Windows XP Product Activation

[Paddy]

I have a really big problem with my pcs. I have one computer that I
purchased from Gateway and another one that I received from a friend. The
computer that I received from my friend was running on windows 98 so I used
my gateway windows xp installation cd to install windows xp on that
computer. Since then whenever I turn the computer on, I receive a ballon
message saying "activate windows xp". If I click on it, It will
automatically say that windows is already activated.
Last week, I ordered a the widows xp service park cd from Microsoft.
When I installed it, and restarted the computer, I the same balloon popped
up but this time when I clicked it, I told me to activate windows xp If I
want to continue using if after 30 days. It gave me two choices. Whether I
wanted to activate windows by internet or by phone. I choice phone since I
don't have misplaced my product key. When I called the representative, I was
told that there was nothing I could do about the product activation. I was
also told that the istallation ID was invalid and that there was no way I
was going to be given a new one.
This really bothers me. Any suggestions are welcome.


Thanks
Paddy

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

I have a really big problem with my pcs. I have one computer that I
purchased from Gateway and another one that I received from a friend. The
computer that I received from my friend was running on windows 98 so I
used
my gateway windows xp installation cd to install windows xp on that
computer. Since then whenever I turn the computer on, I receive a ballon
message saying "activate windows xp". If I click on it, It will
automatically say that windows is already activated.
Last week, I ordered a the widows xp service park cd from Microsoft.
When I installed it, and restarted the computer, I the same balloon popped
up but this time when I clicked it, I told me to activate windows xp If I
want to continue using if after 30 days. It gave me two choices. Whether I
wanted to activate windows by internet or by phone. I choice phone since I
don't have misplaced my product key. When I called the representative, I
was
told that there was nothing I could do about the product activation. I was
also told that the istallation ID was invalid and that there was no way I
was going to be given a new one.
This really bothers me. Any suggestions are welcome.


Thanks
Paddy

Sounds like you need to buy a new copy of XP... the one that came with the
Gateway PC is tied to that Gateway PC.

 

[Richard Urban]

It should bother you. You are trying to use one copy of Windows XP on two
computers. Do you take 2 packs of gum from a store when you pay for only
one? In stores they have security guards to prevent that from happening. In
Windows XP they have activation!


--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a really big problem with my pcs. I have one computer that I
purchased from Gateway and another one that I received from a friend. The
computer that I received from my friend was running on windows 98 so I used
my gateway windows xp installation cd to install windows xp on that
computer. Since then whenever I turn the computer on, I receive a ballon
message saying "activate windows xp". If I click on it, It will
automatically say that windows is already activated.

First of all, your new computer has an OEM license for WinXP.
An OEM version must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally a
motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC) and is _permanently_
bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM license, once
installed, is not legally transferable to another computer under _any_
circumstances.

Secondly, as it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating
systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and
U.S. copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/117.html), if
not technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each computer on
which it is installed. (Consult an attorney versed in copyright law
to determine final applicability in your locale.) The only way in
which WinXP licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows
is that Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft
mechanism, Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more
difficult) multiple installations using a single license.

Last week, I ordered a the widows xp service park cd from Microsoft.
When I installed it, and restarted the computer, I the same balloon popped
up but this time when I clicked it, I told me to activate windows xp If I
want to continue using if after 30 days. It gave me two choices. Whether I
wanted to activate windows by internet or by phone. I choice phone since I
don't have misplaced my product key. When I called the representative, I was
told that there was nothing I could do about the product activation. I was
also told that the istallation ID was invalid and that there was no way I
was going to be given a new one.
This really bothers me. Any suggestions are welcome.

You need to purchase a separate WinXP Pro license for each computer
on which you install it.

--

Bruce Chambers

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