Windows XP Activation

[Guest]

After I performed a system restore, I cannot activate windows xp home edition
by phone or by the internet. Can someone please find from Microsoft what in
the world i am supposed to do now? I reformated my hard drive a long time
ago, so that means my Product key is no longe valid, which leaves me in a
messed up situation.

 

[kenny]

Who told you this:

"I reformated my hard drive a long time
ago, so that means my Product key is no longe valid, which leaves me in a
messed up situation."

It is wrong....

Your product key is still valid. If you choose to reformat, you can still
activate it.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

After I performed a system restore, I cannot activate windows xp home edition
by phone or by the internet.

What happens when you try? What specific error messages do you get?
What do your system event logs report? What specific troubleshooting
steps have you already taken, and what were the results of each?

No one can help if you don't provide at least a modicum of information.

Help us help you:



Otherwise, you might as well try here:

Psychic Friends Network
(800) 592-7827

Can someone please find from Microsoft what in
the world i am supposed to do now? I reformated my hard drive a long time
ago, so that means my Product key is no longe valid, which leaves me in a
messed up situation.

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. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation
license) ever expire. 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

 

[Guest]

Ok Bruce here is the modicum of info you need.

1. I contacted MS Activation center and gave them the confirmation id, which
turn out to be invalid. (This ID was generated by my system.)
2. I contacted my computer Manufacturer, who said to reformat me hard drive.
3. I contacted MS Customer service for an alternative and they said to
contact my computer manufacturer for a sytem restore cd.
4. If I am going to reformat my hard drive I cannot backup my files, but the
nice tech support person i ordered the cd from said that I can take my
computer to a local computer store so they can copy ny c drive for me, which
is really nice.
5. I have tried shutting down and restarting the system, I have tried to
activate my OS via the internet and by the phone, and like I said before,
Bruce, the same answer everytime is that my product id is invalid. Yes, call
it what you want product key or id, the ultimate answer is, INVALID.
6. I am screwed!
7. Thank you very much for your time my friend, but I don't think anyone can
help me past this point.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Ok Bruce here is the modicum of info you need.

1. I contacted MS Activation center and gave them the confirmation id, which
turn out to be invalid. (This ID was generated by my system.)
2. I contacted my computer Manufacturer, who said to reformat me hard drive.

Did you do so?

3. I contacted MS Customer service for an alternative and they said to
contact my computer manufacturer for a sytem restore cd.

Correct, if frustrating. Microsoft cannot provide support for OEM
versions of the OS. The computer manufacturer is contractually bound to
do so.

4. If I am going to reformat my hard drive I cannot backup my files, but the
nice tech support person i ordered the cd from said that I can take my
computer to a local computer store so they can copy ny c drive for me, which
is really nice.

But won't be free. Can you not burn the necessary data files to CD or
other removable media, yourself?

5. I have tried shutting down and restarting the system, I have tried to
activate my OS via the internet and by the phone, and like I said before,
Bruce, the same answer everytime is that my product id is invalid. Yes, call
it what you want product key or id, the ultimate answer is, INVALID.
6. I am screwed!

Only if you purchased the computer from a fly-by-night company who
installed a pirated OS on it, or a company that doesn't care about its
customers and wants no repeat business.

7. Thank you very much for your time my friend, but I don't think anyone can
help me past this point.

Because you have an OEM license, your pretty much stuck in trying to
get the computer manufacturer to live up to its support obligations; no
one else can be of much assistance.


--

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