About a month ago I had to reinstall Windows XP and I typed in my COA key and got the error about exceeding the maximum amount of times the key can be used. So I bought another copy of XP (both copies are legal copies) from Ebay and this one was brand new and still in its sealed package and had never been used (the guy stated this on his auction). When I got it home and installed it and typed in the new key I got the same exceeded maximum amount of uses error! How the hell can it be exceeded when it is brand new!? Have I been tucked up?
First off you did not even have to buy the second key as long as the one you have came with your PC... All you had to do was call the number it gives you and when they ask if you have changed your mobo or CPU say yes and they will give you an activation number for your key...
Hmm thats a bit strange 2 keys failing like that, did you do a complete clean install...is it possible the old COA key is still active in the system? Use this http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4138.html and see what COA is being used, i can change it too. If not they u got screwed. Give Microsoft's piracy hotline a call. http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/reporting/default.aspx and explain what happened to them, have as much info as possible Name, address, email, paypal id, etc.
I will be attempting another clean install in the morning. If it does not work I shall be quite annoyed as it cost me £51.00, I would be more annoyed but the money I paid it with came from the reviews I wrote last month. I've heard that if you can not activate the key you can phone up Microsoft and do it over the phone? Does it take long doing it over the phone? is the number an American number? I don't have a house phone (I use mobile broaband) so I would have to do it via a payphone an I'm guessing phoning a business in America would cost a fair few bob.