Activation on new computer- in 2011

[rulerrock]

I bought a used copy of FP on Ebay to use on a computer that I will be buying
*next year*. However, I want to make sure that I can activate it later, even
though FP has been discontinued. The Ebay seller assures me it has been
deleted from her machine, but she did activate it. Should I wait until 2011
(when I buy the new computer) to activate the software, will Microsoft still
be in the business of activating FP software in the next few years (since
Expression Web seems to be the new Microsft product). I don't want to wait
and then have it not work properly.

 

[Ronx]

Whether you activate the program now or not is immaterial - you will have to
activate it when you install it on your new PC.
If the new PC is going to run Windows 7 then you may wish to upgrade to
Expression Web instead of using FrontPage - some (though not all) FrontPage
users have problems saving pages and publishing when using FrontPage on
Windows 7.

Also bear in mind that FrontPage is no longer supported by Microsoft -
support for the program ended last summer, and support for FP extensions
ended in 2006 (except for Windows 2003 and 2008 Servers), and all support
for extensions on these platforms will end soon (date unknown by me at this
time, but I expect later this year for Windows 2003).
--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (Expression Web)
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp

Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

 

[rulerrock]

well, I'm not a fan of expression web since I actually bought that first and
tried to install/run it (on a different computer) and it loaded OK, but when
I tried to run it, I got the vague "you have a problem" error but no way of
fixing it. I installed it (completely) again (which took hours) and same
error- so I took back to store.
So- I decided to go back to Frontpage since I know it and I generally don't
need help with it (from anybody)- however, I didn't realize there would be a
problem with activation key. So, back to the original question- since I
bought it on Ebay, and it was activated by somepbody else already, can I use
the telephone activation and "delete" the old activation on the Ebay seller's
computer and get 2 new one for my computers. I just want to make sure I won't
have a problem next year when I actually want to activate it on a new piece
of hardware.

 

[Ronx]

You probably will not have to use the telephone option next year since
on-line re-activations are normally allowed every 12 months - different
time period for Operating Systems. Unless, that is, the activation process
fails due to old age or Out of Support. I cannot help on that.
I have re-activated my own copy of FP2003 about 5 times using the on-line
system without problems.
--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (Expression Web)
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp

Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

 

[rulerrock]

ok- now I'm confused about the activation process failing becasue of "Out of
Support"- let's say in 5 years just to make it clear- will you be able to
call Microsoft to activate? or do they somehow make it so you don't have to
activate it? So does it depend somehow on which O/S you have?

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

Dunno what they'll say 5 years from now...but why don't you just install it
now and see if it works? Then next year you'll probably be ok for a
reinstall as Ron indicates.

After all you may not want to end up with a Chinese version of FP and not be
able to use it at all...stranger have things happened with stuff bought on
eBay.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression Web

 

[Ronx]

In five years from now you may not be able to install FrontPage at all -
never mind activate it.

Take FrontPage 98 for example:
RTM in late 1997
Required a server - a cut down version of IIS4 was supplied with the
program.
Worked on Windows 95 and Windows 98 without problems.
Two years later - Windows ME. Could not install the server without hacks.
2002 - less than five years after RTM, and _still_supported_by_Microsoft_ -
could not install a server on Windows XP Home, making the program almost
unusable on that platform.

"or do they somehow make it so you don't have to activate it?" No one can
change the CD you are using, and the CD is coded for activation. Whether
the activation servers for FrontPage (or any other program for that matter)
will exist in 5 years from now is not something I can answer.
--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (Expression Web)
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp

Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.