Asking me to activate windows when its already been activated

[Guest]

I dont know whats wrong, I switched all my computer components to a new
motherboard and when I booted up it said I had 20 some days to register
windows, I ignored it at first because I was busy installing new software and
hardware to the new mobo and case. I had to reboot about 5 times for system
changes and all of a sudden it tells me the days are up and I have to
activate the windows. I click ok to register cause I have the key and it says
Windows has already been activated and it auto logs me off and restarts. Does
that over and over again. I dont know how I can change this so if anyone can
give me some ideas, also if there is nothing I can do is it possible to
upgrade Windows XP Home edition to Windows XP Pro without having to reformat
and lose all my files?

 

[Jason Tsang]

You'll need to call in and get it activated.
Switching the motherboard will trip the activation routines.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I dont know whats wrong, I switched all my computer components to a new
motherboard and when I booted up it said I had 20 some days to register
windows, I ignored it at first because I was busy installing new software and
hardware to the new mobo and case. I had to reboot about 5 times for system
changes and all of a sudden it tells me the days are up and I have to
activate the windows. I click ok to register cause I have the key and it says
Windows has already been activated and it auto logs me off and restarts. Does
that over and over again. I dont know how I can change this so if anyone can
give me some ideas, also if there is nothing I can do is it possible to
upgrade Windows XP Home edition to Windows XP Pro without having to reformat
and lose all my files?

Normally, and assuming a retail license (many OEM installations
and licenses are not transferable to a new motherboard - check yours
before starting), unless the new motherboard is virtually identical
(same chipset, same IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the
one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, you'll
need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, at
the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this
point. You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the
OS. (If you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as
picking up a Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch
style foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K
before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to
accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. On
installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This
is one of the reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much
more stable than the Win9x group.

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

--

Bruce Chambers

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both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the suggestions, I'll try the in-place upgrade. It'll be the
first time I've had to use it, I read the directions on your link. Hopefully
I dont lose files on the computer, I'm really only worried about the files in
the my documents folder, do you think they'll be lost?

 

[VV]

Download Knoppix Linux CD - its a bootable CD of a GUI based Linux - very
EASY to use. Use it to boot AND copy your files off to another location
(another machine) - assuming you have things networked. It will even work
if you have an external hard drive to copy to - knoppix sees MOSt of
hardware you have. Otherwise, you will have to use some Windows utility
that cost money.


http://www.knoppix.net/get.php

 

[Tom]

File settings and transfer wizard should collect them up for you I have had
good luck using it
Tom