Multiple re-installs

[sheridan]

A friend has a real problem. He has Windows XP and because of problems from
time to time, has had to wipe out and re-install Windows several times over
the past 2 - 3 years. He tried to re-install this week to a new hard drive
and he is being told he can't because he has installed too many times. Just
how can Windows know that if the drive is new or clean? He is not installing
Windows on multiple computers, this is the same computer each and every time.
Sometimes, with a different hard drive. So how can this be happening and
what can he do?

He tried talking to a live person at Microsoft but that was useless. The
rep was sure he was trying to get away with something, which I know to be
false. He has reached the point where he is ready to buy another copy of XP,
but I don't think he should have to. Any thoughts here?

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Well, if MS is saying they won't "Authenticate" his Product Key again, there
are still a few options available. If your friend can run without updates
for a while (keeping the Firewall up, for sure) the Key will be good for
automatic authentication in 120 days after the last authentication. They
would need to redo everything every 30 days to keep from Safe Mode, until
authentication could be done.
This person needs to do a little work on learning how to do a system backup.
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Mark L. Ferguson
..

 

[sheridan]

No, it doesn't even get that far. He can't even install Windows now, he is
being told he has installed too many times. How can that happen if there is
no communication to Microsoft? What possible counter is in effect here if
the drive is either new or wiped clean?

 

[smlunatick]

Try the activation via the telephone method. Be calm and do not yell. XP OEM
versions activation now require a phone call to get the activation. If you
still have problem, try getting a phone agent.

 

[sheridan]

While I appreciate the responses, you are missing a key piece of information
here. He can't INSTALL Windows, it won't let him, saying he has installed
too many times. How can that happen? We are not dealing with an
Authentication issue, it won't go that far. He tried calling tech support
and they were not helpful.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

He is blanking the '%SystemDrive%, but is he still running the same 'Boot'
drive? That data has to be stored on something, if no authentication is
taking place. Certainly it is Not the install disk. My guess would be that
he has some dual boot going there.
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[sheridan]

The boot drive is the system drive. And if he uses a new or clean drive,
same results. I don't understand it. I can't see how Wondows can be
accessing any kind of information if the drive is new.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Yep, new one on me too. Please keep us updated on any news you get.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Daave]

A friend has a real problem. He has Windows XP and because of
problems from time to time, has had to wipe out and re-install
Windows several times over the past 2 - 3 years.

I doubt very much that your friend absolutely *has* to reinstall Windows
as often as he has done.

He tried to re-install this week to a new hard drive and he is
being told he can't because he has installed too many times.

Who or what told him this? What is the *exact* message?

What is the make and model of his PC? And what method is he using to
reinstall Windows? Recovery disk? Installation disk? Please describe the
disk in detail. And please tell us what kind of Windows license his
computer has.

 

[sheridan]

He has had some real corruption on several occassions (I'm sure a lot of it
was his own fault) and repairs did not work. Thus the re-installations.

This latest round came about because the most recent updates resulted in him
being told he had to activate Windows!! Somehow, his activation was
cancelled out. And he was uable to re-activate.

The make/model is homebuilt with an OEM disk. He is out of town right now.
I will ahve to wait till he gets back to get more information.

But that is what I have as far as I understand what he has told me.

 

[gerryf]

I'm with everyone else on this--some piece of information is missing

If the error message is occurring before activation there is no mechanism
for "counting" installs.

I've installed Windows XP using the same OEM disk twice a year and sometimes
more for 7 years, which is far more than I should need to, but I tend to do
a lot of software testing and re-installations

I have never encountered that error.

I have also installed Windows on other machines (we're talking hundreds of
machines here per year) and have never encountered an error like you are
referring.

The Windows XP cd is read only--it cannot "count" installs.

The hardware does not count.

The only thing that could even approach what you are saying, and it does not
generate that error, is if you use a customized OEM disk used to install to
a specific OEM motherboard. According to your post, that is not the case
here.

Perhaps he is using the wrong OEM disc, as opposed to a generic OEM disc?

If that is the case, he ought to use a generic one, use his legitimate
cd-key and he should be good to go. Yes, he will need to authenticate by
phone, and as long as he is polite and explains that he replaced his
harddrive, but his computer is still the same machine (Microsoft considers
the motherboard to be the PC for the purpose of the OEM license), he should
be fine.

 

[Daave]

The make/model is homebuilt with an OEM disk. He is out of town
right now. I will ahve to wait till he gets back to get more
information.

But that is what I have as far as I understand what he has told me.

He needs to follow the directions *to the letter* here:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Automatic online activation will not occur (by design) in your friend's
situation. When he gets to Step 31, he will need to jot down the
alphanumeric string and enter it when he phones the number on the
screen. He will then get a longer code to enter via his keyboard for
activation.

I trust the key he is using meshes with his license (otherwise, it won't
work!).

 

[Bruce Chambers]

A friend has a real problem. He has Windows XP and because of problems from
time to time, has had to wipe out and re-install Windows several times over
the past 2 - 3 years.

Why? There is usually no sound technical reason (other than a
physical hard drive failure) for reinstalling WinXP repeatedly. When
properly maintained, even a Win3.x or Win9x installation could be made
to last for years. And WinXP is much more robust than they ever were.
What specific problems are you experiencing that are causing such a
drastic action? Wouldn't it be easier, in the long run, to just fix
those, rather than reinstalling the OS?

He tried to re-install this week to a new hard drive
and he is being told he can't because he has installed too many times. Just
how can Windows know that if the drive is new or clean? He is not installing
Windows on multiple computers, this is the same computer each and every time.
Sometimes, with a different hard drive. So how can this be happening and
what can he do?

He tried talking to a live person at Microsoft but that was useless. The
rep was sure he was trying to get away with something, which I know to be
false. He has reached the point where he is ready to buy another copy of XP,
but I don't think he should have to. Any thoughts here?

The error message he received is somewhat misleading. What it
really means is that he's activated "via the Internet too many times
within the last 120 days." Because there is no sound technical reason
for reinstalling and re-activating WinXP so frequently, the automatic
presumption is that the OS is being installed on multiple machines. I
really think Microsoft should fix this message, but it is, in reality, a
relatively minor "cosmetic" issue, so they're probably giving more
weight to some cost-benefit analysis more than they are the occasional
customer's confusion.

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license (retail or OEM) on the same PC. Nor is
there ever a charge. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an
evaluation license) ever expire. If it's been more than 120 days since
you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able
to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you
might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

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