XP Re-Activation

[Guest]

I purchased my computer from Gateway approximately 2 years ago.
Approximately 6 months ago I had to replace the motherboard and processor.
Once again my computer started not wanting to boot up. Had it checked out
again, and had to have the hard drive replaced. The tech that changed the
drive installed XP Home Edition from the disk that I received from Gateway
when I first purchased computer. Went through a month of the message to
activate Windows, I would try to but would get a message saying that Windows
was already activated, so I ignored. Now I can not get into my system at
all. The activation boxes pop up with the same messages that Windows is
already activated. I tried calling customer support and either got machines
that did not help or people that I couldn't understand. Could someone please
help?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you are not using a Gateway motherboard, activation will fail
since it is checking for a Gateway BIOS. This method of protection
is known as "System Locked Pre-installation," or SLP.

SLP uses information stored in an OEM PC's BIOS to protect
the installation from casual piracy. When installing a Gateway OEM
version of Windows XP, the Gateway CD compares the PC's BIOS to the
SLP information. If it matches, Product Activation will succeed.
If it does not match, Product Activation will fail.

Since you have a Gateway OEM version of Windows XP
installed, and you installed a non-Gateway motherboard,
your Gateway OEM license is no longer valid. All you
can do is purchase a conventional "Full Version" of
Windows XP and proceed with a "Repair Install".

Example:

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102059

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

How to Perform a Repair Install of Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

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

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

:

| I purchased my computer from Gateway approximately 2 years ago.
| Approximately 6 months ago I had to replace the motherboard and processor.
| Once again my computer started not wanting to boot up. Had it checked out
| again, and had to have the hard drive replaced. The tech that changed the
| drive installed XP Home Edition from the disk that I received from Gateway
| when I first purchased computer. Went through a month of the message to
| activate Windows, I would try to but would get a message saying that Windows
| was already activated, so I ignored. Now I can not get into my system at
| all. The activation boxes pop up with the same messages that Windows is
| already activated. I tried calling customer support and either got machines
| that did not help or people that I couldn't understand. Could someone please
| help?

 

[AJR]

One reason for an indication that Windows has been activated and messages
are still received stating activation is required is that when XP is
reinstalled the "old" WPA.DBL file was not updated. Deleting the WPA.DBL
C:\windows\system32) may be a solution.

Note the following info from Microsoft - particularly the bold and
underlined item:
"Every single piece of hardware could be changed on a PC with SLP (System
locked pre-installation) and no reactivation would be required - even the
motherboard could be replaced as long as the replacement motherboard was
original equipment manufactured by the OEM and retained the proper BIOS. In
the unlikely scenario that the BIOS information does not match, the PC would
need to be activated within 30 days by contacting the Microsoft activation
center via the Internet or telephone call - just as in a retail scenario."

 

[Admiral Q]

Jumping to conclusions again Carey!!!! "If" is a mighty big word for two
letters.
You don't know if the MB was replaced by Gateway or by Mom&Pops PC repair or
a combination of both as the OP never said who replaced the MB. Therefore
your statement about having to replace the OEM OS with a retail version is
absolute hogwash and subject to conjecture until you have all the facts.
Why not be more constructive and instruct the OP on how to repair their OEM
installation, making an assumption the MB was replaced by Gateway or a
certified Gateway representative instead insulting the OP by accusing them
of pirating software?
Using this positive attitude always gets a more receptive and honest OP
reaction, not to mention building ones creditbility amoungst peers (whether
they are for, against or neutral towards you) and instills the comfort
amoungst those seeking assistance, by showing how genuine and sincere you
can be, like you really care about the OP's problem and really wish to
assist. Lastly, learn to speak to the primary audience, the audience is the
OP, not those in this newsgroup which are your peers.

--

Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!
Google is your friend!
http://www.google.com

 

[Chelsea]

I thought Carey was quite helpful-where was the suggestion of piracy in the
answer? People who answer questions here have to make assumptions and it is
fair to think that a PC out of warranty will go to a local company for
repair rather than the OEM. Also people like Carey provide help without
being paid and rarely get even a thank you for their trouble. I think you
should bare these things in mind before being so critical.

Chelsea

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

A pre-installed OEM version of Windows XP, installed by
Gateway on a Gateway computer, does not require Product
Activation since Gateway uses "System Locked Pre-installation"
or SLP. If a request to activate appears, the likely cause is
the replacement of the Gateway motherboard with a non-Gateway
motherboard.

BTW, in my post I did not suggest replacing the Gateway O/S
with a "Retail Version". My suggestion was for a "generic"
"OEM Version" of Windows XP.

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

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

:

| Jumping to conclusions again Carey!!!! "If" is a mighty big word for two
| letters.
| You don't know if the MB was replaced by Gateway or by Mom&Pops PC repair or
| a combination of both as the OP never said who replaced the MB. Therefore
| your statement about having to replace the OEM OS with a retail version is
| absolute hogwash and subject to conjecture until you have all the facts.
| Why not be more constructive and instruct the OP on how to repair their OEM
| installation, making an assumption the MB was replaced by Gateway or a
| certified Gateway representative instead insulting the OP by accusing them
| of pirating software?
| Using this positive attitude always gets a more receptive and honest OP
| reaction, not to mention building ones creditbility amoungst peers (whether
| they are for, against or neutral towards you) and instills the comfort
| amoungst those seeking assistance, by showing how genuine and sincere you
| can be, like you really care about the OP's problem and really wish to
| assist. Lastly, learn to speak to the primary audience, the audience is the
| OP, not those in this newsgroup which are your peers.
|
| --
|
| Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!
| Google is your friend!