Activating Windows XP Home

[Dave]

Hi

I have a query with reference to how many times we can activate our copy of
XP before we need to call Microsoft.

I bought a genuine copy of Windows XP Home Edition (VRMHOEM_EN) last October
2004 and installed it on my computer. Everything was running smoothly right
up until the present time when I decided to upgrade my Intel CPU from a
2.40C GHz to a 3.20E GHz and also installed 2 x 512MB DDR 400 RAM.

I formatted my computer a couple of days ago and installed a fresh copy of
XP Home and after installation, an automated message appeared on my computer
saying something like, my hardware had changed and that I needed to verify
and activate my copy of XP. I fully realise that making major hardware
changes would probably need me to reactivate XP so I clicked on the link in
the system tray and activated Windows online, without any problems.

I then encountered a few niggly problems with the computer and after sorting
them out, I decided a fresh copy of XP would be best so I reinstalled
Windows using my CD. I then clicked on the activation link and thought that
activation would be over in a few minutes but how wrong I was.

I got a message say something like, according to Microsoft, you have
exceeded the number of times that you can activate with the key and that I
would need to call Microsoft. So I did so using the number given for the UK
and after trying to explain to the M$ representative (CSR I think), that
having only activated my copy of XP twice since October 2004, I certainly
did not think that I had exceeded the number of times I could activate
Windows, but he was not really interested and after giving me another set
of numbers, my copy of XP was activated.

He then gave me another number to call, saying that they may be able to help
with my concerns as to how may times we can activate a copy of XP before
having to call Microsoft.

I really feel that after only activating my copy of XP twice, I have not
exceeded the amount of times I can activate XP and that the message i got
saying that I had done so, was incorrect and so, I would appreciate some
input from Microsoft Windows professionals and would like to know what the
total amount of times a customer can activate their copy of XP before having
to call the activation line. I do realise that if I change the CPU for
example, I would probably get some sort of message from M$ (which I did).

Regards

Dave

 

[Rock]

Hi

I have a query with reference to how many times we can activate our copy
of XP before we need to call Microsoft.

<snip>

That's a misleading message. You can activate as many times as you
want. If it's less than 120 days since the last time then it has to be
done over the phone. More than 120 and it's by the internet.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I got a message say something like, according to Microsoft, you
have
exceeded the number of times that you can activate with the key
and
that I would need to call Microsoft. So I did so using the
number
given for the UK and after trying to explain to the M$
representative
(CSR I think), that having only activated my copy of XP twice
since
October 2004, I certainly did not think that I had exceeded the
number of times I could activate Windows, but he was not really
interested and after giving me another set of numbers, my copy
of XP
was activated.
He then gave me another number to call, saying that they may be
able
to help with my concerns as to how may times we can activate a
copy
of XP before having to call Microsoft.

I really feel that after only activating my copy of XP twice, I
have
not exceeded the amount of times I can activate XP and that the
message i got saying that I had done so, was incorrect and so,
I
would appreciate some input from Microsoft Windows
professionals and
would like to know what the total amount of times a customer
can
activate their copy of XP before having to call the activation
line. I do realise that if I change the CPU for example, I
would probably
get some sort of message from M$ (which I did).

Unfortunately, the message you got was a poor and misleading one.
That's why " he was not really interested." The answer to your
question is that there is *no* maximum number of times and you
can reactivate as often as you need to. You may need to do it
via a telephone call, but if you need to do it, you can.

 

[Dave]

Hi Rock

Thanks for your fast response and that's just about how I remember it.

So, going by what you say, was the message, 'that I had exceeded the number
of times that I could activate Windows with that key', after only activating
twice since last October 2004 and then having to call Microsoft when I tried
to activate for the third time, correct?

Between last October when I first activated, and the start of this week,
when I activated for only the second time, is more that 120 days since the
first activation, so according to your info, activation should have been
done via the internet, which it was but, after activating for only the
second time last Monday, I then tried to activate a third time this evening,
which is only 4 days later, your info states that I did need to call
Microsoft.

So am I wrong and Microsoft right?

Regards

Dave

 

[Stephen]

You can activate the same computer, the same set of hardware again and
again, however you might max out depending on who-knows-what.

One early copy of I bought of Windows XP Home ed. [Retail Upgrade] I could
activate on the same computer endlessly. Another copy I bought only allowed
me around ten times then refused. If that happens to you it will take 120
days before it can be activated over the Internet again.

If you try to install it one more than one set of computer hardware then you
will quickly hit the wall and a telephone call will be required. Many people
think that Microsoft has as much right as any other software company to
reasonably protect their intellectual copyrights.

Windows Product Activation, as it stands, is pretty forgiving and pretty
reasonable in my opinion. It is there only to prevent casual copying by home
and small business users.

The illegal copies you hear of are created by pirates. The scheming pirates
get their hands on a corporate copies [which do not require activation] or
hacked copies [which are hacked to both circumvent activation and maybe
install malware], and they mass produce CD-ROM discs of them for blackmarket
sale. If they get caught, the Product Key associated with those copies gets
blacklisted on the Microsoft servers which may make it difficult in various
ways for users of those copies in the future [Microsoft servers refusing to
download updates etc.] [ I suspect there's an internal debate at Microsoft.
Should they punish the hapless suckered user who fell for a hacked copy or
should they concentrate on the pirates only? ] .

OK back to you. If you plan on installing and re-installing the same copy on
the same set of hardware a number of times just because you want to, for fun
learning etc. notice that you do not need to activate right away. The retail
copy will run for thirty days before requiring activation. So if you are
tinkering, don't activate. If you finally find that you will be leaving the
software on somewhat permanently, only then activate.

 

[Plato]

So, going by what you say, was the message, 'that I had exceeded the number
of times that I could activate Windows with that key', after only activating

You can activate as many times as you want. If you cant do it online
then do it with a phone call. Either way, there is no limit.

 

[kurttrail]

Hi Rock

Thanks for your fast response and that's just about how I remember it.

So, going by what you say, was the message, 'that I had exceeded the
number of times that I could activate Windows with that key', after
only activating twice since last October 2004 and then having to call
Microsoft when I tried to activate for the third time, correct?

Between last October when I first activated, and the start of this
week, when I activated for only the second time, is more that 120
days since the first activation, so according to your info,
activation should have been done via the internet, which it was but,
after activating for only the second time last Monday, I then tried
to activate a third time this evening, which is only 4 days later,
your info states that I did need to call Microsoft.

So am I wrong and Microsoft right?

Microsoft is wrong for purposely composing a misleading message. MS
does it in hopes that you'll run out and by a copy of software that you
really don't need. MS is well aware since XP was in beta that the
message is totally misleading and has done absolutely nothing to change
it.

MS is not a reputable company in my book. Not only is it a predatory
monopoly, it is also a legally proven patent, and copyright infringer.

MS is not to be trusted.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Rock]

Hi Rock

Thanks for your fast response and that's just about how I remember it.

So, going by what you say, was the message, 'that I had exceeded the
number of times that I could activate Windows with that key', after only
activating twice since last October 2004 and then having to call
Microsoft when I tried to activate for the third time, correct?

Between last October when I first activated, and the start of this week,
when I activated for only the second time, is more that 120 days since
the first activation, so according to your info, activation should have
been done via the internet, which it was but, after activating for only
the second time last Monday, I then tried to activate a third time this
evening, which is only 4 days later, your info states that I did need to
call Microsoft.

Because it was less than 120 days between this last time and the
previoius one, that's when the message shows up. It has nothing to do
with the total number of times it was activated - which in reality can
be infinite. It is a misleading message. But since it was less than
120 days then it required the phone activation. The online activation
database is purged every 120 days.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi

I have a query with reference to how many times we can activate our copy
of XP before we need to call Microsoft.

I bought a genuine copy of Windows XP Home Edition (VRMHOEM_EN) last
October 2004 and installed it on my computer. Everything was running
smoothly right up until the present time when I decided to upgrade my
Intel CPU from a 2.40C GHz to a 3.20E GHz and also installed 2 x 512MB
DDR 400 RAM.

I formatted my computer a couple of days ago and installed a fresh copy
of XP Home and after installation, an automated message appeared on my
computer saying something like, my hardware had changed and that I
needed to verify and activate my copy of XP. I fully realise that
making major hardware changes would probably need me to reactivate XP so
I clicked on the link in the system tray and activated Windows online,
without any problems.

I then encountered a few niggly problems with the computer and after
sorting them out, I decided a fresh copy of XP would be best so I
reinstalled Windows using my CD. I then clicked on the activation link
and thought that activation would be over in a few minutes but how wrong
I was.

I got a message say something like, according to Microsoft, you have
exceeded the number of times that you can activate with the key and that
I would need to call Microsoft. So I did so using the number given for
the UK and after trying to explain to the M$ representative (CSR I
think), that having only activated my copy of XP twice since October
2004, I certainly did not think that I had exceeded the number of times
I could activate Windows, but he was not really interested and after
giving me another set of numbers, my copy of XP was activated.

He then gave me another number to call, saying that they may be able to
help with my concerns as to how may times we can activate a copy of XP
before having to call Microsoft.

I really feel that after only activating my copy of XP twice, I have not
exceeded the amount of times I can activate XP and that the message i
got saying that I had done so, was incorrect and so, I would appreciate
some input from Microsoft Windows professionals and would like to know
what the total amount of times a customer can activate their copy of XP
before having to call the activation line. I do realise that if I
change the CPU for example, I would probably get some sort of message
from M$ (which I did).

Regards

Dave

The error message you received is misleading. What it really means is
that you've activated "too many times within the last 120 days." I
think Microsoft should fix this message, but it is, in reality, a
relatively minor "cosmetic" issue, so they're probably giving more
weight to some silly cost-benefit analysis more than they are their
customers' confusion.

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation
license) ever expire. If it's been more than 120 days since you last
activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to
activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you
might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Steve N.]

The error message you received is misleading. What it really means
is that you've activated "too many times within the last 120 days."

What it really SHOULD say is, "too many times within the last 120 days
to be able to activate over the internet." and automatically display the
activation phone number.

I
think Microsoft should fix this message, but it is, in reality, a
relatively minor "cosmetic" issue, so they're probably giving more
weight to some silly cost-benefit analysis more than they are their
customers' confusion.

It is the opinion of many people that it is by design and intended to
coherce unsuspecting/uninformed customers into buying another license
and there are recent reports here of even the MS activation reps trying
to get legitimate users to buy another license needlessly.

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation
license) ever expire. If it's been more than 120 days since you last
activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to
activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you
might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

What about the guy that it took over 3 hours to activate by phone?

Steve

 

[Bruce Chambers]

What it really SHOULD say is, "too many times within the last 120 days
to be able to activate over the internet." and automatically display the
activation phone number.

You're correct on this point, and I've amended subsequent posts on the
subject. However, I don't think the routine can accurately display the
activation number until the computer user specifies in what country
he/she's located. There could be a more prominent option to continue on
to telephone activation, though.

It is the opinion of many people that it is by design and intended to
coherce unsuspecting/uninformed customers into buying another license
and there are recent reports here of even the MS activation reps trying
to get legitimate users to buy another license needlessly.

True, but those most likely are the same people that wear aluminum foil
hats to keep the CIA (and/or aliens) from reading their minds. Not
everything is a conspiracy. I think the explanation is much simpler:
mere human error and sloppiness. This would hardly be the first cryptic
or meaningless error message or dialog box that Microsoft (or other
software manufacturers, for that matter) has let through.

What about the guy that it took over 3 hours to activate by phone?

Never heard of it, and if it's only one instance out of millions of
calls, it's unfortunate, but hardly noteworthy, otherwise. Except, of
course, to the person involved. From my own experiences, telephone
activation is annoying, but quick and painless.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Dave]

Hi Rock and Steve

Many thanks for your replies.

So what your both saying is that what's happened to me is quite normal and
that I should not get annoyed about it?

With regard to 'activating too many times with the last 120 days', although
I did try to activate within a few days of the second activation last week,
to my way of thinking, activating twice since last October should not be
considered 'too many'.

So if I had to activate again now, I would automatically have to call
Microsoft?

Many thanks

Dave

 

[Steve N.]

Hi Rock and Steve

Many thanks for your replies.

So what your both saying is that what's happened to me is quite normal
and that I should not get annoyed about it?

It is "normal"? Yes, but it annoys the hell out of everybody that
encounters it.

With regard to 'activating too many times with the last 120 days',
although I did try to activate within a few days of the second
activation last week, to my way of thinking, activating twice since last
October should not be considered 'too many'.

Agreed. Too bad, that's the way it is.

So if I had to activate again now, I would automatically have to call
Microsoft?

Yep, unless you encounter an anomoly as I have in the activation process
that allows me to activate online anyway. Why I can't tell you, but one
time I re-installed within two weeks, read the "too many times" lie,
decided to deal with it in the morning and the next day it activated
online anyway. Go figure. Activation is obviously flawed.

When/if you do the phone activation do not give them any information
other than you re-installed on the same hardware, your version of XP and
your product key. Don't let them talk you into giving *any* other
information besides that and don't let them coherce you into registering
or validating Windows. All you need is activation, period.

Many thanks

You're welcome.

Steve

 

[kurttrail]

You're correct on this point, and I've amended subsequent posts on the
subject. However, I don't think the routine can accurately display
the activation number until the computer user specifies in what
country he/she's located. There could be a more prominent option to
continue on to telephone activation, though.

I agree with you here.

True, but those most likely are the same people that wear aluminum
foil hats to keep the CIA (and/or aliens) from reading their minds.
Not everything is a conspiracy. I think the explanation is much
simpler: mere human error and sloppiness. This would hardly be the
first cryptic or meaningless error message or dialog box that
Microsoft (or other software manufacturers, for that matter) has let
through.

Actually, it is a matter of common sense. They have been well aware of
how misleading this message is since before XP went gold, and have had 2
service packs since XP went gold to fix it. The only two logical
reasons MS has left it alone is either laziness, or they want to keep it
misleading.

So you would choose laziness. One doesn't need a tin foil hat to choose
to believe that MS hasn't changed it on purpose. It is just as logical
as MS sloppiness.

Never heard of it, and if it's only one instance out of millions of
calls, it's unfortunate, but hardly noteworthy, otherwise. Except, of
course, to the person involved. From my own experiences, telephone
activation is annoying, but quick and painless.

LOL! With Office XP, I was once on the phone for 2 hours myself. And I
have been hung up on by a PA phone rep, and IIRC Michael Stevens also
had that happen to him. You can't just blow off having problems
activating by phone as ONE instance.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

Hi Rock and Steve

Many thanks for your replies.

So what your both saying is that what's happened to me is quite
normal and that I should not get annoyed about it?

You should be annoyed that MS wants you to prove that you are not a
software pirate, but yes, this is "NORMAL" for the MicroUniverse.

With regard to 'activating too many times with the last 120 days',
although I did try to activate within a few days of the second
activation last week, to my way of thinking, activating twice since
last October should not be considered 'too many'.

It isn't. MS has purposely left this misleading wording of the message.
The problem is, if you didn't change any hardware, or only a couple of
components, you SHOULD have been activated over the Internet. What you
have experienced is NOT the way activation is supposed to work, but
again, that is "NORMAL" for the MicroUniverse!

So if I had to activate again now, I would automatically have to call
Microsoft?

Only if your change a bunch of hardware, but that doesn't alway work the
way it is supposed to.

For More Activation Info:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx
http://www.microscum.com/mmpafaq/

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Bruce Chambers]

LOL! With Office XP, I was once on the phone for 2 hours myself. And I
have been hung up on by a PA phone rep,

That doesn't mean much, other than that the phone rep might need a bit
more training. Given your propensity for resorting to name-calling and
insults as soon as someone disagrees with you, or especially when they
point out that you're wrong, I wouldn't be at all surprized if even your
mother hung up on you occasionally.

You can't just blow off having problems
activating by phone as ONE instance.

Nor did I try to. I said I hadn't heard of that particular case. As
usual, when you've nothing to add, you deliberately take a portion of a
statement out of context, and then argue with the imaginary position of
your own creation. Obviously, there has been more than one person who
has had an activation-related problem. But, out of the hundreds of
millions of WinXP installations, though, the number of these are
statistically insignificant, inconvenient as it undoubtably is for the
ones experiencing the problem.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[kurttrail]

That doesn't mean much, other than that the phone rep might need a bit
more training. Given your propensity for resorting to name-calling
and insults as soon as someone disagrees with you, or especially when
they point out that you're wrong,

Erroneously. But I am quite capable to hold my tongue, as I did on that
occasion. But again, I'm not the only one that has happened to.

I wouldn't be at all surprized if
even your mother hung up on you occasionally.

Actually, sometime I try to get her to hang up on me. ;-)

Nor did I try to.

LOL! "Never heard of it, and if it's only one instance out of millions
of
calls, it's unfortunate, but hardly noteworthy, otherwise."

Sure sounded that way to me.

I said I hadn't heard of that particular case. As
usual, when you've nothing to add, you deliberately take a portion of
a statement out of context, and then argue with the imaginary
position of your own creation. Obviously, there has been more than
one person who has had an activation-related problem. But, out of
the hundreds of millions of WinXP installations, though, the number
of these are statistically insignificant, inconvenient as it
undoubtably is for the ones experiencing the problem.

Really? And EXACTLY what statistics are you basing the insignificance
of PA problems on!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Stephen]

How old is that copy of WinXP Home?

 

[Dave]

Hi Stephen

You asked: "How old is that copy of WinXP Home"?

To be honest, I don't really see that should matter but to answer your
question, I bought the Windows XP Home with SP2 included, last October 2004.

Regards

Dave

 

[Stephen]

I guess it doesn't. I had a similar problem but it was with a copy of WinXP
Home Upgrade original - no SP1 nor SP2.