Cannot use computer. Keeps asking to be activated

[RON]

Aloha! Having a problem with windows xp home that is
driving me absolutely crazy! A few months back, I
purchased Windows XP Home Upgrade. I installed it onto a
brand new hard disk and the product activated and worked
just fine for a while. Then it told me that I needed to
activate windows. So, I followed the prompts and
performed the online activation again. The computer then
worked fine for a few more weeks and then again with the
activation! So, I activated it again and then a week
later again!!! Now, it asks each day and I can't get it
to stop. My computer is now useless to me and I feel
very angry that microsoft has taken the use of my
computer away from me! I have a fully registered and
legitimate OS install that I paid good money for and
quite frankly this harrassment by microsoft is quite
upsetting. OK, enough venting and back to the problem.
Currently the computer will not let me log into windows.
I cannot get by the activation dialog boxes any more.
Every time I tell it to activate the software it now
tells me it cannot connect to the activation server. It
does this both through my DSL connection as well as the
dialup modem calls it makes to microsoft. With the
dialup it picks up, dials and connects just fine, then
moves on to a verifying activation screen and the to a
message telling me it cannot connect to the activation
server! I did see an online knowlege base article about
the possibility that my time is so far off in the bios
that the server cannot synch. So, I verified the correct
date and time in the bios with no results, my time was
accurate. Calling the microsoft automated service line
and following the voice prompts I AM able to successfully
activate my windows install. The problem is, that I have
done this twice now and am getting quite tired of having
to do so. Like I said, this is harrassment. I should
not have to call each day to get my computer working each
day. As far as the computer itself. Since the initial
Windows xp install, I have made absolutely NO changes to
my computers hardware configuration. The only changes
made to my system since day one has been windows update
patches and fixes etc to keep current. But since I have
been having this same problem off and on (more on lately)
since about a month after I initially installed the
software, I don't think that patches or upgrades are
suspect. The computer is also virus free from day one.
I use up to date sigs in Norton antivirus which has been
installed since day one. I also have the computer behind
a linksys router and run zone alarm pro. Zone alarm was
a recent addition to my computer and I was in fact having
these activation problems BEFORE I installed the firewall
software. In the spirit of troubleshooting I would just
love to be able to prevent Zone alarm, NAV or any other
suspect program from running but the computer will not
get past the activation screen. I guess I should
activate by phone again and give that a try first......
Ok, that's about it... Any suggestions?????

Thanks!
Ron

 

[CWatters]

Does it ever tell you why it needs to reactivate eg do you get a message
like...

Microsoft Windows XP has detected a significant change in your machine
configuration

or does it think you have never activated and that the 28 days has expired.

 

[kurttrail]

"By the act of scrolling this post on your computer, and/or printing or
replying to this post, you agree that I am your everlasting Lord &
Saviour. Breach of this term will result in you burning in hell for
ever and ever! Amen!"

Aloha! Having a problem with windows xp home that is
driving me absolutely crazy! A few months back, I
purchased Windows XP Home Upgrade. I installed it onto a
brand new hard disk and the product activated and worked
just fine for a while. Then it told me that I needed to
activate windows. So, I followed the prompts and
performed the online activation again. The computer then
worked fine for a few more weeks and then again with the
activation! So, I activated it again and then a week
later again!!! Now, it asks each day and I can't get it
to stop. My computer is now useless to me and I feel
very angry that microsoft has taken the use of my
computer away from me! I have a fully registered and
legitimate OS install that I paid good money for and
quite frankly this harrassment by microsoft is quite
upsetting. OK, enough venting and back to the problem.
Currently the computer will not let me log into windows.
I cannot get by the activation dialog boxes any more.
Every time I tell it to activate the software it now
tells me it cannot connect to the activation server. It
does this both through my DSL connection as well as the
dialup modem calls it makes to microsoft. With the
dialup it picks up, dials and connects just fine, then
moves on to a verifying activation screen and the to a
message telling me it cannot connect to the activation
server! I did see an online knowlege base article about
the possibility that my time is so far off in the bios
that the server cannot synch. So, I verified the correct
date and time in the bios with no results, my time was
accurate. Calling the microsoft automated service line
and following the voice prompts I AM able to successfully
activate my windows install. The problem is, that I have
done this twice now and am getting quite tired of having
to do so. Like I said, this is harrassment. I should
not have to call each day to get my computer working each
day. As far as the computer itself. Since the initial
Windows xp install, I have made absolutely NO changes to
my computers hardware configuration. The only changes
made to my system since day one has been windows update
patches and fixes etc to keep current. But since I have
been having this same problem off and on (more on lately)
since about a month after I initially installed the
software, I don't think that patches or upgrades are
suspect. The computer is also virus free from day one.
I use up to date sigs in Norton antivirus which has been
installed since day one. I also have the computer behind
a linksys router and run zone alarm pro. Zone alarm was
a recent addition to my computer and I was in fact having
these activation problems BEFORE I installed the firewall
software. In the spirit of troubleshooting I would just
love to be able to prevent Zone alarm, NAV or any other
suspect program from running but the computer will not
get past the activation screen. I guess I should
activate by phone again and give that a try first......
Ok, that's about it... Any suggestions?????

Thanks!
Ron

Sorry about your situation.

I would try to do a repair install:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

But if that doesn't work you may have to start from scratch with a clean
install.

This is what happens when you hand over control of your computer to a
greedy predatory monopoly, who is more concerned about maintaining &
expanding that monopoly, than developing software. Remember this
eXPerience next time some corporation wants to sell you software that
can disable it's self by design, because eventually it will. Good Luck,
you'll need it.

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

 

[Alex Nichol]

Aloha! Having a problem with windows xp home that is
driving me absolutely crazy! A few months back, I
purchased Windows XP Home Upgrade. I installed it onto a
brand new hard disk and the product activated and worked
just fine for a while. Then it told me that I needed to
activate windows. So, I followed the prompts and
performed the online activation again. The computer then
worked fine for a few more weeks and then again with the
activation! So, I activated it again and then a week
later again!

It has always struck me as probable that some virus writer would come up
with a strike against the stored activation information. It sounds as
if something has done it. If it does not show up on an Antivirus, then
a totally clean install, making sure the present partition is deleted
and a new one made may be the only answer