Dam validation thing

[iPleb]

Today, I installed a new Network card into my XP box and what do I get??

On reboot, "Your version of XP is not validated, please activate" and all
that stuff (grrrrrrrrr)

The only other hardware I've installed over the last few months is a new PCI
sata card.

So I try to use the activation software ... dam thing can't find a network
connection, and using the website just says I need to pay 65 quid!!!

I can't even do it by telephone as the provided number is a dead tone!!!!!

Flipping Microsoft - I hope my PC fixes itself with in the 3 days I have
left!!!!!

iPleb

 

[Alias]

Today, I installed a new Network card into my XP box and what do I get??

On reboot, "Your version of XP is not validated, please activate" and
all that stuff (grrrrrrrrr)

The only other hardware I've installed over the last few months is a new
PCI sata card.

So I try to use the activation software ... dam thing can't find a
network connection, and using the website just says I need to pay 65
quid!!!

I can't even do it by telephone as the provided number is a dead tone!!!!!

Flipping Microsoft - I hope my PC fixes itself with in the 3 days I have
left!!!!!

iPleb

Once again the ineffective and flawed "anti piracy" programs
inconvenience a paying customer.

You'll need to keep trying the phone activation method.

 

[Leythos]

Today, I installed a new Network card into my XP box and what do I get??

On reboot, "Your version of XP is not validated, please activate" and all
that stuff (grrrrrrrrr)

The only other hardware I've installed over the last few months is a new PCI
sata card.

So I try to use the activation software ... dam thing can't find a network
connection, and using the website just says I need to pay 65 quid!!!

I can't even do it by telephone as the provided number is a dead tone!!!!!

Flipping Microsoft - I hope my PC fixes itself with in the 3 days I have
left!!!!!

And for three days you could easily install the Network card driver and
get it activated quickly. You could also call, for free, and get it
activated.

It's long been know that changing hardware can/may cause an activation
event. Your "The only other hardware..." is telling, the SATA card
changes a number of things, the NIC another, that's enough...

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Alias]

And for three days you could easily install the Network card driver and
get it activated quickly. You could also call, for free, and get it
activated.

It's long been know that changing hardware can/may cause an activation
event. Your "The only other hardware..." is telling, the SATA card
changes a number of things, the NIC another, that's enough...

Yep, that's enough to force a paying customer to, once again, use the
flawed and ineffective "anti piracy" programs instead of using the
operating system the OP paid for to prove that he or she isn't a pirate.

 

[iPleb]

And for three days you could easily install the Network card driver and
get it activated quickly. You could also call, for free, and get it
activated.

I have installed the driver and general internet activity works, but the
activation app doesn't. When I click through and go for the phone option,
the 0800 (UK) number doesn't work either - what am I supposed to do.

It's long been know that changing hardware can/may cause an activation
event. Your "The only other hardware..." is telling, the SATA card
changes a number of things, the NIC another, that's enough...

I know this and am fully aware - but changing one NIC and adding a SATA
card?? Come on - it's hardly building a new PC is it?

iPleb

 

[Alias]

I have installed the driver and general internet activity works, but the
activation app doesn't. When I click through and go for the phone
option, the 0800 (UK) number doesn't work either - what am I supposed to
do.


I know this and am fully aware - but changing one NIC and adding a SATA
card?? Come on - it's hardly building a new PC is it?

iPleb

If you think this is bad with XP, try Hasta la Vista, Baby.

One alternative you might want to consider is Ubuntu. No activation. No
becoming "genuine", not virus or malware prone and it's FREE. It took me
less than an hour to install it, including all the programs I need,
display driver, codecs, etc. Check it out at http://www.ubuntu.com/

 

[Phisherman]

Today, I installed a new Network card into my XP box and what do I get??

On reboot, "Your version of XP is not validated, please activate" and all
that stuff (grrrrrrrrr)

The only other hardware I've installed over the last few months is a new PCI
sata card.

So I try to use the activation software ... dam thing can't find a network
connection, and using the website just says I need to pay 65 quid!!!

I can't even do it by telephone as the provided number is a dead tone!!!!!

Flipping Microsoft - I hope my PC fixes itself with in the 3 days I have
left!!!!!

iPleb

Call Microsoft support. WGA keeps a hardware change tally in a given
time period. Have your invoice, CD, and Product Key ready. There are
probably thousands of Windows users having similar issues with
validation. Microsoft validation servers were "on the blink" a few
days ago but are working fine today.

 

[iPleb]

If you think this is bad with XP, try Hasta la Vista, Baby.

One alternative you might want to consider is Ubuntu.

Funny you should say that, as I was just thinking about giving my new
connection speed a work out ;-)

iPleb

 

[Alias]

Call Microsoft support. WGA keeps a hardware change tally in a given
time period. Have your invoice, CD, and Product Key ready. There are
probably thousands of Windows users having similar issues with
validation. Microsoft validation servers were "on the blink" a few
days ago but are working fine today.

Did you miss this?:

"I can't even do it by telephone as the provided number is a dead tone!!!!!"

 

[Leythos]

I know this and am fully aware - but changing one NIC and adding a SATA
card?? Come on - it's hardly building a new PC is it?

Based on the number of things that you changed - moved drive controller,
drives, NIC, that's three things - and it only takes three things. If
you updated the BIOS it would count as several changes.



--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Alias]

Funny you should say that, as I was just thinking about giving my new
connection speed a work out ;-)

iPleb

Let me know how it goes

 

[M.I.5¾]

Today, I installed a new Network card into my XP box and what do I get??

On reboot, "Your version of XP is not validated, please activate" and all
that stuff (grrrrrrrrr)

The only other hardware I've installed over the last few months is a new
PCI sata card.

Your PCI Sata card counts as a change to the hardware configuration.

Unfortunately, the nework card counts as *three* changes and hence the
reactivation is triggered.

As you have discovered, reactivation under such circumstances is a complete
pain in arse because it won't work on line (because you are deemed to have
transfered XP to a different PC).

 

[M.I.5¾]

Based on the number of things that you changed - moved drive controller,
drives, NIC, that's three things - and it only takes three things. If
you updated the BIOS it would count as several changes.

Not correct. The BIOS is *not* one of the parameters that are recorded for
activation purposes.

For the record, the parameters are:

Primary CD-ROM type
SCSI Card Type
Primary Hard drive type
Primary Partition Volume Serial Number [1]
Graphics Card Type
Memory Size
Processor Type
Processor Serial Number [2]
Primary IDE Adaptopr Type
Network Card MAC Address (This counts as 3 changes).

In general, 4 changes will trip a reactivation (7 if a network card is
installed and remains unchanged).

[1] This generally means that replacing a hard drive counts as 1 change
(becomes 2 changes if a different type is installed).

[2] This means that replacing the processor counts as 1 change (becomes 2
changes if a different type is installed).

 

[iPleb]

Your PCI Sata card counts as a change to the hardware configuration.

Unfortunately, the nework card counts as *three* changes and hence the
reactivation is triggered.

As you have discovered, reactivation under such circumstances is a
complete pain in arse because it won't work on line (because you are
deemed to have transfered XP to a different PC).

Ha that explains that then ... managed to do the phone activation in the end
.... phew ... Do you know why a NIC card counts as three changes?

iPleb

 

[Alias]

Ha that explains that then ... managed to do the phone activation in the
end ... phew ... Do you know why a NIC card counts as three changes?

iPleb

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of Redmond?

The Shadow do but he ain't telling!

 

[Bob I]

Ha that explains that then ... managed to do the phone activation in the
end ... phew ... Do you know why a NIC card counts as three changes?

iPleb

No, it counts for 3 POINTS, out of 10, is called weighting.

 

[Alias]

No, it counts for 3 POINTS, out of 10, is called weighting.

Why does the NIC card have more points than, say, the video card? It
most certainly doesn't *weigh* more.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Ha that explains that then ... managed to do the phone activation in the
end ... phew ... Do you know why a NIC card counts as three changes?

Because Microsoft decided that it did.

 

[M.I.5¾]

No, it counts for 3 POINTS, out of 10, is called weighting.

There's no good arguing over terminology. The official Microsoft guide on
Windows Activation protocol calls it changes, for that is what it is that
trips reactivation.