4-year old computer suddenly requiring XP Activation. HELP!!!!

[Guest]

I have owned my computer for 4 years running the same edition of Windows XP
that came with it. Suddenly two days ago, when I start my computer, I get a
screen stating that I am required to activate Windows??? When I try to log
on, it sends me back to this screen. When I try to active online, it says
that there are technical difficulties. When I try to activate over the
phone, it says that the ID is invalid?!?!?

I researched the knowledge based articles, but the only thing close to being
on-point that I could find (Article ID : 312295 ) requires me to radically
alter my registry. I am good with computers, but by no means a techie and I
hate to touch the registry unless absolutely necessary.

Any thoughts and/or assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Follow the procedure outlined in the article:

You are prompted to activate Windows every time you restart your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312295

Otherwise, perform a "Repair Install":

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have owned my computer for 4 years running the same edition of Windows XP
| that came with it. Suddenly two days ago, when I start my computer, I get a
| screen stating that I am required to activate Windows??? When I try to log
| on, it sends me back to this screen. When I try to active online, it says
| that there are technical difficulties. When I try to activate over the
| phone, it says that the ID is invalid?!?!?
|
| I researched the knowledge based articles, but the only thing close to being
| on-point that I could find (Article ID : 312295 ) requires me to radically
| alter my registry. I am good with computers, but by no means a techie and I
| hate to touch the registry unless absolutely necessary.
|
| Any thoughts and/or assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Alias]

Follow the procedure outlined in the article:

You are prompted to activate Windows every time you restart your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312295

Assumes the OP is a pirate.

Otherwise, perform a "Repair Install":

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Why should a paying customer have to jump through these hoops to use the
software he or she paid for?

Well, at least you didn't advise the OP to run out and buy a retail
version of XP ...

Alias

 

[Guest]

Intriguing response. I can assure you that this "OP" has neither the
knowledge nor the need to pirate software. If there is a better response to
my problem, it would be very disappointing to find out MS declined to provide
it...

 

[Alias]

Intriguing response. I can assure you that this "OP" has neither the
knowledge nor the need to pirate software. If there is a better response to
my problem, it would be very disappointing to find out MS declined to provide
it...

I would back everything up and try a repair install. If that doesn't
work, I would do a clean install.

Welcome to MS' world where all their paying customers are considered
pirates until they prove otherwise and if their anti-piracy programs
mess up, it's up to the paying customer to seek a solution.

Alias

 

[George Hester]

smb one thing you must realize about Microsoft products that have been
released in the 21st Century. They behave just as they were designed. That
is why there is no fix for this. As well as the miriad other little quirks
in XP. So the moral to the story is if you want new software from Microsoft
prepare yourself for issues such as this.

 

[Alias]

smb one thing you must realize about Microsoft products that have been
released in the 21st Century. They behave just as they were designed. That
is why there is no fix for this. As well as the miriad other little quirks
in XP. So the moral to the story is if you want new software from Microsoft
prepare yourself for issues such as this.

If Sony can back off, apologize, and remove the rootkit from their CDs
in the 21st century, why can't MS be as gracious?

Alias

 

[RA]

Make sure you backup any important files right now.
The same thing happened to a pc in my office about a year ago with a pc that
was set up with the orginal Dell OEM installation and had been running for
over a year. Nothing I tried made any difference and anyone who responded to
my requests for help either hinted or accused me of having a pirated copy.
After a certain amount of time the OS wouldn't load anymore, but
fortunately, I had backed everything up. I ended up reinstalling with our
Volume License and I never use the OEM OS that comes with any of the PCs
anymore.

 

[Guest]

"Alias" seldom offers any viable troubleshooting solutions.
He perfers to whine and cry rather than help anyone.
Ignore his posts...

 

[Ghostrider]

Alias wrote:

If Sony can back off, apologize, and remove the rootkit from their CDs
in the 21st century, why can't MS be as gracious?

Alias

Because Sony knows that if it does not back off and there
are no more sales of Sony CD's, it won't be around too much
longer in the entertainment business. OTOH, do you really
want to return to the 1980's and the many flavors of UNIX
or stick around with a monopolist?

 

[Alias]

Alias wrote:



Because Sony knows that if it does not back off and there
are no more sales of Sony CD's, it won't be around too much
longer in the entertainment business. OTOH, do you really
want to return to the 1980's and the many flavors of UNIX
or stick around with a monopolist?

No much choice, is there? At least until someone comes up with something
better and MS is sowing the seeds for that to happen quicker with these
"anti piracy" measures.

Alias

 

[geak skwad]

"Alias" seldom offers any viable troubleshooting solutions.
He perfers to whine and cry rather than help anyone.
Ignore his posts...

Says the group's saddest excuse for an mvp who often offers irrelevent
cut and paste answers to another member of the group who is posting a
helpful reply to the OP. Now I see why you cut and paste so much Carey.

 

[kurttrail]

I have owned my computer for 4 years running the same edition of
Windows XP that came with it. Suddenly two days ago, when I start my
computer, I get a screen stating that I am required to activate
Windows??? When I try to log on, it sends me back to this screen.
When I try to active online, it says that there are technical
difficulties. When I try to activate over the phone, it says that
the ID is invalid?!?!?

I researched the knowledge based articles, but the only thing close
to being on-point that I could find (Article ID : 312295 ) requires
me to radically alter my registry. I am good with computers, but by
no means a techie and I hate to touch the registry unless absolutely
necessary.

Any thoughts and/or assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!

Next time don't buy an OS that has copy-protection. It doesn't stop or
even hinder REAL piracy, and the only thing it can do for the end user
is break down!

--
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]

"Alias" seldom offers any viable troubleshooting solutions.
He perfers to whine and cry rather than help anyone.
Ignore his posts...

It is your posts that should be ignored, Carey. All you are is a copy
& paste artist, and much of the time what you copy and paste is
irrelevant.

What I want to know is who you've been blowing to get and keep your MVP
status, as you certainly never earned it any other way than on your
knees!

--
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"

 

[George Hester]

That's a good one Alias. Unfortunately Sony will not back off. All they
will do is find a vendor of the Rootkit they want that cannot be recognized.
And I can tell you Mark's rootkitfinder won't help in this case. Been there
done that. It is a new burgeoning industry.

 

[George Hester]

That's mean geak skwad. She is good. I have gotten advice from her that no
one else had at their dispoal. I don't know about her methods and her post
here was an attempt to help. That she may be a little mislead by the
utility of her advice is really not herr fault.

 

[plew]

It is your posts that should be ignored, Carey. All you are is a copy
& paste artist, and much of the time what you copy and paste is
irrelevant.

What I want to know is who you've been blowing to get and keep your MVP
status, as you certainly never earned it any other way than on your
knees!

Carey Frisch believes in m$'s commandment that all users/consumers are
crooks & guilty as charged until proven innonenct; & that innocence is
only temporary.

Must use the m$ & sony policy of guilty until proven innocent when called
for jury duty. Should be a valid arguement.

 

[Ghostrider]

That's a good one Alias. Unfortunately Sony will not back off. All they
will do is find a vendor of the Rootkit they want that cannot be recognized.
And I can tell you Mark's rootkitfinder won't help in this case. Been there
done that. It is a new burgeoning industry.

According to ZDNet News on Security, Microsoft is going to put
a stop to Sony's rootkit. Microsoft claims that it can psoe a
security risk to Windows PC's. According to the article, MSft
plans to update Windows AntiSpyware and Malicious Software Removal
Tool.

 

[geak skwad]

That's mean geak skwad. She is good. I have gotten advice from her that no
one else had at their dispoal. I don't know about her methods and her post
here was an attempt to help. That she may be a little mislead by the
utility of her advice is really not herr fault.

Hi George,

She is actually a he. If you read some of the other responses in this
thread, you will see I am not the only one to hold a negative opinion of
Carey.

 

[gnaynit]

That's mean geak skwad. She is good. I have gotten advice from her that
no
one else had at their dispoal. I don't know about her methods and her post
here was an attempt to help. That she may be a little mislead by the
futility of her advice is really not herr fault.