Topic: Windows XP Pro WARNING (Read 3505 times)

IAF Lyrkiller · « **on:** November 26, 2006, 11:43:15 pm »

Of those of you that bought windows xp pro or home at a retail store, BEWARE!!!!

I reinstalled windows today and after it finished, I went to activate it. It bounced back wanting another code that is different then the one I had!!!!

The message said that I had exceeded the amount of times that I could install windows. BS!!!!!

Yes, I am hopping mad.

I am not going to pay another $149.00 for a kit to generate another code, PERIOD!!!!!!!

Lieutenant_Q · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2006, 11:50:30 pm »

I've never had a computer that has needed an entire OS reinstalled...the one time I had to do some maintenence, I decided that I had needed to upgrade to Win 2k anyways, since no one made games that worked with Win 98 anyways.

Although I keep hearing how people think that reformatting their Hard Drives is something that should be done every other year, I can never understand why. But then again, I'm a pack rat, I have my first English paper I did on a home computer around here somewhere...

Anyways...couldn't you just call Microsoft's support center? I'm sure that if you explained it to them, they can reactivate your activation code, or send you a new one.

Javora · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2006, 06:54:35 am »

Did you change a few parts in your system? If you did then that might be what is hanging up your OEM version of WinXP Pro. If that is the case then give them a call, they should issue you another code. The other thing I would do is install Windows on two different hard drives, activate them both and then keep one disconnected (usually the older of the two drives). This way if you ever need to reformat and reload your system you can just disk copy from your backup drive and skip the reactivation process all together. Hope this helps.

KBF MalaK · « **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2006, 09:48:14 am »

windows as well as other programs who 'reformat' your hard drive don't always erase everything (they delete your drives TOC but leave the data alone), so XP may be seeing a previous install somewhere on the drive. Ya might try running the HD MFR's diag disk on the HD and write 'zeros' to the entire drive and reinstall windows with your codes. If it still don't work get your money back.

Sirgod · « **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2006, 01:40:14 pm »

You might try this little program. I had Problems doing an install the other day, with My sis-in-laws PC, and had to change the key.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4138.html
The name of the file is RockXP in case the link doesn't work.

Stephen

IAF Lyrkiller · « **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2006, 07:26:34 pm »

I did make some changes and I do think that it did come up the way it did.

Added a nic and that conflicted w/ the agp card. So I took it out.

I am going to reinstall for the forth time and see what happens.

I also put in my brand spanking new hdd. <--- This should not cause windows to go crazy.

Javora · « **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2006, 07:43:49 pm »

Quote from: CayneG on November 27, 2006, 07:26:34 pm

I did make some changes and I do think that it did come up the way it did.

Added a nic and that conflicted w/ the agp card. So I took it out.

I am going to reinstall for the forth time and see what happens.

I also put in my brand spanking new hdd. <--- This should not cause windows to go crazy.

By itself no, the new hard drive shouldn't make a difference, but you add that with a NIC card and maybe a couple of other changes and Windows could have an issue. Remember Windows XP takes inventory of all the components inside the system and produces a number that is stored in the operating system somewhere. Change enough of those values and Windows XP thinks it is seeing a new system.

Nemesis · « **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2006, 08:35:26 pm »

If I recall correctly the NIC was originally counted by XP as 2 devices. So changing your NIC around several times could use up your limited amount of changing quite quickly.

Call Microsoft. The pro Microsoft crowd tells me that it is no problem getting them to give you a new code in cases like this.

If that doesn't work then tell them fine you were considering converting this system to Fedora Linux anyhow and now your going to convert all your systems. That worked for my brother in law. But he was serious.

This (and other DRM limitations) is why I refused to "upgrade" to XP from Win2kPro and why I'm converting away from Windows to Linux. Free as in Freedom.

IAF Lyrkiller · « **Reply #8 on:** November 27, 2006, 11:25:57 pm »

Quote from: Stephen NCC -73070 on November 27, 2006, 01:40:14 pm

You might try this little program. I had Problems doing an install the other day, with My sis-in-laws PC, and had to change the key.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4138.html
The name of the file is RockXP in case the link doesn't work.

Stephen

Stephen, that program did not work. I will neet to call microshaft tomorrow and complain.

Thank you for watching out for me though. If I have to I can always plug my 60gig back in and copy the whole kit and kaboo over.

IAF Lyrkiller · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:34:38 pm »

Update: I did call Microshaft and it now working just fine. Thank you for your help.

Sirgod · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:38:18 pm »

Sorry that Proggy didn't work, But damn, I wish microshaft was easier to keep running.

Good too see you back online bro.

Stephen

E_Look · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2006, 11:22:44 am »

Quote from: CayneG on December 13, 2006, 06:34:38 pm

Update: I did call Microshaft and it now working just fine. Thank you for your help.

If I may ask, how did you approach them and what did they say?

IAF Lyrkiller · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2006, 07:26:50 pm »

I told the girl that I needed my winxp activited and that I had made too many hw changes.

She asked if I had XP installed on another pc and told no. (I do have it installed on my laptop, though I did not tell that).

Had she made me reboot my syst I would have told her that I am a tech and my syst has 1.5gigs of ram on it.

Nemesis · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2006, 08:28:56 pm »

Quote from: CayneG on December 14, 2006, 07:26:50 pm

(I do have it installed on my laptop, though I did not tell that).

Bad boy. You should get legal.

IAF Lyrkiller · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2006, 10:17:40 pm »

It is none of their business if I do have it installed on two computers. both are completely different systems.

E_Look · « **Reply #15 on:** December 14, 2006, 11:59:05 pm »

Well, Cayne, that's exactly the point.

Their rules are that the same code from the same CDROM set shouldn't be on two different systems. I sort of dislike Microsoft, I ABSOLUTELY HATE their validation requirement, but I won't cheat them. I have to go with Nemesis on this one.

I've got two kids. I built them each a pretty decent rig (at the time of building). I mean, they're kids; my kids, and share the same home network with me. But each one has his own set of WinXP source CDs from which it was loaded. That COST me, but it's legit. I hurt, but I sleep well.

SkyFlyer · « **Reply #16 on:** December 15, 2006, 03:51:29 am »

Honestly, as long as I'm not using my two copies of XP at the same time, then it should be legal.

I am not running more than one instance of their software.

Thats like buying SFC: OP and installing it on your desktop, and then buying another copy to put it on your laptop.

You're not gonna be using both at once.

Nemesis · « **Reply #17 on:** December 15, 2006, 06:04:30 am »

Quote from: SkyFlyer on December 15, 2006, 03:51:29 am

Honestly, as long as I'm not using my two copies of XP at the same time, then it should be legal.

I am not running more than one instance of their software.

You're not gonna be using both at once.

If you network the two to transfer your data between them then you are running both at once and violating copyright law.

IAF Lyrkiller · « **Reply #18 on:** December 15, 2006, 09:09:21 am »

need to reinstall windows anyways, so I am going back to win98se on my laptop. (The 98 CD is ligit). I also have OEM versions of ME and 98.

Correction: I may not need to reinstall XP on my laptop.

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