Activation # of times have been exceeded...cannot contact MS by ph

[Guest]

Hi,
I have the upgrade version of Windows XP Home (retail version/legal copy).
This product has been installed on a Gateway a few times (can't remember
exactly how many times..maybe 4-7ish...it has been a few years ago when I
have done the numerous installations in a short period of time when I first
got the product; the last installation was done over a year ago).

Well, the Gateway's HD died so I am no longer using this copy of XP anymore.
Now I have a Dell (with XP MCE...not that it matters). I was going to install
this unused retail version of XP Home in a virtual machine on the Dell.
First, I tried out VMWare, but I thought it was a bit slow and didn't like it
anyway. I liked Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 better...and it's free. But now
when I try to activate Windows in the Microsoft virtual machine, I get the
message that the number of times I can activate Windows has
exceeded...(Message number: 45092).

I have have done a bit of research and found out that the number is reset
(but not to zero) after about six months. So I am thinking that maybe I have
made a mistake by activating Windows in the VMWare virtual machine (because
it worked...and that it has been over six months since I have installed XP).
I am suspecting maybe it won't let me activate in Microsoft Virtual PC since
the Microsoft's hardware setup looks different from the VMWare's hardware
setup (or maybe I really have exceeded the amount). I guess I could check by
reinstalling in VMWare and see if the activation works...but I won't do that
right now.

Anyway, to get this issue fixed, I am going to have to call Microsoft, but
there is a problem. I am hearing impaired and cannot hear that well on the
phone. Is there an email address or some other method to contact Microsoft
about this problem? I don't have a TTY or anyone else that could call for me
right now. (My parents are not very computer savvy at all, so they would have
no idea what to tell Microsoft, or even what Microsoft told them to do...it
would be a foreign language to them.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks for your time!!

 

[Leythos]

Anyway, to get this issue fixed, I am going to have to call Microsoft, but
there is a problem. I am hearing impaired and cannot hear that well on the
phone.

If you are hearing impaired, why don't you have a amplifier for your
phone? Many electronics stores sell them, and many charitable groups
will purchase one for you if your impairment meets their qualifications.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

Hi,
I have the upgrade version of Windows XP Home (retail version/legal copy).
This product has been installed on a Gateway a few times (can't remember
exactly how many times..maybe 4-7ish...it has been a few years ago when I
have done the numerous installations in a short period of time when I first
got the product; the last installation was done over a year ago).

Well, the Gateway's HD died so I am no longer using this copy of XP anymore.
Now I have a Dell (with XP MCE...not that it matters). I was going to install
this unused retail version of XP Home in a virtual machine on the Dell.
First, I tried out VMWare, but I thought it was a bit slow and didn't like it
anyway. I liked Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 better...and it's free. But now
when I try to activate Windows in the Microsoft virtual machine, I get the
message that the number of times I can activate Windows has
exceeded...(Message number: 45092).

I have have done a bit of research and found out that the number is reset
(but not to zero) after about six months. So I am thinking that maybe I have
made a mistake by activating Windows in the VMWare virtual machine (because
it worked...and that it has been over six months since I have installed XP).
I am suspecting maybe it won't let me activate in Microsoft Virtual PC since
the Microsoft's hardware setup looks different from the VMWare's hardware
setup (or maybe I really have exceeded the amount). I guess I could check by
reinstalling in VMWare and see if the activation works...but I won't do that
right now.

Anyway, to get this issue fixed, I am going to have to call Microsoft, but
there is a problem. I am hearing impaired and cannot hear that well on the
phone. Is there an email address or some other method to contact Microsoft
about this problem? I don't have a TTY or anyone else that could call for me
right now. (My parents are not very computer savvy at all, so they would have
no idea what to tell Microsoft, or even what Microsoft told them to do...it
would be a foreign language to them.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks for your time!!

I have met this error before myself:
I recently installed XP on my Intel iMac as a dual boot using Apple's
Boot Camp assistant. I subsequently wanted to try Parallels Desktop
for OS X on my Intel iMac, and when I installed XP, I got that exact
message. You will also get this message if you attempt to install XP
on a different machine within the 200 day period in which an
activation is "active". Supposedly, the Activation record is deleted
from the Microsoft Servers at the end of 200 days, and it will be as
if that key had never been used before, the NEXT time you attempt to
use that Key. I find this to be true.

Basically, this means that when you install XP in a Virtual machine,
it looks like a completely DIFFERENT machine to the Activation wizard,
and so gives you the error. While you CAN install XP using a virtual
machine as long as it is the SAME physical hardware, you will STILL
get the error, even though you are still using the SAME hardware.

Your only recourse is to choose to activate via phone (sorry :{ ), and
explain to the Activation person that you are using XP in a virtual
machine on the SAME hardware. Be nice, and honest, and he (or she)
will usually activate your OS with little or no trouble.

However you cannot install 2 instances of XP (using the same CD key)
on the SAME machine (or two or more different machines) and activate
them all. This is built into the XP EULA, and there is simply no
recourse to this except to purchase another license for each instance
of XP you install and attempt to activate on the same machine (or on
two or more machines).

That is, the License precludes us from activating a SINGLE license on
two or more machines (or on the same machine twice at once).


==

Donald L McDaniel
Please Reply to the Original Thread.
========================================================

 

[cheyenne]

Contrary to popular belief, sound amplification does not help some
hearing-impaired persons. I know, and so does my audiologist.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have the upgrade version of Windows XP Home (retail
version/legal copy). This product has been installed on a Gateway
a few times (can't remember exactly how many times..maybe
4-7ish...it has been a few years ago when I have done the numerous
installations in a short period of time when I first got the
product; the last installation was done over a year ago).

Well, the Gateway's HD died so I am no longer using this copy of
XP anymore. Now I have a Dell (with XP MCE...not that it matters).
I was going to install this unused retail version of XP Home in a
virtual machine on the Dell. First, I tried out VMWare, but I
thought it was a bit slow and didn't like it anyway. I liked
Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 better...and it's free. But now when I
try to activate Windows in the Microsoft virtual machine, I get
the message that the number of times I can activate Windows has
exceeded...(Message number: 45092).

<snip>

I have met this error before myself:
I recently installed XP on my Intel iMac as a dual boot using
Apple's Boot Camp assistant. I subsequently wanted to try
Parallels Desktop for OS X on my Intel iMac, and when I installed
XP, I got that exact message. You will also get this message if
you attempt to install XP on a different machine within the 200 day
period in which an activation is "active". Supposedly, the
Activation record is deleted from the Microsoft Servers at the end
of 200 days, and it will be as if that key had never been used
before, the NEXT time you attempt to use that Key. I find this to
be true.

<snip>

The number of days is 120 - not 200.

 

[Guest]

i have the same problem only i have one computer with no hardware changes and
i was under the impression that you could install windows xp as many times as
you wish as long as your hardware hasnt changed since the last install. and
if you keep installing xp after the initial message, will there be a delay
because you keep trying to install it with the key that is "inactive"?

 

[Jack]

People!!!
Start using GHOST and create image of your drive.
Next time, restoring Windows on the same hardware will take time of drinking
one coffee cup.
No cd key needed and not activation needed.
Jack

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have the upgrade version of Windows XP Home (retail
version/legal copy). This product has been installed on a Gateway
a few times (can't remember exactly how many times..maybe
4-7ish...it has been a few years ago when I have done the numerous
installations in a short period of time when I first got the
product; the last installation was done over a year ago).

Well, the Gateway's HD died so I am no longer using this copy of
XP anymore. Now I have a Dell (with XP MCE...not that it matters).
I was going to install this unused retail version of XP Home in a
virtual machine on the Dell. First, I tried out VMWare, but I
thought it was a bit slow and didn't like it anyway. I liked
Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 better...and it's free. But now when I
try to activate Windows in the Microsoft virtual machine, I get
the message that the number of times I can activate Windows has
exceeded...(Message number: 45092).

<snip>

I have met this error before myself:
I recently installed XP on my Intel iMac as a dual boot using
Apple's Boot Camp assistant. I subsequently wanted to try
Parallels Desktop for OS X on my Intel iMac, and when I installed
XP, I got that exact message. You will also get this message if
you attempt to install XP on a different machine within the 200
day period in which an activation is "active". Supposedly, the
Activation record is deleted from the Microsoft Servers at the end
of 200 days, and it will be as if that key had never been used
before, the NEXT time you attempt to use that Key. I find this to
be true.

<snip>

The number of days is 120 - not 200.

i have the same problem only i have one computer with no hardware
changes and i was under the impression that you could install
windows xp as many times as you wish as long as your hardware hasnt
changed since the last install. and if you keep installing xp
after the initial message, will there be a delay because you keep
trying to install it with the key that is "inactive"?

Again - you can install Windows XP over and over again on the same hardware
with no ill effects - however - that does not change the fact that every
time you install it - you will have to activate it.. .And if you last
installed/activated it less than 120 days ago - you may have to use the
phone activateion instead. The message is, in fact, horribly worded.
However - it essentially just means you cannnot activate over the internet.