Severe Problems with Activation

[Guest]

OK, here's the scenero

Machine running just perfectly on XP, has been for months.

I was using the machine to recover data off a semi-failed
drive from my server and XP now says it has lost it's
activation.

It boots fine, log-in screen appears, I log in, everything
appears to proceed normall, then it stops with an error
message about activation.

There is NO option to contact activation and enter codes.

Searching MS KB shows known issues here and that I'm
supposed to do an 'in-place upgrade'.

No such options exist during install. I've now been re-
installing for 3 hours. The entire machine's configuration
is completely blown away and what I'm left with is an
operating system installation where some programs run,
others crash, more do nothing at all.
OS install totally corrupt at this point.


I find this greatly disturbing. This machine was a test
install of XP for my company (~30 machines on 2k.)

From what I can tell, a seeming minor event has trashed
this install and there is absolutely no way to recover it.

From the KB article this will also occur if I change
anything that knocks out the hash. HD upgrade, pcsr
upgrade mboard upgrade. Any of these upgrades will cause a
complete re-installation of the operating system.

I find MS's new Activation a total pain. Office XP is
constantly barfing over minor upgrades, though at least
there is the option to call and get another activation.
Appears from what I see so far, you do not have this
option with the XP operating system. Not only does MS make
this activation a real pain, but it forces days (weeks) of
work re-configuring the operating system from scratch.

In my opinion this is totally ridiculous. I called Tech
Support and they blew me off.

If in fact this is the case I will be making the decision
that XP will not be installed at my company.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If one were to implement Windows XP in a business environment,
one should be using the "volume license version" of Windows XP
which does not require Product Activation.

Visit: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/Default.asp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------


| OK, here's the scenero
|
| Machine running just perfectly on XP, has been for months.
|
| I was using the machine to recover data off a semi-failed
| drive from my server and XP now says it has lost it's
| activation.
|
| It boots fine, log-in screen appears, I log in, everything
| appears to proceed normall, then it stops with an error
| message about activation.
|
| There is NO option to contact activation and enter codes.
|
| Searching MS KB shows known issues here and that I'm
| supposed to do an 'in-place upgrade'.
|
| No such options exist during install. I've now been re-
| installing for 3 hours. The entire machine's configuration
| is completely blown away and what I'm left with is an
| operating system installation where some programs run,
| others crash, more do nothing at all.
| OS install totally corrupt at this point.
|
|
| I find this greatly disturbing. This machine was a test
| install of XP for my company (~30 machines on 2k.)
|
| From what I can tell, a seeming minor event has trashed
| this install and there is absolutely no way to recover it.
|
| From the KB article this will also occur if I change
| anything that knocks out the hash. HD upgrade, pcsr
| upgrade mboard upgrade. Any of these upgrades will cause a
| complete re-installation of the operating system.
|
| I find MS's new Activation a total pain. Office XP is
| constantly barfing over minor upgrades, though at least
| there is the option to call and get another activation.
| Appears from what I see so far, you do not have this
| option with the XP operating system. Not only does MS make
| this activation a real pain, but it forces days (weeks) of
| work re-configuring the operating system from scratch.
|
| In my opinion this is totally ridiculous. I called Tech
| Support and they blew me off.
|
| If in fact this is the case I will be making the decision
| that XP will not be installed at my company.

 

[Guest]

Oh man, you're in for it. All the MS junkies are going to
jump you. Don't worry they are all apologists for a crap
system.

 

[Alex Nichol]

There is NO option to contact activation and enter codes.

Searching MS KB shows known issues here and that I'm
supposed to do an 'in-place upgrade'.

No such options exist during install. I've now been re-
installing for 3 hours. The entire machine's configuration
is completely blown away and what I'm left with is an
operating system installation where some programs run,
others crash, more do nothing at all.
OS install totally corrupt at this point.

Dont try to run the install from the present system.

Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard disk, then boot the XP CD, start
Setup (do not take 'Repair' at this stage), then after the license
agreement take 'Repair Installation'. This will retain your existing
software installations and most settings. But Updates will have to be
run again, especially SP1;
It is important to activate the basic XP Firewall before you ever
connect to the net to get the patches, so as to be protected against
things like the BLAST worm.
That should have restored the activation entry at
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Activate Windows.

But unless you have SP1 on the CD you use ('slipstreamed' or a recent
CD) you will have to do the activation by phoning in, to exchange one
long number for another to type in. Takes 5 or 10 minutes on a toll
free number that will be given