Incorrect detection of hardware changes means I have to reactivate

[Tom Edwards]

I've been trying to get a piece of software (Splinter Cell: Chaos
Theory's Co-op mode) working recently. One of the things I did was boot
into Safe Mode with Networking to see if other programs on my computer
were causing the problem but the program wouldn't work, so I tried to
use the MSConfig tool instead. I disabled all my startup items to no
effect, then disabled all the services by unchecking the services box on
the main tab.
When I restarted and went to login I was informed that due to
significant hardware changes I would have to reactive Windows. However,
nothing of the sort has happened: it's a bug. The only hardware change I
have made since originally building the machine is a new monitor last
month which I highly doubt is behind the error.
I would simply go ahead and activate but before now I have seen a
different error about a product key having been activated too many
times. I am not at all keen to needlessly waste one of my activations
on a mis-detection.

Is there anything I can do?

 

[Tom Edwards]

Perhaps unwisely I had system restore disabled and have never performed
a full system backup, only my personal files. My father has disk imaging
programs (athough in our experience they don't do much for activation)
and I'll defintly use one of them now.

Even if there's nothing I can personally do, will MS understand my
problem if I contact them?

 

[Tom Edwards]

OK, thanks.

Most Activation agents are there to help you. Just simply describe what
happened and they will likely work with you to resolve it. After you get
an activated PC - Get something to image the PC and you'll avoid this in
the future.
As to System Restore, Lowering it's reservation level to something that
holds a week or less of points isn't a bad idea. It's still valuable for
user's
to get out of the occasional "Oh, Damn" type of situation.

 

[R. McCarty]

Not too much is available to you, once the re-activation is triggered.
I've seen this happen a number of times when removing Symantec
software. How removing a program changes the Hardware Hash is
very mysterious.
The best prevention against this is the use of imaging. Having a recent
system image will usually protect you against these types of "Quirks".
Yesterday, I was running down a "Rogue" Internet access problem &
did a few changes (Apps/Drivers) and got a re-activation notice. I had
taken a system image before starting - so just a few minutes to recover
the system state and restart diagnostics.
Most imaging software can be purchased for ~$50 & requires 30-min
a week to run & verify most XP instances.

Have you tried a System Restore to a checkpoint before the WPA
warning first appeared ?

 

[R. McCarty]

Most Activation agents are there to help you. Just simply describe what
happened and they will likely work with you to resolve it. After you get
an activated PC - Get something to image the PC and you'll avoid this in
the future.
As to System Restore, Lowering it's reservation level to something that
holds a week or less of points isn't a bad idea. It's still valuable for
user's
to get out of the occasional "Oh, Damn" type of situation.

 

[Steve N.]

I've been trying to get a piece of software (Splinter Cell: Chaos
Theory's Co-op mode) working recently. One of the things I did was boot
into Safe Mode with Networking to see if other programs on my computer
were causing the problem but the program wouldn't work, so I tried to
use the MSConfig tool instead. I disabled all my startup items to no
effect, then disabled all the services by unchecking the services box on
the main tab.
When I restarted and went to login I was informed that due to
significant hardware changes I would have to reactive Windows. However,
nothing of the sort has happened: it's a bug. The only hardware change I
have made since originally building the machine is a new monitor last
month which I highly doubt is behind the error.
I would simply go ahead and activate but before now I have seen a
different error about a product key having been activated too many
times. I am not at all keen to needlessly waste one of my activations
on a mis-detection.

Is there anything I can do?

The "activated too many times" message is a lie. You can activate
Windows as many times as you wish, there is no limit but in some cases
you have to activate by phone. Go ahead and do it.

Steve

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

The "activated too many times" message is a lie. You can activate
Windows as many times as you wish, there is no limit but in some cases
you have to activate by phone. Go ahead and do it.

Are you saying it's likely to be a fake message spawned by active
malware, then?

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

Gone to bloggery: http://cquirke.blogspot.com

 

[Steve N.]

Are you saying it's likely to be a fake message spawned by active
malware, then?

No, not at all, I'm saying the "activated too many times" message is a
lie. There is no such thing as "activated too many times". MS should
replace the message with something more accurate, such as "Windows
Product Activation has detected hardware changes to your computer that
will require you to reactivate your installation of Windows by
telephone... " or something similar. Saying it has "activated too many
times" is misleading and a lie.

Steve