XP Activation??!!

[Guest]

Lo all, I have just reinstalled Windows XP for about the 15th time since I
have had my PC. This time when I try to activate it, it says that I have
activated Windows to many times using my key that came with the computer??!!!
How can this be right, it is my copy of Windows that came with the comp so
surly it is up to me how many times I reinstall? Plz help me to get around
this or any help!!

Thx

 

[Kerry Brown]

Lo all, I have just reinstalled Windows XP for about the 15th time
since I have had my PC. This time when I try to activate it, it says
that I have activated Windows to many times using my key that came
with the computer??!!! How can this be right, it is my copy of
Windows that came with the comp so surly it is up to me how many
times I reinstall? Plz help me to get around this or any help!!

Thx

Did you try phoning the number on the screen?

Kerry

 

[Brian A.]

You need to call the number provided to reactivate instead of using auto
online activation, it's a simple process. Just explain the situation and
you will be given a new activation number.

For info on activation see:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Lo all, I have just reinstalled Windows XP for about the 15th time
since I have had my PC. This time when I try to activate it, it says
that I have activated Windows to many times using my key that came
with the computer??!!! How can this be right, it is my copy of
Windows that came with the comp so surly it is up to me how many
times I reinstall? Plz help me to get around this or any help!!

The text of the message is wrong and very misleading. You can reinstall and
reactivate as many times as you want or need to (but why anyone would need
to install it 15 times is beyond me). Just call the number you're given to
activate over the phone. It's quick and easy.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Surely you are correct, and as others have pointed out you can reactivate by
calling. But, my question is why are you reinstalling so much?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[~~Alan~~]

I too want to reinstall my copy of XP but on a different computer after the
original died on me. I tried calling the phone number but all I got was an
automated system an no chance to speak to a real person.

Is there a secret to speaking with a person?

~thanks,
~alan

 

[~~Alan~~]

Um, never mind. My original computer, the one that died came with an OEM
version of XP. I guess that means according to the license, that the
software is tied to the original machine.

Question: Is the software tied to the one and only original PC or to the
brand of PC, in this case, Dell?

~alan

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Question: Is the software tied to the one and only original PC or to the
brand of PC, in this case, Dell?

Original PC having the same MOBO with the same serial number and also
the brand of the PC! You can't use DELL CD to install on HP PC. The
installation will know this immediately. So this precludes you
completely. There are times you can change the MOBO but as these are
likely to be under a warranty the OEM should install the OS for you or
supply you a means to re-install.

If you bought a new PC then surely, it must have come with its own OS?
DLL, HP, Gateway, all supply new PCs with OS pre-installed.

hth

 

[Alias]

Um, never mind. My original computer, the one that died came with an OEM
version of XP. I guess that means according to the license, that the
software is tied to the original machine.

Question: Is the software tied to the one and only original PC or to the
brand of PC, in this case, Dell?

~alan

You're SOL. Buy a generic OEM from some place like WalMart.

Alias

 

[Alpha]

Surely you are correct, and as others have pointed out you can reactivate
by calling. But, my question is why are you reinstalling so much?

There are any number of reasons! Why is this such a mystery to MVPs?
Although you can image backup, you could be testing development on different
configurations of partitions, installation elements, hardware, etc.

 

[Plato]

Lo all, I have just reinstalled Windows XP for about the 15th time since I
have had my PC. This time when I try to activate it, it says that I have
activated Windows to many times using my key that came with the computer??!!!
How can this be right, it is my copy of Windows that came with the comp so

Actually it's pretty amazing that you got 14 done w/o a phone call.

 

[kurttrail]

Lo all, I have just reinstalled Windows XP for about the 15th time
since I have had my PC. This time when I try to activate it, it says
that I have activated Windows to many times using my key that came
with the computer??!!! How can this be right, it is my copy of
Windows that came with the comp so surly it is up to me how many
times I reinstall? Plz help me to get around this or any help!!

Thx

That message is deliberately misleading in hopes that it will trick
unsuspecting consumers into buying a copy of software that they don't
really need. MS is a well known for its decptive practices.

As already mentioned, take the phone up Activation option.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

Actually it's pretty amazing that you got 14 done w/o a phone call.

As long as the hardware hasn't change the requisite number of votes, the
PA phone option should never be forced for Retail and Generic OEM, that
is if PA works the way it is supposed to, and I won't go holding my
breath on that one.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Alpha,

Certainly those involved in testing and development could be doing this, but
most don't bother reactivating if the installation is short term.

The question wasn't to criticize for reinstalling frequently, it was to
determine if the user has a problem rooted somewhere else that might be
resolved so that they do not have to reinstall all the time (they can if
they want to, but most general users would not want that).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Actually, IIRC, I think the limit is 25 before it forces phone calls.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

I agree, but the problem there is when someone produces cloned systems and
activates the same license on every machine. The hardware hash would always
be the same, so PA wouldn't know there are multiple machines involved. As I
understand it, this is why the 'net based activation is limited on the
number of times it will reactivate, particularly in a short time frame. I do
not know if it resets after a time.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[R. McCarty]

Even on identical Vendor/Model PCs, the Hash Code cannot be the
same value. Part of the algorithm is the MAC Address and the CPU
Serial # which would vary from PC to PC.

 

[Steve N.]

Simon wrote:





The text of the message is wrong and very misleading. You can reinstall and
reactivate as many times as you want or need to (but why anyone would need
to install it 15 times is beyond me). Just call the number you're given to
activate over the phone. It's quick and easy.

Yeah, 15 times in a 120 day period is pretty excessive, but as we know
the activation process is flawed and it may be a case of doing so over a
much longer p[eriod of time, I can imagine over a course of a year or so
doing multiple re-installations for experimental purposes.

Steve N.

 

[Steve N.]

Even on identical Vendor/Model PCs, the Hash Code cannot be the
same value. Part of the algorithm is the MAC Address and the CPU
Serial # which would vary from PC to PC.

And the hard drive's volume serial number. That would make five "votes"
different and trigger activation; three for the NIC, one for the CPU S#
and one for the volume S#.

Steve N.

 

[R. McCarty]

Isn't a Volume Serial number embedded in the starting area of a
Partition ? So if you deploy an image across a number of similar
systems that they all would have the same Volume Serial number ?
Or does SysPrep or NewSID replace that - it's been a while
since I've done any major rollouts of that type.