Uninstalling Windows XP because of MS bad support

[Guest]

Our test machine for the XP operating system lost the hash.

Now it boots successfully, but when we log in, we get
a 'windows activation error'
No way exists to get to activation, it's only saying that
the system is now failed.

Searching the kb reveals a known topic on this. The answer
is to re-install the operating system.
This error will occur any time you change processor,
motherboard or harddrive. Appears to happen randomly as
well since we did none of these to this computer.

I find this totally unacceptable. This machine is fine.
Appears to still be running fine (file sharing is running
and I've backed up what I need) except it must be
activated.


There appears to be no resolution to this other than re-
install the OS.

To Microsoft: This is the worst thing you have ever done.
Just so you know, we are a small company with ~30
computers, XP was in testing for acceptability. We have
been very happy with it and were ready to deploy it. Now
this stupid activation nonsense.

I have dedicated my Sunday to resolving this problem. All
day I've spent on this. Dozens of calls to MS direct and
you are giving it the brushoff.

I will be removing the partitions on the system drive,
formatting it and installing Linux. After all, it's just a
FAX server and Linux will do this job just fine.
For the rest of the company, the XP trial is a failed
experment. We will not upgrade from 2k and will use Linux
wherever possible.

We are paying customers, buy retail products. This paid
for product does not work.

Congratulations, you have just ensured that my company
will not buy a single one of your products until you do
away with this activation nightmare.
If you want to fight piracy, that's fine, but I am a
paying customer and I shouldn't be harassed with your
little fight to increase your already bloated profits.


I'm sure this means nothing to you.



Now consider this for fun, this computer could be a
notebook, I could be in Tiawan in an engineering meeting
when this happens. Now you would find yourself using your
lawyers to defend yourself.

 

[Guest]

try this:
http://www.softpedia.com/public/scripts/downloadhero/13-7-
50/

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I submit that a "repair installation" would have solved the problem,
but you never approached the Microsoft newsgroups and asked for
help. Also, in a corporate environment, you should be using a
"volume license version" of Windows XP which does not require
Product Activation.

In the future, you should make better use of the vast troubleshooting
resources available from Microsoft, such as this newsgroup, before
making any rash and ill-founded statements. Windows XP did not
fail your testing, but the lack of skillful knowledge, or the willingness
to acquire such knowledge by the tester, apparently did!

Microsoft Licensing
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/Default.asp

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

Windows Product Activation (WPA) on Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Alex Nichol]

Microsoft® Windows® XP Inside Out
http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/5206.asp

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

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

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


| Our test machine for the XP operating system lost the hash.
|
| Now it boots successfully, but when we log in, we get
| a 'windows activation error'
| No way exists to get to activation, it's only saying that
| the system is now failed.
|
| Searching the kb reveals a known topic on this. The answer
| is to re-install the operating system.
| This error will occur any time you change processor,
| motherboard or harddrive. Appears to happen randomly as
| well since we did none of these to this computer.
|
| I find this totally unacceptable. This machine is fine.
| Appears to still be running fine (file sharing is running
| and I've backed up what I need) except it must be
| activated.
|
|
| There appears to be no resolution to this other than re-
| install the OS.
|
| To Microsoft: This is the worst thing you have ever done.
| Just so you know, we are a small company with ~30
| computers, XP was in testing for acceptability. We have
| been very happy with it and were ready to deploy it. Now
| this stupid activation nonsense.
|
| I have dedicated my Sunday to resolving this problem. All
| day I've spent on this. Dozens of calls to MS direct and
| you are giving it the brushoff.
|
| I will be removing the partitions on the system drive,
| formatting it and installing Linux. After all, it's just a
| FAX server and Linux will do this job just fine.
| For the rest of the company, the XP trial is a failed
| experment. We will not upgrade from 2k and will use Linux
| wherever possible.
|
| We are paying customers, buy retail products. This paid
| for product does not work.
|
| Congratulations, you have just ensured that my company
| will not buy a single one of your products until you do
| away with this activation nightmare.
| If you want to fight piracy, that's fine, but I am a
| paying customer and I shouldn't be harassed with your
| little fight to increase your already bloated profits.
|
|
| I'm sure this means nothing to you.
|
|
|
| Now consider this for fun, this computer could be a
| notebook, I could be in Tiawan in an engineering meeting
| when this happens. Now you would find yourself using your
| lawyers to defend yourself.
|

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Why would Microsoft have to defend itself from a problem clearly
brought about by your own ineptitude? If you can't maintain something
as simple and as close to fool-proof as a basic Windows workstation,
I'd pay money to watch you configure a Linux workstation.

The simple truth is that WinXP _works_, assuming that the hardware
and device drivers are compatible and of good quality, and assuming
that the person doing the installation can follow the simple on-screen
instructions and prompts. What was the _exact_ error message?
"Windows activation error" is too vague, and yields null results when
searching the Knowledge Base. (Beats me how you determined it was a
"known topic." Although searching any knowledge base for an _unknown_
topic is, at best, an exercise in futility.)

Anyway, how is activation even a relevant factor for a business?
If you're going to be upgrading 30+ machines, it would only make sense
to use a Volume License for WinXP, which requires no activation at
all.


Bruce Chambers

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