I guess I'm confused by the uncompressed thing. All the files were downloaded in a zip file, which I then unzipped to a folder using WinRAR. You're saying that once unzipped they're still compressed?
Thanks. I dl'd that, ran it, then retried. Unfortunately it still didn't work (still getting the number of days to activate balloon). Yeah, I get that I should just use Pro (I only used Home because there's an easy to read Home license key on the bottom of the netbook that's now mocking me), but at this point I'm taking it as a challenge to fix this! Now that I've run the tool with truly uncompressed files is the reaon it didn't work likely that I ran it previously with compressed files by mistake? Also, since there were two different value strings when I booted from the test cd should I try again using the other BIOS files that match the second value? Thanks again for all the help and patience. I really would like to solve this instead of starting from scratch again.
Looks like your message got cut off.. Anyway, it's XP Home, the ISO downloaded and verified via the torrent link in the OP. I can't post screenshots or links because I'm still a babe in the woods on this forum, but here is what is displayed when I boot from the OEMBIOS test cd: Windows XP OEMBIOS Test v1.1/375/126 F: ASUSTeK Computer Ince OEMBIOS.CAT CRC32=2411858C F: ASUSTeK Computer Inc OEMBIOS.CAT CRC32=B20C65BF F: GENUINE C&C INC OEMBIOS.CAT CRC32=8B2EBECB The above OEMBIOS set(s) should preactivate Windows XP on this system. Linces starting with E: are not reliably detected when running under Windows. Press CTL+ALT+DEL to restart A:\> So I downloaded the first one from the skydrive link, then unzipped OEMBIOS changer, stuck it in C: and ran it so it installed all the folders it uses. Then I unzipped ASUS_2411858C (what I downloaded from skydrive) and stuck the four files (after renaming because of the final extension character being "_" instead of whatever letter it needs to be) into the uncompressed folder. Ran the tool. Everything appeared to be successful. That's when I kept posting and found out that the BIOS files were actually still compressed. So I started over and used the little Compress OEMBIOS tool and uncompressed them, put them in the uncompressed folder (this after having completely deleted the entirety of OEMBIOS changer and starting again), and then, finally, ran the tool with the proper BIOS files. Again it looked like it worked and instructed me to reboot. Nothing... I'm wondering if my previous attempt had botched any chance of the rerun being successful. So this is where I'm at. Wondering if trying again by downloading B20C65BF would work any better. Thx.
You need to put the 4 oembios files in Compressed ​folder, cause they are basically cab compressed.
@ thestem, Just in case you missed my post before the files on skydrive or other sources are usually archived with either rar or zip format when you extract the archive you will have four files but winrar can extract cab files i,e, OEMBIOS.BI_ to OEMBIOS.BIN just to let you know
Yes, it's my goof. Unfortunately I've fallen for following the (outdated) OP instructions, which are now full of missing tools, incorrect links, etc. Piecing together how to do it involves having to search several other threads on this forum when it's not clear that should be necessary from the step-by-step nature of the original post. Yes, I have not read every single read me due to the haphazard nature of the "process." Moreover, though, I am desperately sorry to have wasted your superior brainpower, vymrdal. Clearly you have bigger and better things to be doing, though I do so appreciate your deigning to "help" me.
In any event, did the same with the compressed folder, without renaming anything. "29 days left to activate..."
Thanks. Did it again, and like before, the procedure finished with "The files have been changed..The key has been changed to a Asus XP Home Key. You will need to restart... Do you want to y/n." AND IT WORKED! The only thing different from this time and the last was using your files, so I can only guess that the ones I had were somehow corrupted. Thank you so much. Another thing that I think threw me off from the beginning. In the OP, there is there instruction under 5.1: 6. Download the appropriate Uncompressed OEMBIOS file set. (Note: Uncompressed only. Compressed file set are for those who are still to install Windows XP) Where's the "what if" in case there is only a compressed file set (as in my case)? Also, isn't this wrong given that I had already installed XP but a compressed set did, in the end, work?
The tool decompresses them. exixting installs need decompressed files, to add them to ISO the require compressed files. More correctly, both compressed and uncompressed files will work with the tool as it either directly replaces the files, or decompresses before replacement.
Thank you. My next step is to create an ISO with these changes since I have a few other of these machines.
Hello guys, need your help please ! I'm new to this yep i'm new, i have a msi g31tm-p21 motherboard and when i detected my OEMBIES CRC I've found that it Match with this one GENUINE INC C&C (OEMBIOS.CAT CRC32=8B2EBECB) what's next ? and thank you
after downloading appropriate OEMBIOS file set that match with my BIOS I downloaded the OEMBIOS Changer then i've put the 4 files that ends with "_" in this file "Compressed Oembios Folder" after that i've run OEM.exe and follow the instruction but after rebooting i still get the message :'( your help please
Here is my problem. I have a Toshiba G15-501R Qosmio laptop. Came with OEM XP-MCE (2003 I think). HD died and I installed Win 7 and it works OK, except no areo because I can't find Win 7 Nvidia driver. I would like to put XP-MCE 2005 on it. I have downloaded the file that is listed in "The Windows XP Repository". I have changed the file to a ISO and tried to check to make sure it is clean but the only "SHA" numbers that are listed are for CD-1 and CD-2. Because the file I D/L is a torrent DVD, I can't tell if it is clean. I would like to get a copy of the XP-MCE CD's, because I can check to make sure they are clean, but couldn't find them. I have the Toshiba Recovery discs, but don't want to use them because of all of the "crapware". I love this old Laptop (It was my first) and I have upgraded it with 2Gb of RAM and a SSHD. Can anyone help? Thanks.