Microsoft Harassment RE: VISTA vs XP reinstallations

[twmonahan]

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm my
installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware and I'm
unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do. Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap, bad
software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my software
as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd degree about
piracy. Their tones and questions border on harassment. I
legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one computer.

Can someone confirm if VISTA will be as picky about reinstallations?
Someone mentioned if your hardware changes too much Microsoft will
force you to purchase another copy of VISTA???

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm
my installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware
and I'm unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do. Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap,
bad software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my
software as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd
degree about piracy. Their tones and questions border on
harassment. I legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one
computer.

Can someone confirm if VISTA will be as picky about reinstallations?
Someone mentioned if your hardware changes too much Microsoft will
force you to purchase another copy of VISTA???

You actually get a person when you call to activate?
I always get a recording.

Ever backed up your activation files?
To backup your activation files you'll need to make a copies of and two
files in your c:\windows\system32 folder.
Copy the files wpa.dbl and wpa.bak to a floppy disk or other removable
storage device.
You may neeed to set the "Show hidden files and folders" setting to find
them.

To restore your activation files after reinstalling Windows XP, you'll need
to boot your computer in Safe Mode.
To boot your computer in Safe Mode press the F8 key immediately after
starting your computer.
The Startup screen will display options for starting Windows XP.
Select Safe Mode.

Once your computer is in safe mode, copy your backed up activation files to
the \%systemroot%\system32 folder.
Restart your computer in normal mode.

And "bordering on harassment" is not "harassment". If you feel their tone
is improper, ask to speak to their supervisor.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm my
installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware and I'm
unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do.

I've heard of stranger hobbies.

Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap, bad
software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Neither of which would require formatting the hard drive and
reinstalling the OS....

Because there is usually no sound technical reason for reinstalling and
re-activating WinXP so frequently, Microsoft saw no need to make the
process any more stream-lined than it already is.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my software
as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd degree about
piracy. Their tones and questions border on harassment. I
legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one computer.

Again, because there is usually no sound technical reason for
reinstalling and re-activating WinXP so frequently, the phone personnel
are probably having a hard time believing that doing so just because
it's your hobby.

Can someone confirm if VISTA will be as picky about reinstallations?

Vista will certainly require activation, yes.

Someone mentioned if your hardware changes too much Microsoft will
force you to purchase another copy of VISTA???

Not so.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Jon]

I may be mistaken, but I think <[email protected]> said something like the
following in message

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm my
installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware and I'm
unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do. Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap, bad
software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my software
as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd degree about
piracy. Their tones and questions border on harassment. I
legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one computer.

Can someone confirm if VISTA will be as picky about reinstallations?
Someone mentioned if your hardware changes too much Microsoft will
force you to purchase another copy of VISTA???

It's the other way round - if you change to Vista you have to buy new
hardware.

 

[Alias]

You actually get a person when you call to activate?
I always get a recording.

Ever backed up your activation files?
To backup your activation files you'll need to make a copies of and two
files in your c:\windows\system32 folder.
Copy the files wpa.dbl and wpa.bak to a floppy disk or other removable
storage device.
You may neeed to set the "Show hidden files and folders" setting to find
them.

To restore your activation files after reinstalling Windows XP, you'll need
to boot your computer in Safe Mode.
To boot your computer in Safe Mode press the F8 key immediately after
starting your computer.
The Startup screen will display options for starting Windows XP.
Select Safe Mode.

Will this work with a new hard drive?

Alias

 

[Jon]

Will this work with a new hard drive?

Alias

Will it work with the same hard drive? [I've never got that method to work
even though it's the technique that's always quoted].



--
Jon

I have a spelling checker
It came with my PC;
It plainly marks four my revue
Mistakes I cannot sea.
I've run this poem threw it,
I'm sure your pleased too no,
Its letter perfect in it's weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

-Janet Minor

 

[caver1]

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm my
installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware and I'm
unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do. Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap, bad
software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my software
as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd degree about
piracy. Their tones and questions border on harassment. I
legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one computer.

Can someone confirm if VISTA will be as picky about reinstallations?
Someone mentioned if your hardware changes too much Microsoft will
force you to purchase another copy of VISTA???

You are guilty until proven innocent.

 

[HeyBub]

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm my
installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware and I'm
unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do. Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap, bad
software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my software
as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd degree about
piracy. Their tones and questions border on harassment. I
legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one computer.

Can someone confirm if VISTA will be as picky about reinstallations?
Someone mentioned if your hardware changes too much Microsoft will
force you to purchase another copy of VISTA???

Vista will probably be more picky.

If you want an OS that you never have to fiddle with, try Linux.

No, wait. That can't be right...

Never mind.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Microsoft "was" going to limit the number of times you could re-activate Vista
to 1, after the first install (including moving to a new PC for retail
versions. This was not accepted "warmly" with Vista enthusiasts since most PC
power users need to re-activate whenever they change enough hardware
components, or re-format. Microsoft has "backed" away from this plan, at
least for the retail versions.

 

[Frank]

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm my
installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware and I'm
unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do. Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap, bad
software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my
software
as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd degree about
piracy. Their tones and questions border on harassment. I
legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one computer.

Can someone confirm if VISTA will be as picky about reinstallations?
Someone mentioned if your hardware changes too much Microsoft will
force you to purchase another copy of VISTA???

I have found that the way around this is to burn to a DVD a pristine
image. Then add my personal data.

 

[Nina DiBoy]

Every time I reload my system I have to phone Microsoft to confirm my
installation ID number. Change/tweak one piece of hardware and I'm
unable to activate XP online.

I like a clean system and reformatting / reloading my OS is just
something I do. Either I'm trying to get rid of internet crap, bad
software or I've changed my hardware configuration.

Needless to say Microsoft employees tell me I can reinstall my software
as much as I like, but each time I call I get the 3rd degree about
piracy. Their tones and questions border on harassment. I
legitimately own my copy of XP and I only own one computer.

The only information required to activate your product over the phone
with Microsoft is:

Mandatory Product Activation Data:
- The Installation ID is unique to each product and comprises two
components:
- Product ID. Unique to the product key used during installation
- Hardware hash. Non-unique representation of the PC

- The country in which the product is being installed (for Office XP and
Office XP family products only)

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_facts.mspx

Don't let them bully you into any more information than is required,
otherwise it is a violation of your privacy.