Windows Activation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sir_Civik
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Sir_Civik

I've formatted my computer 7 times, i like to keep things fresh, and im
about to again on monday. Somone told me that I can only activate windows
with my product key 10 times. Everything's legit so I figured I should be
able to install windows on this machine as many times as I want. So is it
true? are they right and I can only activate windows 'x' number of times?
 
Sir_Civik said:
I've formatted my computer 7 times, i like to keep things fresh, and im
about to again on monday. Somone told me that I can only activate windows
with my product key 10 times. Everything's legit so I figured I should be
able to install windows on this machine as many times as I want. So is it
true? are they right and I can only activate windows 'x' number of times?
Click to expand...

You were told worng, as you can install it as many times as you wish. If your XP disk is OEM, then it stays on that PC no matter, and dies with that PC. if the disk is retail, it can be installed on any PC, as long as it doesn't exist on another (IOWs, it can only be on oen PC at any one time).

By the way, formatting and installing a great deal is not a good thing. There are better ways at maintaining a good running operating system, if that is what you're implying that you need when you want to keep things fresh?
 
Hi

You should be able to activate as many times as you like - so long as you haven't drastically changed the hardware on your PC.
 
"You were told worng, as you can install it as many times as you wish. If
Click to expand...
your XP disk is OEM, then it stays on that PC no matter, and dies with that
PC. if the >disk is retail, it can be installed on any PC, as long as it
doesn't exist on another (IOWs, it can only be on oen PC at any one time).

Thats bull. I got WinXp Pro OEM, and I have upgraded my computer several
times since I first bought it, new cpu, motherboard etc. You will run into
problems when you alter the hardware configuration on the computer major.
Like replacing cpu, motherboard. If you then do a fresh install on a new
disk and try activate through the net it will give you some boggus message
about your Key is registered to many times or something like that. A quick
call to activate manualy through the phone fixes that. And that applies to
wether you got OEM or not. Just because you bought OEM doesnt neccesary mean
you aint allowed to upgrade your computer doh! ;-)
 
Erland Andreassen said:
your XP disk is OEM, then it stays on that PC no matter, and dies with that
PC. if the >disk is retail, it can be installed on any PC, as long as it
doesn't exist on another (IOWs, it can only be on oen PC at any one time).

Thats bull. I got WinXp Pro OEM, and I have upgraded my computer several
times since I first bought it, new cpu, motherboard etc. You will run into
problems when you alter the hardware configuration on the computer major.
Like replacing cpu, motherboard. If you then do a fresh install on a new
disk and try activate through the net it will give you some boggus message
about your Key is registered to many times or something like that. A quick
call to activate manualy through the phone fixes that. And that applies to
wether you got OEM or not. Just because you bought OEM doesnt neccesary mean
you aint allowed to upgrade your computer doh! ;-)
Click to expand...

Well, that's true with a retail disk too, if you make drastic changes to the hardware, but a phone call is fast and easy. Now your OEM, I would venture to say that you broke the EULA by still using it, if you replaced your MOBO, unless your EOM came with the hardware that still exists on that PC. If you had to activate by phone with your OEM, then you must have been still using the hardware the OEM came with.
 
Now your OEM, I would venture to say that you broke the EULA by still
using it, if you replaced your MOBO, unless your EOM came with the
hardware that still exists on that PC.
Click to expand...

Probably he didn't. The OP never stated he replaced his motherboard.

As for anyone else, the sections of the EULA dealing with this problem
are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed to death
elsewhere.

Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.
If you had to activate by phone with your OEM, then you must have
been still using the hardware the OEM came with.
Click to expand...

Why on earth would you think that?
 
Well, that's true with a retail disk too, if you make drastic changes to
Click to expand...
the hardware, but a phone call is fast and easy. Now your OEM, I would
venture to say >that you broke the EULA by still using it, if you replaced
your MOBO, unless your EOM came with the hardware that still exists on that
PC. If you had to >activate by phone with your OEM, then you must have been
still using the hardware the OEM came with.

No, when you activate manual over phone, you still get an error message, but
you get to talk with support person. I told the support person, what had
happen etc, and they did fix it for me on their end. Something I doubt would
have happend if it wasnt allowed.

Regarding support else though, on OEM Microsoft wont take any support, you
have to contact the place you purchased the OEM version for that.
 
Now your OEM, I would venture to say that you broke the EULA by still
Probably he didn't. The OP never stated he replaced his motherboard.
Click to expand...

Some year ago I bought parts to build a computer, with this winxp pro OEM. I
had to reinstall xp a few times, and every
times I needed to activate it, it worked flawless. It wasnt before I changed
significant hardware CPU/Mobo in an upgrade
(some month or so ago), that I got problems activate it again, and as said
in other post that was fixed easy through
doing manual activation through the phone. The support person I got to talk
with in the other end had a clear understanding of
my problem, and did initiate the activation from their end. If I in the
future want to upgrade mobo/cpu again I would assume I had
to go through he same process, at least if I want to do a clean install. Oh,
and even after this I had to reinstall winxp pro yet again
due to some blue screen errors (that in the end seemed to be caused by a PSU
that didnt gave enough juice). This time the
activation worked flawless, no need to talk with any support person. So I
guess when you activate, your activation info or whatever
get stored in some database someplace and this info tells what hardware you
got, and when activating in the future again, it will be checked
up towards to see if it match.
As for anyone else, the sections of the EULA dealing with this problem
are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed to death
elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Well, Im not a native English speaking person, but I think the EULA is quite
clear on this:
-------------------------------

Mandatory Activation. THIS SOFTWARE
CONTAINS TECHNOLOGICAL MEASURES THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO PREVENT UNLICENSED OR ILLEGAL USE
OF THE SOFTWARE. The license rights granted under this EULA
are limited to the first thirty (30) days after you first run
the SOFTWARE unless you supply information required to
activate your licensed copy in the manner described during the
setup sequence (unless Manufacturer has activated for you).
You can activate the SOFTWARE through the use of the Internet
or telephone; toll charges may apply. You may also need to
reactivate the SOFTWARE if you modify your HARDWARE or alter
the SOFTWARE. MS, Microsoft Corporation and its subsidiaries
will use those measures to confirm you have a legally licensed
copy of the SOFTWARE.

Why on earth would you think that?
Click to expand...

Well you still get the error on activation with new hardware, but you get to
talk with a support person that can help you further.
(maybe he didnt get the later part).
 
XS11E said:
Probably he didn't. The OP never stated he replaced his motherboard.
Click to expand...

IF you read what I posted, I didn't make that carved in stone, and left that as conjecture on the part regarding the OP.
As for anyone else, the sections of the EULA dealing with this problem
are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed to death
elsewhere.

Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.
Click to expand...

reading and doing what you like is basically saying the EULA means nothing, I disagree!
Why on earth would you think that?
Click to expand...

Because, maybe something went wrong, where the activation didn't work, MS will still need to be called, becuase they are the only ones who activate, unless it is a BIOS locked CD, which all are not.
 
Erland Andreassen said:
No, when you activate manual over phone, you still get an error message, but
you get to talk with support person. I told the support person, what had
happen etc, and they did fix it for me on their end. Something I doubt would
have happend if it wasnt allowed.
Click to expand...

Where did I say you do or do not get error messages? What does that part have to do with the price of eggs in China?
Regarding support else though, on OEM Microsoft wont take any support, you
have to contact the place you purchased the OEM version for that.
Click to expand...

No, MS doesn't support, but they are reponsible still, if it needs to be activated, as many OEMs still require that. If you simply buy an OEM to install (e.g. the disk that came with a piece of hardware), which you can, then it needs activation.
 
reading and doing what you like is basically saying the EULA means
nothing, I disagree!
Click to expand...

Then you'd be mistaken, no rule, law, EULA, etc. is meaningful unless
it's enforced.

Until MSFTS decides enforce the EULA and it's hashed out in the courts
as to it's meaning and legality,it doesn't mean much. There's been
several opinions written here and elsewhere to help you decide but none
are legal opinions. Sometime in the future the courts might decide if
you're right or wrong but I suspect it's never going to come to court,
there's too much to lose if it does.

There are, however, already some legal decisions that may or may not
apply. A very anti-MSFT someone has collected some here:

http://www.microscum.com/mmpafaq/

While I disagree with some of his/her/its conclusions, there is some
valid information there.
 
Greetings --

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. If it's been more than 120 days since you last activated
that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to activate via
the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you might have to
make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH
 
your XP disk is OEM, then it stays on that PC no matter, and dies with that
PC. if the >disk is retail, it can be installed on any PC, as long as it
doesn't exist on another (IOWs, it can only be on oen PC at any one time).

Thats bull. I got WinXp Pro OEM, and I have upgraded my computer several
times since I first bought it, new cpu, motherboard etc. You will run into
problems when you alter the hardware configuration on the computer major.
Like replacing cpu, motherboard. If you then do a fresh install on a new
disk and try activate through the net it will give you some boggus message
about your Key is registered to many times or something like that. A quick
call to activate manualy through the phone fixes that. And that applies to
wether you got OEM or not. Just because you bought OEM doesnt neccesary
mean you aint allowed to upgrade your computer doh! ;-)
Click to expand...
He doesn't say that you can't upgrade. He just says that it stays with
that machine.

Cheers,

Cliff
 
XS11E said:
Then you'd be mistaken, no rule, law, EULA, etc. is meaningful unless
it's enforced.
Click to expand...

HUH? You didn't read my post at all! and the rest of what you posted is about what i stated.!
 
XS11E said:
Read every word you wrote and, no, it isn't.
Click to expand...

Well, then I suggest reading comprehension courses for yourself. As I can see how you debate my words that essemtially said the same thing you did!
 
Well, then I suggest reading comprehension courses for yourself.
As I can see how you debate my words that essemtially said the
same thing you did!
Click to expand...

Sorry, it appears you are the one who needs a reading comprehension
course.

Bye.
 
well i thank you all for the help but this wasn't ment to become a war. i
mean, im lazy, if it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't i don't have
the patients to call MS to get a number, that involves doing stuff. i just
wanted to basiclly know if my product key was gunna work again or if i had
to download a keygen and a crack before formatting which is much less time
consuming
 
well i thank you all for the help but this wasn't ment to become a
war. i mean, im lazy, if it works it works, if it doesn't it
doesn't i don't have the patients to call MS to get a number, that
involves doing stuff. i just wanted to basiclly know if my
product key was gunna work again or if i had to download a keygen
and a crack before formatting which is much less time consuming
Click to expand...

It shouldn't take as much time to call as it would to find and download
a keygen. From what I've heard here, MSFT is pretty good about not
keeping you on "hold" for activation, it's been reported as being fast
and accurate.

No war, just had to respond to a reading disabled twit, he's plonked
now so he won't bother me any more.
 
Sir_Civik said:
I've formatted my computer 7 times, i like to keep things fresh, and im
about to again on monday. Somone told me that I can only activate windows
with my product key 10 times.
Click to expand...

That is not true. You can activate on the same, or substantially the
same, hardware as many times as you like - see my page
www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

He may be confused by having one of the licenses for evaluation from
MSDN - those can be activated (repeatedly if necessary) on up to ten
sets of *different* hardware, but only for test and evaluation, not
production use
 
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