xp re-activation problems

[Guest]

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because now I
have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the new machine.
Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal act" if I ran XP on
a second machine. I explained myself perfectly and she indicated that she
understood perfectly and that it would still be illegal for me to run XP on a
computer with a motherboard that actually worked, directing me to read the
EULA. So do you want my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to
shop for a mac or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once
again: I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices. The old
motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was well as my blog.
This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting this computer running again
only to be told that I have to buy the OS again. Its extortion plain and
simple. [\vent]
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers that I
work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this time. I know,
it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but it matters to me. I
will be switching to a company that cares.

 

[paulmd]

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because now I
have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the new machine.
Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal act" if I ran XP on
a second machine. I explained myself perfectly and she indicated that she
understood perfectly and that it would still be illegal for me to run XP on a
computer with a motherboard that actually worked, directing me to read the
EULA. So do you want my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to
shop for a mac or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once
again: I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices. The old
motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was well as my blog.
This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting this computer running again
only to be told that I have to buy the OS again. Its extortion plain and
simple. [\vent]
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers that I
work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this time. I know,
it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but it matters to me. I
will be switching to a company that cares.

Which tech support said that? I ask this because I've never yet
encountered a phone activation problem.

 

[Guest]

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because now I
have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the new machine.
Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal act" if I ran XP on
a second machine. I explained myself perfectly and she indicated that she
understood perfectly and that it would still be illegal for me to run XP on a
computer with a motherboard that actually worked, directing me to read the
EULA. So do you want my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to
shop for a mac or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once
again: I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices. The old
motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was well as my blog.
This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting this computer running again
only to be told that I have to buy the OS again. Its extortion plain and
simple. [\vent]
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers that I
work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this time. I know,
it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but it matters to me. I
will be switching to a company that cares.

Which tech support said that? I ask this because I've never yet
encountered a phone activation problem.

I called the 888 number on the activation screen. They transferred me to
tech support who tried to transfer me back to the activation folks. Both
people I talked to had Indian accents so I assume I was speaking to some
phone support bank over there. I didn't understand either of the names of the
individuals. I had also heard that the phone support was good for this type
of situation. My old board (ASUS A7V333) has been in use for about four years.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you had an OEM version of Windows XP,
it is non-transferable to a different computer.
Only a "Retail Version" of Windows XP can
be transferred, and re-activated, on a different
computer.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| [vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because now I
| have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the new machine.
| Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal act" if I ran XP on
| a second machine. I explained myself perfectly and she indicated that she
| understood perfectly and that it would still be illegal for me to run XP on a
| computer with a motherboard that actually worked, directing me to read the
| EULA. So do you want my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to
| shop for a mac or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once
| again: I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
| machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices. The old
| motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was well as my blog.
| This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting this computer running again
| only to be told that I have to buy the OS again. Its extortion plain and
| simple. [\vent]
| Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers that I
| work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this time. I know,
| it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but it matters to me. I
| will be switching to a company that cares.

 

[Guest]

(checks general system properties) Well that sucks. It looks like it is an
OEM. I'm still disgruntled though.

 

[paulmd]

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because now I
have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the new machine.
Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal act" if I ran XP on
a second machine. I explained myself perfectly and she indicated that she
understood perfectly and that it would still be illegal for me to run XP on a
computer with a motherboard that actually worked, directing me to read the
EULA. So do you want my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to
shop for a mac or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once
again: I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices. The old
motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was well as my blog.
This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting this computer running again
only to be told that I have to buy the OS again. Its extortion plain and
simple. [\vent]
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers that I
work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this time. I know,
it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but it matters to me. I
will be switching to a company that cares.

Which tech support said that? I ask this because I've never yet
encountered a phone activation problem.

I called the 888 number on the activation screen. They transferred me to
tech support who tried to transfer me back to the activation folks. Both
people I talked to had Indian accents so I assume I was speaking to some
phone support bank over there. I didn't understand either of the names of the
individuals. I had also heard that the phone support was good for this type
of situation. My old board (ASUS A7V333) has been in use for about four years.

 

[paulmd]

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because now I
have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the new machine.
Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal act" if I ran XP on
a second machine. I explained myself perfectly and she indicated that she
understood perfectly and that it would still be illegal for me to run XP on a
computer with a motherboard that actually worked, directing me to read the
EULA. So do you want my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to
shop for a mac or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once
again: I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices. The old
motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was well as my blog.
This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting this computer running again
only to be told that I have to buy the OS again. Its extortion plain and
simple. [\vent]
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers that I
work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this time. I know,
it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but it matters to me. I
will be switching to a company that cares.

Which tech support said that? I ask this because I've never yet
encountered a phone activation problem.

I called the 888 number on the activation screen. They transferred me to
tech support who tried to transfer me back to the activation folks. Both
people I talked to had Indian accents so I assume I was speaking to some
phone support bank over there. I didn't understand either of the names of the
individuals. I had also heard that the phone support was good for this type
of situation. My old board (ASUS A7V333) has been in use for about four years.

You may want to try again in a few days. Call when they're busy.

If that doesn't do it, then ask the linux people to recommend a good
distribution.

Eventually MS MUST get less greedy, as linux is getting to the point
where both it's acessable to the average user, and supported by
hardware manufacturors. MS is losing its edge over linux. A few years
ago, linux was HORRIBLE. Not now.

There is really nothing wrong with Mac OS either, except for that you'd
have to pay for replacement computers. And update the firmware before
you upgrade to the latest OS. Inside, they're not very different from
PCs, same memory, same drives, at least 80% the same components.

 

[kurttrail]

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because
now I have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the
new machine. Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal
act" if I ran XP on a second machine. I explained myself perfectly
and she indicated that she understood perfectly and that it would
still be illegal for me to run XP on a computer with a motherboard
that actually worked,

She should be sued for giving legal advice.

directing me to read the EULA.

Did you? Did it mention anything about the motherboad?

So do you want
my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to shop for a mac
or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once again:
I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices.
The old motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was
well as my blog. This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting
this computer running again only to be told that I have to buy the OS
again. Its extortion plain and simple. [\vent]

Yep. It is extortion. That is one of the many anti-consumer aspects of
Product Activation.

Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers
that I work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this
time. I know, it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but
it matters to me. I will be switching to a company that cares.

Good luck finding an OS company that really cares.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[kurttrail]

(checks general system properties) Well that sucks. It looks like it
is an OEM. I'm still disgruntled though.

If you had an OEM version of Windows XP,
it is non-transferable to a different computer.
Only a "Retail Version" of Windows XP can
be transferred, and re-activated, on a different
computer.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP
because now I have to buy a new license in order to move my hard
drive to the new machine. Tech support said that I would be
'committing an illegal act" if I ran XP on a second machine. I
explained myself perfectly and she indicated that she understood
perfectly and that it would still be illegal for me to run XP on a
computer with a motherboard that actually worked, directing me to
read the EULA. So do you want my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I
have three days to shop for a mac or get linux to be compatible
with my existing hardware. Once again: I am not running XP on a
"second" machine. I am running it on a machine with a new
motherboard/video and all the embedded devices. The old motherboard
is history. Thought I would cross-post here was well as my blog.
This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting this computer
running again only to be told that I have to buy the OS again. Its
extortion plain and simple. [\vent]
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers
that I work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at
this time. I know, it doesn't matter to you that I am one
individual, but it matters to me. I will be switching to a company
that cares.

Changing the motherboard is not moving it to another computer.

I call again, and don't mention the mobo bit, just tell them you
upgraded your computer, and that is what triggered activation. If they
ask what you upgraded, then that makes a liar out of MS.

"The only information required to activate is an installation ID (and,
for Office XP and Office XP family products such as Visio 2002, the name
of the country in which the product is being installed)." -
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because
now I have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the
new machine. Tech support said that I would be 'committing an illegal
act" if I ran XP on a second machine. I explained myself perfectly
and she indicated that she understood perfectly and that it would
still be illegal for me to run XP on a computer with a motherboard
that actually worked, directing me to read the EULA. So do you want
my old parts, Microsoft? I guess I have three days to shop for a mac
or get linux to be compatible with my existing hardware. Once again:
I am not running XP on a "second" machine. I am running it on a
machine with a new motherboard/video and all the embedded devices.
The old motherboard is history. Thought I would cross-post here was
well as my blog. This really sucks. I spend all afternoon getting
this computer running again only to be told that I have to buy the OS
again. Its extortion plain and simple. [\vent]
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers
that I work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this
time. I know, it doesn't matter to you that I am one individual, but
it matters to me. I will be switching to a company that cares.

First, let me point out that you may think you are addressing Microsoft
here, but you are not. This is a peer support newsgroup. We are all just
Windows XP users here, helping each other if and when we can. We are not
Microsoft employees (not even those of us with "Microsoft MVP" behind our
names; that's an honorary title for having provided consistently helpful
advice) except for an occasional employee who posts here unofficially on his
own time.

Second, there are two types of Microsoft software products, retail and OEM.
If yours is a retail product, you can freely move it from one computer to
another, as you desire. However if your copy of Windows is an OEM copy (and
apparently it is, based on what your tech told you), it is restricted to the
original computer it's installed on. OEM copies cost significantly less than
retail copies, and this is perhaps the most significant reason for the price
difference.

Third, despite the above, I am very sympathetic to your plight. Neither
Microsoft nor the OEM vendors make this restriction clear before you buy an
OEM copy. I personally wish that Microsoft and the OEMs would abandon this
two-kind-of-product (retail and OEM) situation, and only have retail
products, so that *all* copies had the same rules. Far too many people are
confused by this and don't understand the restrictions on what they are
getting until they get burnt. Although in many cases, it's really the OEM's
fault for not making the restrictions clear, it's usually Microsoft who gets
blamed, and they could eliminate a lot of ill-will by switching to an
all-retail product lineup.

 

[toby]

disgruntled wrote:
[vent] Apparently when my motherboard died so did Windows XP because now I
have to buy a new license in order to move my hard drive to the new machine. ...
Microsoft, if you are listening, take note: I and the ten computers that I
work with will be considering seriously alterante OS's at this time. ...

Do it: You won't regret it. Stability, performance, and freedom from
extortion are within your grasp.

...
If that doesn't do it, then ask the linux people to recommend a good
distribution.

There are several. Ubuntu is good for starting out; or SuSE. All these
are available retail and with support.

Eventually MS MUST get less greedy, as linux is getting to the point
where both it's acessable to the average user, and supported by
hardware manufacturors. MS is losing its edge over linux. A few years
ago, linux was HORRIBLE. Not now.

Agree wholeheartedly.

There is really nothing wrong with Mac OS either,

OS X four years ago is where Vista aspires to be, some point in the
future. It simply works: Fast, fun, gorgeous, virus-free.

--T

 

[Flower Gardener]

First, let me point out that you may think you are addressing Microsoft
here, but you are not. This is a peer support newsgroup. We are all just
Windows XP users here, helping each other if and when we can. We are not
Microsoft employees (not even those of us with "Microsoft MVP" behind our
names; that's an honorary title for having provided consistently helpful
advice) except for an occasional employee who posts here unofficially on
his own time.

How can you afford to donate so much time to this board? It can take me all
day just to read the posts and select out the interesting stuff. You would
have to spend that much time yourself to answer the mail.