BIOS update botches Windows XP Pro SP2 activation key

[Guest]

Hello,
My Asus A8N-SLI deluxe BIOS update went awry. I flashed to 1016 version.
Now, after re-start, it says I need to re-active windows due to changed
hardware. And, of course, the validation code is changed due to the BIOS
changing hardware numbers, and the activation program says the key is
exceeded. Doesn't work by phone either. I also made a rollback to BIOS 1001,
but to no avail. I own a legal copy of Windows XP Pro, SP2, but can't seem to
get help from MS free help, in the form of a new activation key, because my
"registered to" in system, general tab, says OEM, though I have the UK
version on legal cd with integrated SP2. What's that then? And what am I
going to do now? 3 days to go. I fear re-install won't help either. Also, I
updated my gpu driver (MSI GeForce 6800GT 256MB)too, earlier, but rebooted
before BIOS. I've uninstalled that too, but to no avail either. Is there a
way to reverse the hardware serial number change or some other way to
reverse? I can't afford to buy a new copy of windows at the moment, and can't
do that in the future either if I can't finish my work, and that won't happen
if my xp stops working. Help, please.

Tom

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

When you flash a BIOS, it often will change your
BIOS settings to their default values. Open your
BIOS and change the settings to their original values
you had before flashing the BIOS. If you are using
PCI-based sound and network cards, you need to
disable the on-board settings for audio and NIC in
the BIOS.

I think what happened is you had the NIC disabled
in the BIOS and re-flashing the BIOS enabled it.
This caused Windows Product Activation to sense
a new NIC which triggered the re-activation request.

Windows Product Activation (WPA) on Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

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

:

| Hello,
| My Asus A8N-SLI deluxe BIOS update went awry. I flashed to 1016 version.
| Now, after re-start, it says I need to re-active windows due to changed
| hardware. And, of course, the validation code is changed due to the BIOS
| changing hardware numbers, and the activation program says the key is
| exceeded. Doesn't work by phone either. I also made a rollback to BIOS 1001,
| but to no avail. I own a legal copy of Windows XP Pro, SP2, but can't seem to
| get help from MS free help, in the form of a new activation key, because my
| "registered to" in system, general tab, says OEM, though I have the UK
| version on legal cd with integrated SP2. What's that then? And what am I
| going to do now? 3 days to go. I fear re-install won't help either. Also, I
| updated my gpu driver (MSI GeForce 6800GT 256MB)too, earlier, but rebooted
| before BIOS. I've uninstalled that too, but to no avail either. Is there a
| way to reverse the hardware serial number change or some other way to
| reverse? I can't afford to buy a new copy of windows at the moment, and can't
| do that in the future either if I can't finish my work, and that won't happen
| if my xp stops working. Help, please.
|
| Tom

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hello,
My Asus A8N-SLI deluxe BIOS update went awry. I flashed to 1016
version. Now, after re-start, it says I need to re-active windows due
to changed hardware. And, of course, the validation code is changed
due to the BIOS changing hardware numbers, and the activation program
says the key is exceeded. Doesn't work by phone either. I also made a
rollback to BIOS 1001, but to no avail. I own a legal copy of Windows
XP Pro, SP2, but can't seem to get help from MS free help, in the
form of a new activation key, because my "registered to" in system,
general tab, says OEM, though I have the UK version on legal cd with
integrated SP2. What's that then? And what am I going to do now? 3
days to go. I fear re-install won't help either. Also, I updated my
gpu driver (MSI GeForce 6800GT 256MB)too, earlier, but rebooted
before BIOS. I've uninstalled that too, but to no avail either. Is
there a way to reverse the hardware serial number change or some
other way to reverse? I can't afford to buy a new copy of windows at
the moment, and can't do that in the future either if I can't finish
my work, and that won't happen if my xp stops working. Help, please.

Once an activation has been triggered putting the hardware back to the old
state won't fix it. What happened when you phoned?

Kerry

 

[Dick Cardy]

Tom

Where did you get your XP Disk from? On the label with the product key
number does it say OEM?

Dick

 

[Gary Tsang]

I have the exact same motherboard, and have updated to every single bios
version (released and beta) and this has never happened to me before.

The likeliest scenario would likely be because you changed a network card
configuration.

Stick to the latest version of the bios, and then check to make sure you are
looking for the option to call in and activate. It should go as smooth as
butter.

Otherwise, follow steps 1 to 11 of this following kb article
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;328874

 

[Guest]

Hello all,
Apparently when I purchased my custom built pc, they supplied me with an OEM
version of Windows XP Pro, though I only requested the pc assembled, not
software etc... well, I guess I should have been more specific there. And
it's quite clear now that the BIOS update was to blame, as I previously
disabled my onboard soundcard while I bought a new sound blaster, and now the
BIOS update re-enabled the onboard sound card, changing the hardware set up.
Well, finally I followed Gary Tsang's advice today and took the call to the
live microsoft activation service in my region, and 'lo, it worked, although
I had to explain the BIOS update etc. I had done, but that's understandable.
Thanks everyone for your time and suggestions.

Tom

 

[Guest]

Hello,
My Asus A8N-SLI deluxe BIOS update went awry. I flashed to 1016 version.
Now, after re-start, it says I need to re-active windows due to changed
hardware. And, of course, the validation code is changed due to the BIOS
changing hardware numbers, and the activation program says the key is
exceeded. Doesn't work by phone either. I also made a rollback to BIOS 1001,
but to no avail. I own a legal copy of Windows XP Pro, SP2, but can't seem to
get help from MS free help, in the form of a new activation key, because my
"registered to" in system, general tab, says OEM, though I have the UK
version on legal cd with integrated SP2. What's that then? And what am I
going to do now? 3 days to go. I fear re-install won't help either. Also, I
updated my gpu driver (MSI GeForce 6800GT 256MB)too, earlier, but rebooted
before BIOS. I've uninstalled that too, but to no avail either. Is there a
way to reverse the hardware serial number change or some other way to
reverse? I can't afford to buy a new copy of windows at the moment, and can't
do that in the future either if I can't finish my work, and that won't happen
if my xp stops working. Help, please.

Tom

joel sampang

i just want to ask a favor regarding my PC.
I TRIED MANY TIMES WATCHING DVD'S ON MY PC...AND WENT UP TO THE POINT THAT
IT REACHES ZERO TO CHANGE MY REGION CODE.
NOW I CANT CHANGE IT ANYMORE .
WAS THERE ANY SOLUTION TO PUT MY REGION CODE WHERE I LIVE NOW?
HELP!