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Technical Help & Discussion => Windows PCs & Software: Help, News & Discussion => Topic started by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 14:27

Title: XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 14:27

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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: Rodders on December 31, 2002, 14:34

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's '5 strikes and you're out'.  I've welded my case shut.  (https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hogarth.alivewww.co.uk%2Fsmilies%2Fspinning.gif&hash=5ac0d7811738a8e9ce25c65036659335d0a6d078)

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 14:39

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

5 times would just about cover me for a week  ::)

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: Rodders on December 31, 2002, 14:43

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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 14:49

OK that gives me about a month then  ;D

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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: Rodders on December 31, 2002, 14:53

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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 15:07

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  >:D

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: Rodders on December 31, 2002, 15:12

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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 15:19

Damn, what have I done to cloud your judgement of me  ;) :P


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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: Rodders on December 31, 2002, 15:26

I just ignored the rumours, Bat.   ;D

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 15:27

I'll have to make them more plausible next time  ;D

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: TR on December 31, 2002, 18:47

Lots of interesting info @ M$ data page on product activation  :o (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;321636)

Hook

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: Tony on December 31, 2002, 20:25

Quote from: Rodders on December 31, 2002, 14:43

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

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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: Adept on December 31, 2002, 22:52

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 :(

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on December 31, 2002, 22:58

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

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: TR on January 03, 2003, 19:40

Another bit of mystery.

Windows XP Tips
Never Re-Activate After Installation
Posted By: Byron Hinson - Mailed In by Manu Raam

If you have to reinstall Windows XP you normally will have to reactivate too. Well not anymore. Just copy wpa.dbl after you activated the first time. It is located in the WINDOWSsystem32 folder. Now if you reinstall Windows XP just copy the file back and you're up and running again.

hook

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: TR on January 03, 2003, 19:43

another one about reactivation  here (http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm)

Title: Re:XP reactivation - warning
Post by: bat69 on January 03, 2003, 19:43

Nice one Hook ... that's definitely one for the manual  :)

It will certainly be useful for me ;)