Re-activation?

[JW]

About a week ago, I got a notice that I had significant hardware changes on my
computer and that I needed to register my XP again. I was warned I only had 3
days. So I did.

But my question is this, I haven't had any hardware changes in over a year.
Would anyone know why I would be required to re-activate my registration?

Thanks.
Bookworm Lizzie

)
(
)
_.-~(~-.
(@\`---'/. Tea, anyone?
(' `._.' `)
`-..___..-'

 

[Winux P]

No Bookworm Lizzie, I wouldn't know why, but luv a cupa thanks mate!

: About a week ago, I got a notice that I had significant hardware changes
on my
: computer and that I needed to register my XP again. I was warned I only
had 3
: days. So I did.
:
: But my question is this, I haven't had any hardware changes in over a
year.
: Would anyone know why I would be required to re-activate my registration?
:
: Thanks.
: Bookworm Lizzie
:
: )
: (
: )
: _.-~(~-.
: (@\`---'/. Tea, anyone?
: (' `._.' `)
: `-..___..-'
:

 

[Ron Martell]

About a week ago, I got a notice that I had significant hardware changes on my
computer and that I needed to register my XP again. I was warned I only had 3
days. So I did.

But my question is this, I haven't had any hardware changes in over a year.
Would anyone know why I would be required to re-activate my registration?

Something may have corrupted or deleted the activation data files
stored on your hard drive.

When you activate Windows the hash total calculated from the monitored
hardware items is stored in a file on the hard drive.

Each time you boot Windows it automatically recalculates this total,
based on the hardware currently found, and then compares that result
with the previous information saved on the hard drive. If the two
values are different by more than the allowable amount then you are
required to reactivate.

See MVP Alex Nichol's article at http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm for a
much more fully detailed explanation.

Good luck




Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Alex Nichol]

About a week ago, I got a notice that I had significant hardware changeson my
computer and that I needed to register my XP again. I was warned I onlyhad 3
days. So I did.

But my question is this, I haven't had any hardware changes in over a year.
Would anyone know why I would be required to re-activate my registration?

The activation information is stored for the system to check at boot in
two files - windows\system32\wpa.dbl and wpa.bak

These are at risk of getting deleted accidentally - or corrupted, and
would be a tempting target for authors of malware. So I think it is a
good idea to back them up off the machine - they easily fit on a floppy

 

[Unknown]

Practical joke or worm!

 

[Alex Nichol]

Thanks. My system did freeze up on my and I had to do a system restore.Maybe
something happened when if froze up. Thanks.>Something may have corrupted or
deleted the activation data files

SR unfortunately does not back up the activation files. I reckon a
separate copy of them is well worth it (they fit on a floppy) -
windows\system32\wpa.dbl and wpa.bak, and update the backup if you have
made a significant hardware change (see www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm on
what is significant)

 

[Greg P Rozelle]

Alex
if want you are saying is true, then everyone who uses system restore
or last know good configuration would have to reactive thier system
all the time. He/She used a system restore that was backed up both
activation.


Greg P Rozelle

 

[Alex Nichol]

if want you are saying is true, then everyone who uses system restore
or last know good configuration would have to reactive thier system
all the time. He/She used a system restore that was backed up both
activatio

Does not follow. SR does not touch the two WPA files and therefore does
not delete or affect them at a restore. And you will find the point
explicitly in the SR FAQ -
http://microsoft.com/technet/itcommunity/Newsgroups/FAQSRWXP.asp

 

[Greg P Rozelle]

Let me rephrase my point.
Sample

Gets windows xp. Get everything installed and activates its.

Get new hardware, puts it in.

Every thing works. He/She reactivates it.

System crashes
Now they use the 1st system restore.
It cause her/him to reactive because it detects New Hardware.

That what I mean otherwise it is a registry error from using a bad
system restore.

Greg P Rozelle

 

[Alex Nichol]

Gets windows xp. Get everything installed and activates its.

Get new hardware, puts it in.

Every thing works. He/She reactivates it.

System crashes
Now they use the 1st system restore.
It cause her/him to reactive because it detects New Hardware.

That what I mean otherwise it is a registry error from using a bad
system restore.

That is going a bit beyond anything I have run into, It *might* be that
there was a flag set in registry to say 'activation needed before xx' -
there must be something of the sort in SP1, and the restore has put that
back. But that is speculation and would need to know that exact
scenario anyway.