Reactivating XP Home Edition

[Guest]

I recently had a problem with my 2-yr old Sony after changing a setting. The computer had come to me with XP Home preinstalled. The Sony helpline suggested that I obtain a copy of the OS from a friend as I had none and do a repair reinstall of the drivers I had lost (in lieu of doing a system recovery and losing all my apps/updates/file, etc. This I did and the computer works pretty well. However, I now get a screen that calls for a Windows Product Activation at startup, but am then told that windows is already activated. I am concerned about losing access at the end of the activation period. The MS Product Support rep reports that she has no experience with this problem and could not direct me on how to remove the screen. She also did not know if I would be able to use my system at the end of the activatiion period.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Sony gave you BAD advice...unless you used your own Product Key for
the installation.
If you used someone else's Product Key, you will need to reinstall
using the correct media.
Contact Sony.

To access the data after the Activation period, you will only be able
to boot to Safe Mode with reduced functionality.
Reboot tapping F8 each second.
Select Safe Mode at the menu.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/

I recently had a problem with my 2-yr old Sony after changing a

setting. The computer had come to me with XP Home preinstalled. The
Sony helpline suggested that I obtain a copy of the OS from a friend
as I had none and do a repair reinstall of the drivers I had lost (in
lieu of doing a system recovery and losing all my apps/updates/file,
etc. This I did and the computer works pretty well. However, I now
get a screen that calls for a Windows Product Activation at startup,
but am then told that windows is already activated. I am concerned
about losing access at the end of the activation period. The MS
Product Support rep reports that she has no experience with this
problem and could not direct me on how to remove the screen. She also
did not know if I would be able to use my system at the end of the
activatiion period.