it but put the vista key instead. I would think that Microcenter should be handling this as they are the one who made the mistake. Collingwood Web Hosting and Collingwood Web Design

I think you should call Microsoft to know what to do with this problem. Want A Weekly Update on Latest System Security Problem http://www.systemsecurityinstitute.org

Have you considered just using Vista business as your OS and running the programs in WinXP mode. I think that is an option. I agree that your vendor should be handling that issue. Perhaps you need to up the chain of command at their location. Sounds to me like they may have illegally installed WinXP on the computer. I don't think you should even have Vista recovery disks. I could be wrong about that. Something to investigate though.

Download a program called siw... it is free. Install it and start the program. Look in the first option on the left...system information About 15 --20 lines down your key will be displayed. The fact that it is asking for activation indicates the key is there

Still are you sure that you are using the legal copy of OS? Want A Weekly Update on Latest System Security Problem http://www.systemsecurityinstitute.org

The symptom is when a user takes a Vista Bus or Ultimate machine and downgrades to XP Pro. This is an allowable scenario from MS. The XP key is not needed for this. The activation can only be done via phone. When calling you need to specify that you are exercising downgrade rights. Make sure you have the Vista key written down and that it is not a Vista Home Basic or Premium version (they are not eligible for downgrade). You should be given the activation code to enter and complete the process. As I stated this is an acceptable method to get XP on the system but only applies to the business level versions of Vista. Good luck Richard