REACTIVATION XP PROF

[Tanti]

Basically the problem relates to activation. I have two valid windows OS -
xp professional and vista. Both were installed on the same computer (dual
boot). I have formatted the partition where xp professional was installed so
that I cound reinstall xp professional on my new computer (the one I am using
now). It was installed correctly but could not activate - "according to our
records, the number of times you can activate windows with this product key
has been exceeded"

Any quick solution pls?

 

[Alias]

Basically the problem relates to activation. I have two valid windows OS -
xp professional and vista. Both were installed on the same computer (dual
boot). I have formatted the partition where xp professional was installed so
that I cound reinstall xp professional on my new computer (the one I am using
now). It was installed correctly but could not activate - "according to our
records, the number of times you can activate windows with this product key
has been exceeded"

Any quick solution pls?

Use the phone activation method. The LIE that activation times have been
exceeded is a flaw in the Windows Product Activation software.

I am assuming, of course, that you have a Retail (boxed) version of XP.

Alias

 

[Tanti]

Many thanks Alias

Yes it is an original copy, I tried to phone on number indicated but no luck
(no reply). My location is Malta and number indicated is 0800 765432

 

[Alias]

Many thanks Alias

Yes it is an original copy, I tried to phone on number indicated but no luck
(no reply). My location is Malta and number indicated is 0800 765432

Try dialing 0044 800 765432, as that number is a toll free call in the
UK and when you dial the UK from any other EU country, you gotta remove
the zero before 800. Ain't activation great?

Alias

 

[Tanti]

Thanks Alias once again ............. nobody is answering the phone
("answering your call is currently unavailable". I suppose I have to call on
Monday (office hours)?

 

[Alias]

Thanks Alias once again ............. nobody is answering the phone
("answering your call is currently unavailable". I suppose I have to call on
Monday (office hours)?

I guess. Aren't there any MVPs here who know?

Alias

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You should be trying the internet activation. When it fails with the
"excessive number of activations" message, you need to keep the activation
window open and use the phone numbers listed on that screen. There are some
codes on that screen that the activation agent will need you to read or
enter on the phone keys. If you close the screen and then try to call you
will just have to run the activation wizard all over again before the agent
can help you. If the procedure is different in your region the activation
screen should contain additional instructions.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Use the phone activation method. The LIE that activation times have been
exceeded is a flaw in the Windows Product Activation software.

I am assuming, of course, that you have a Retail (boxed) version of XP.

Also, it seems that the Vista licence also entitles you to add XP as a dual
boot setup, provided you match like for like (i.e. Vista Home Premium
edition does not entitle you to add XP pro, only XP home).

This was not something MS originally allowed but has be conceeded relatively
recently.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No, the license does not add that. Licensing works the same as it always
has. Nor is how the upgrade matrix works changed any at all.

You are entitled to use a Vista upgrade edition to install Vista if you own
a license for Windows 2000, XP x86 or x64, or another copy of Vista.
However, the ability to "ugrade the bits" (upgrading) depends, as it always
has, on whether or not the upgrade will cause a loss of functionality from
the previous edition of Windows to the new. It has always worked this way
with previous versions of Windows as well.

The key concept is that any upgrade that will cause a loss of functionality
from the old version to the new is disallowed. A clean install is then
required. The right to upgrade is covered in the upgrade edition license
but the methodology must be a clean install.

You can always upgrade the bits when going from a home edition to a business
edition but you have to do a clean (custom) install when going from a
business edition to a home edition. Thus you can upgrade XP Home to any
edition of Vista, but you cannot upgrade XP Professional to Vista Home Basic
or Premium (loss of functionality when going from a business edition to home
edition) and have to do a clean install instead. The upgrade edition
license allows such an "upgrade" (a better term would be "migration") but
the methodology required is a clean install.

This was just as true of XP. You can upgrade Windows 2000 to XP
Professional but you have to do a clean install if going from Windows 2000
to XP Home (loss of W2k functionalities when going to a home edition). The
XP Home upgrade edition license supports such an upgrade path but it must be
performed with a clean install.

 

[M.I.5¾]

No, the license does not add that. Licensing works the same as it always
has. Nor is how the upgrade matrix works changed any at all.

You are entitled to use a Vista upgrade edition to install Vista if you
own a license for Windows 2000, XP x86 or x64, or another copy of Vista.
However, the ability to "ugrade the bits" (upgrading) depends, as it
always has, on whether or not the upgrade will cause a loss of
functionality from the previous edition of Windows to the new. It has
always worked this way with previous versions of Windows as well.

The key concept is that any upgrade that will cause a loss of
functionality from the old version to the new is disallowed. A clean
install is then required. The right to upgrade is covered in the upgrade
edition license but the methodology must be a clean install.

You can always upgrade the bits when going from a home edition to a
business edition but you have to do a clean (custom) install when going
from a business edition to a home edition. Thus you can upgrade XP Home
to any edition of Vista, but you cannot upgrade XP Professional to Vista
Home Basic or Premium (loss of functionality when going from a business
edition to home edition) and have to do a clean install instead. The
upgrade edition license allows such an "upgrade" (a better term would be
"migration") but the methodology required is a clean install.

This was just as true of XP. You can upgrade Windows 2000 to XP
Professional but you have to do a clean install if going from Windows 2000
to XP Home (loss of W2k functionalities when going to a home edition).
The XP Home upgrade edition license supports such an upgrade path but it
must be performed with a clean install.

I think you have got my point the wrong way round.

If you have a PC with a properly licenced Vista home premium, then MS will
allow you to make the PC dual boot with Windows XP home at no extra cost.
Indeed some manufacturers (Fujitsu-Siemens being one) now sell dual boot PCs
(Vista/XP - both OEM versions). These come with only a Vista licence
because this is considered to cover the XP as well.

I was going to provide a link to the info from Fujitsu-Siemens, but the
Internet is currently down here so I can't find it but I'm sure you can
google as well as I can.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Are you talking about Downgrade Rights?

I think you have got my point the wrong way round.

If you have a PC with a properly licenced Vista home premium, then MS will
allow you to make the PC dual boot with Windows XP home at no extra cost.
Indeed some manufacturers (Fujitsu-Siemens being one) now sell dual boot
PCs (Vista/XP - both OEM versions). These come with only a Vista licence
because this is considered to cover the XP as well.

I was going to provide a link to the info from Fujitsu-Siemens, but the
Internet is currently down here so I can't find it but I'm sure you can
google as well as I can.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Are you talking about Downgrade Rights?

Im was talking about exactly what I said.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

"When I use a word it means exactly what I intend it to mean," said Alice.

 

[M.I.5¾]

"When I use a word it means exactly what I intend it to mean," said Alice.

Prexactamundo.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

"When I use a word it means exactly what I intend it to mean," said Alice.

No, no! It was Humpty-Dumpty *to* Alice.

My favorite quotation, in full:

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,
"it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so
many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master--that's
all."

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Thanks for the update. LOL.

No, no! It was Humpty-Dumpty *to* Alice.

My favorite quotation, in full:

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,
"it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so
many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master--that's
all."

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for the update. LOL.

My pleasure. As I said, it's my favorite. It's profound and humorous
at the same time.

 

[M.I.5¾]

My pleasure. As I said, it's my favorite. It's profound and humorous
at the same time.

Something that the Rev. Dodgson excelled at.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Something that the Rev. Dodgson excelled at.

Indeed he did!