HELP! Newly Installed XP Pro keeps asking for activation - already

[Guest]

I installed my re-boot CD of Windows XP Pro Media Center on my old computer
when my newer one crashed - because i need an interim solution to do my work
- but in order to activate i had to do the telephone activation - i did that
and it said that activation was successful - but every time the Windows boots
up it says, "This copy of Windows must be activated, activate now?" ... so i
click on "yes" and it takes me to a screen that says, "Windows already
activated, click "OK" to exit." - and so on and on the cycle goes and i can't
seem to get out of it - how do i repair this problem?? Any advice would be
greatly appreciated!!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows Media Center Edition is an OEM version. Its license
agreement does not permit the installation or activation on a
different computer. It must remain on the original computer.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I installed my re-boot CD of Windows XP Pro Media Center on my old computer
| when my newer one crashed - because i need an interim solution to do my work
| - but in order to activate i had to do the telephone activation - i did that
| and it said that activation was successful - but every time the Windows boots
| up it says, "This copy of Windows must be activated, activate now?" ... so i
| click on "yes" and it takes me to a screen that says, "Windows already
| activated, click "OK" to exit." - and so on and on the cycle goes and i can't
| seem to get out of it - how do i repair this problem?? Any advice would be
| greatly appreciated!!

 

[Guest]

OK - how do i get this Media Center Edition off of my old computer so that i
can install another version on the computer to allow it to work properly -
when i put in any windows boot disk (i have an unused Windows XP Pro SP2 that
i tried to replace the non-functioning MC version) nothing happens - i even
tried in safe mode to start a new installation - but that didn't work either
- is there any going back from this mistake to make the older machine usable
again? Thanks in advance for your assistance!!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.

3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.

4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, make sure XP's Firewall is enabled:
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxpsp2/Default.mspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| OK - how do i get this Media Center Edition off of my old computer so that i
| can install another version on the computer to allow it to work properly -
| when i put in any windows boot disk (i have an unused Windows XP Pro SP2 that
| i tried to replace the non-functioning MC version) nothing happens - i even
| tried in safe mode to start a new installation - but that didn't work either
| - is there any going back from this mistake to make the older machine usable
| again? Thanks in advance for your assistance!!

 

[Guest]

I will try this - thanks for the help!

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.

3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.

4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, make sure XP's Firewall is enabled:
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxpsp2/Default.mspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| OK - how do i get this Media Center Edition off of my old computer so that i
| can install another version on the computer to allow it to work properly -
| when i put in any windows boot disk (i have an unused Windows XP Pro SP2 that
| i tried to replace the non-functioning MC version) nothing happens - i even
| tried in safe mode to start a new installation - but that didn't work either
| - is there any going back from this mistake to make the older machine usable
| again? Thanks in advance for your assistance!!