Topic: XP reactivation - warning

[bat69]

I just found this on another site and thought I would share this with you all. Another reason I dislike Mocrosoft  >


For those of you who don't know or maybe aren't sure about the activation code for Windows XP, here's what I found out over the weekend. You're only allowed so many activations with Windows XP. Depending on how much you change the configuration of your system (i.e. upgrade, change parts etcetera)  you may be required to reactivate your copy of Windows XP. I upgraded to a new chip and memory this weekend and had to reactivate XP. No biggie, right? WRONG! It came back saying that I had activated XP too many times already and had to contact Microsoft to get a new activation code. That sucks. But I do have to say kudos to Microsoft for the ease and speed that they helped me with. All I had to do was call the toll free # they provided and they gave me a new one. No wait, hassle or anything. But it still sucks, cause now everytime I wipe the HDD, guess what?

This was from an American site obviously, but its worrying for anyone who has to update their system regularly or wipe the HD

[Rodders]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's '5 strikes and you're out'.  I've welded my case shut.  

[bat69]

This is worrying to me, as my case is often open with me twiddling and poling inside    >

5 times would just about cover me for a week  

[Rodders]

It is my understanding that you have to make 5 changes to your hardware layout before Bill ruins your entire day.  

[bat69]

OK that gives me about a month then  

Good job I'm overclocking it, adding all the bits and modifying it all with Win98se then ... I might have it all settled by the time I install XP

[Rodders]

You're putting XP over the top of Win98, Bat?  You do know these use two different filing systems, I suppose.  

[bat69]

I'll be wiping the drive before installing XP. I know about the differences, thanks Rodders.

Another good thing about sorting everything out with Win98 .. I'll know what software I want and don't want so won't clutter up the directories with unwanted guff

Ohh and there will be a nice partition for Linux too  >

[Rodders]

Cool.  I knew all along you weren't mad.  

[bat69]

Damn, what have I done to cloud your judgement of me  


They're coming to take me away .. ha haaa .... they're coming to take me away  8)

[Rodders]

I just ignored the rumours, Bat.  

[bat69]

I'll have to make them more plausible next time  

[TR]

Lots of interesting info @ M$ data page on product activation  

Hook

[Tony]

It is my understanding that you have to make 5 changes to your hardware layout before Bill ruins your entire day.  

hehe, it don't bother me
coz I'm on W2K Pro you see  

[Adept]

You may recall a posting of mine in another place, where I talked about attempting to upgrade my 15Gig hard drive to a 40Gig one by Ghosting from one drive to the other.

The transfer worked without error, as far as I could tell, but XP refused to boot due to "security violations".

When I finally get time, I'll reinstall XP, meanwhile my nice shiny new 40Gig drive is moudering in a drawer somewhere

[bat69]

This is one of the things I hate about Microblow ... if only they would release the software and spend more time making them secure from hackers