Windows XP Activation problems

[chrisby]

Hi.. Yet another person with ongoing activation issues here, any help would
be great.

I've got a legit copy of Win XP Pro that I've only ever used on this
computer (self-built) for about 3 years now. I recently reformatted and was
prompted to activate windows again but it's not working. The last time I
reformatted I had this problem aswell but it all of a sudden activated on the
last day before deadline. Both this time and last time I've called to
activate over the phone but they haven't helped. They've talked me through
changing the product key to the same key it already has (?) which makes no
difference (which doesn't surprise me?).

I've run out of time to activate and it just keeps saying Incorrect product
key. On the activation screen there is a link to:
https://pa.one.microsoft.com/portal.asp?req=55274OEM001190300102&err=45116
but the page comes up with a 404 error.

How am I to get this thing to activate? Such a royal pain seeing as I've
been using this copy for years on this same computer... No hardware changes
at all this reformat.

 

[Daave]

Hi.. Yet another person with ongoing activation issues here, any help
would
be great.

I've got a legit copy of Win XP Pro that I've only ever used on this
computer (self-built) for about 3 years now. I recently reformatted
and was
prompted to activate windows again but it's not working. The last time
I
reformatted I had this problem aswell but it all of a sudden activated
on the
last day before deadline. Both this time and last time I've called to
activate over the phone but they haven't helped. They've talked me
through
changing the product key to the same key it already has (?) which
makes no
difference (which doesn't surprise me?).

I've run out of time to activate and it just keeps saying Incorrect
product
key. On the activation screen there is a link to:
https://pa.one.microsoft.com/portal.asp?req=55274OEM001190300102&err=45116
but the page comes up with a 404 error.

How am I to get this thing to activate? Such a royal pain seeing as
I've
been using this copy for years on this same computer... No hardware
changes
at all this reformat.

Is it possible you are confusing the Installation ID (which is displayed
in the product activation wizard) with the Product Key? You need to
provide the Installation ID. And then you will receive a confirmation
ID, which you need to enter to complete the process.

 

[chrisby]

Ah it's possible I'd be confusing anything with anything now.. I've been at
it for over 5 hours straight, and not the first instance of trying to resolve
it either S

Microsoft talk me through 'change product key' to the same product key I
already have, which, yes, just ends up changing the installation id, which
they then promptly say they can't generate a confirmation id from. So no use.
I don't know why, as I do recall the 3rd most recent reformat I activated it
over the phone successfully after online activation failed.

I'm so damn frustrated and so tired. I really despise Microsoft for the many
many hours I've wasted on windows xp activation problems in my lifetime!
Grrr..

 

[Alias ;-)]

Ah it's possible I'd be confusing anything with anything now.. I've been at
it for over 5 hours straight, and not the first instance of trying to resolve
it either S

Microsoft talk me through 'change product key' to the same product key I
already have, which, yes, just ends up changing the installation id, which
they then promptly say they can't generate a confirmation id from. So no use.
I don't know why, as I do recall the 3rd most recent reformat I activated it
over the phone successfully after online activation failed.

I'm so damn frustrated and so tired. I really despise Microsoft for the many
many hours I've wasted on windows xp activation problems in my lifetime!
Grrr..

Check out http://www.ubuntu.com/ No activation. No becoming "genuine".
Easy install and FREE. I would wait for the new version that's coming
out October 30th called Intrepid Ibex. It comes with access to over
24,000 FREE programs. This activation and becoming genuine nonsense is
why I checked out Ubuntu.

Alias

 

[Daave]

No wonder you're frustrated!

Have a look here:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1055658.html

Let's start at the beginning.

Is your XP Pro installation CD Retail or OEM? Is it possible there was a
typo when you entered the Product Key?

After you run msoobe.exe, you should get a screen that looks like this:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/i/tr/cms/contentPics/t01220020214jim01_D.gif

Did you give the customer service representative your 50-digit
Installation ID? Did you enter the Confirmation ID you received in the
boxes in Step 4?

I note that in Step 3, the message reads:

<quote>
{Click Change Product Key only if requested to do so by the customer
service representative)
</quote>

So I take it you have been requested to do just this. Did they say *why*
they are unable to generate a Confirmation ID? If you can't get a
satisfactory answer, you need to speak to the supervisor.

Sorry to hear you've run into this hassle. What a pain it must be!

 

[Old Navy]

Thanks for the link to Ubuntu. It just may be the way to get away from this
Micro$oft crap.

 

[chrisby]

I actually did check out Ubuntu last night and am considering scrapping
Windows to switch, but my main worry about it is compatibility? I use Office
2007 and would prefer to continue using it, and also do alot of gaming... Do
programs that work in Windows work in Ubuntu?

 

[chrisby]

Yeah I've tried the product key a good 10 times or so, definitely no typo!
And no they didn't say why they couldn't generate a confirmation id, now that
I'm awake again I'll try it all again! *fingers crossed*

 

[Alias]

I actually did check out Ubuntu last night and am considering scrapping
Windows to switch, but my main worry about it is compatibility? I use Office
2007 and would prefer to continue using it, and also do alot of gaming... Do
programs that work in Windows work in Ubuntu?

MS Office won't work and neither will most games. Open Office does work
very well and there is Evolution to replace Outlook. I have one XP
machine for gaming but the rest are all running Ubuntu.

Alias

 

[Alias]

Yeah I've tried the product key a good 10 times or so, definitely no typo!
And no they didn't say why they couldn't generate a confirmation id, now that
I'm awake again I'll try it all again! *fingers crossed*

If you can get XP up and activated and all, you might want to consider a
dual boot with Ubuntu until you get used to Ubuntu.

Alias

 

[HeyBub]

I actually did check out Ubuntu last night and am considering
scrapping Windows to switch, but my main worry about it is
compatibility? I use Office 2007 and would prefer to continue using
it, and also do alot of gaming... Do programs that work in Windows
work in Ubuntu?

To the best of my knowledge, there are NO programs written for Windows that
will work directly under any flavor of Linux.

There are Linux-flavored programs that are "just as good," "almost as good,"
or "you don't need that" as corresponding Windows programs.

This is one of about five reasons (all tied for first place) why Linux
accounts for less than 1% of the desktop market (in the same league as OS/2
Warp and DOS 3.1).

 

[Alias]

To the best of my knowledge, there are NO programs written for Windows that
will work directly under any flavor of Linux.

Ever hear of Wine?

Snip FUD.

Alias