Activating Windows XP

[Jer]

I had to do some maintenance on my HP Pavillion XT 953, which resulted
in my having to start it in safe mode. When I restarted it in a
normal mode, I got a message stating that I need to activate windows
XP because I've added so much hardware to the computer since its
original form. It gives me a deadline of 3 days. I've never seen
anything like this and I've only added a DVD drive and some RAM which
was done about 2 weeks prior to receiving this message. I'm no
computer whiz by any means and often struggle to comprehend computer
operations. I'm worried that if I activate XP all the information I
have stored on my computer will be erased. I'm also worried that if I
don't activate it, I won't be able to use the computer again. Please
Help

 

[Plato]

operations. I'm worried that if I activate XP all the information I
have stored on my computer will be erased. I'm also worried that if I

No it wont be erased.

don't activate it, I won't be able to use the computer again. Please
Help

True.

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

No harm will come by activating and yes, do activate as it will prohibit use
without doing so.

 

[Gerald Fay]

Tell me it ain't so
Just adding a DVD and RAM causes a reactivation??
Sick.

 

[Kelly]

How does MPA determine tolerance? How many components of the computer can I
change before I have to reactivate?

Common changes to hardware, such as upgrading a video card, adding a second
hard disk, adding RAM, or upgrading a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, do not
require reactivation.

Specifically, MPA determines tolerance by using a point system. There are 10
hardware characteristics that are used to create the hardware hash. Each
characteristic is equal to 1 point, except the network card, which is equal
to 3 points.

Tolerance is determined by what has not changed, instead of what has
changed. If the current hardware hash is compared to the original hardware
hash, there have to be 7 or more matching points for the two hardware hashes
to be considered in tolerance.

For example, if the network card, which is equal to 3 points, remains the
same, only 4 additional points have to match. If the network card has been
changed, a total of 7 points have to match. If the device is a portable
computer (specifically a dockable device), additional tolerance is allotted
and only 4 matching points are required.

Therefore, if the device is dockable and the network card has not changed,
only one additional point has to be the same, for a total of 4 points. If
the device is dockable and the network card has changed, a total of 4 points
have to match.

 

[DB.]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Many thanks for your 'korner', Kelly: it's in as one of my 'Favourites'.

But tell us - where are you? Are you from the I-o-M?
You don't appear to be included at:
http://www.isle-of-man.com/interests/genealogy/kelly.htm <g>

BW's,
DB.

 

[Kelly]

"She" and hmmm, seems all is mentioned but Southern Louisiana; however, with
all covered there, I seem to be included. Thanks for the link, comments and
the smile. )

 

[kurttrail]

How does MPA determine tolerance? How many components of the computer
can I change before I have to reactivate?

Common changes to hardware, such as upgrading a video card, adding a
second hard disk, adding RAM, or upgrading a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive,
do not require reactivation.

Specifically, MPA determines tolerance by using a point system. There
are 10 hardware characteristics that are used to create the hardware
hash. Each characteristic is equal to 1 point, except the network
card, which is equal to 3 points.

Tolerance is determined by what has not changed, instead of what has
changed. If the current hardware hash is compared to the original
hardware hash, there have to be 7 or more matching points for the two
hardware hashes to be considered in tolerance.

For example, if the network card, which is equal to 3 points, remains
the same, only 4 additional points have to match. If the network card
has been changed, a total of 7 points have to match. If the device is
a portable computer (specifically a dockable device), additional
tolerance is allotted and only 4 matching points are required.

Therefore, if the device is dockable and the network card has not
changed, only one additional point has to be the same, for a total of
4 points. If the device is dockable and the network card has changed,
a total of 4 points have to match.

That is the the it is supposed to work, in practice, it don't always
work the way it is supposed to.

--
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!"

 

[Kelly]

Yup and thus is life! )