omg. Reactivation...............

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For the second time on my second computer I have been asked to reactivate
windows xp within 3 days due to "Hardware Changes". Gee. isnt that what
someone does when they install stuff on a brand new $4000 computer? the thing
that is bugging me is this is the second time. Both times it rejected my key
because it has "been used too many times." The first time this occured was on
my last comp build and I finally sold it to a guy who bought a new copy of
windows. This is ticking me off. I am not buying another copy of windows just
because this one decides it wants to pitch a hissy fit because I formatted my
second HDD. I love microsoft. Bill Gates is one of my heroes but this is
getting ridiculous. Can anyone tell me why this is doing this and why It wont
let me use my key. I only entered it twice before. The first time was when I
first put together my comp and installed it. The second was when I attempted
to make a Raid 0 array with my 2 WD Raptor 150's.
 
My reply is at the bottom of your message :

Spart said:
For the second time on my second computer I have been asked to reactivate
windows xp within 3 days due to "Hardware Changes". Gee. isnt that what
someone does when they install stuff on a brand new $4000 computer? the thing
that is bugging me is this is the second time. Both times it rejected my key
because it has "been used too many times." The first time this occured was on
my last comp build and I finally sold it to a guy who bought a new copy of
windows. This is ticking me off. I am not buying another copy of windows just
because this one decides it wants to pitch a hissy fit because I formatted my
second HDD. I love microsoft. Bill Gates is one of my heroes but this is
getting ridiculous. Can anyone tell me why this is doing this and why It wont
let me use my key. I only entered it twice before. The first time was when I
first put together my comp and installed it. The second was when I attempted
to make a Raid 0 array with my 2 WD Raptor 150's.
Click to expand...

Hello ! Relax and take a breath ... :-)
Now , this is well known issue .Microsoft allows you to activate Windows
only 3 time a year (or in other words 3 time for 365 days) . This is thier
policy and we all do it.
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx


You don't need to buy new Windows.
The problem might occure because of recenlty install software which is
touching in a place where it should not ! Also , are you sure the guy to whom
you sold your old computer is currently using his/hers own Windows and
Windows key ?
Check these things I am talking about.

Well , to continue using your Windows , you should contact Microsoft and
their local office.They will really help you .Here in my country they have
always been very helpful and even in one day I reactivated Windows many
times thanks to them because of a dame software which I killed.
When you contact them , explain the problem correctly and there are two
possibilities:
1) They will activate WIndows for you by telephone
2) They will ask you to send them a photo (digital picture) of your genue
Windows CD and a documents verifying you really have bought Windows .

If they ask you 2) , the procedure will take no more than a week or 10 days
and is simple.

If you do 2) and the problem appears even after 2) immediately contact them
again !

Here is how to contact them (by the way they have toll free phones all over
the world) :
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/
or
http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide


Feel free to contact the Community again ! :-)


Panda_man
--
Prevention is always better than cure !
--
My web page:
http://pandaman.my.contact.bg
Learn how to protect your computer:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
Please , rate posts
 
Hello ! Relax and take a breath ... :-)
Now , this is well known issue .Microsoft allows you to activate Windows
only 3 time a year (or in other words 3 time for 365 days)
Click to expand...

What a load of RUBBISH!
Quote (from the paragraph headed "How does Product Activation Work)
"Activations on the same PC using the same product key are unlimited"
Unquote......

Please do NOT post meaningless and incorrect drivel.
 
Panda_man said:
Hello ! Relax and take a breath ... :-)
Now , this is well known issue .Microsoft allows you to activate Windows
only 3 time a year (or in other words 3 time for 365 days) . This is thier
policy and we all do it.
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx
Click to expand...

Sorry , I am wrong here , I wanted to say that Microsoft allows you to
activate Windows only 3 time a year when you have made hardware changes . If
no changes , you are allowed to do it millions times . ;-)


Panda_man
--
Prevention is always better than cure !
--
My web page:
http://pandaman.my.contact.bg
Learn how to protect your computer:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
Please , rate posts
 
Panda_man said:
Sorry , I am wrong here , I wanted to say that Microsoft allows you to
activate Windows only 3 time a year when you have made hardware
changes . If
no changes , you are allowed to do it millions times . ;-)


Panda_man
Click to expand...

But that is still wrong. There is no limit to the number of activations
you can have. You may need to telephone instead of activating online,
but there is no limit.

Malke
 
For the second time on my second computer I have been asked to reactivate
windows xp within 3 days due to "Hardware Changes". Gee. isnt that what
someone does when they install stuff on a brand new $4000 computer? the thing
that is bugging me is this is the second time. Both times it rejected my key
because it has "been used too many times." The first time this occured was on
my last comp build and I finally sold it to a guy who bought a new copy of
windows.
Click to expand...

Does this mean that you sold a PC to someone that already had your
License key installed on it, even though he purchased a new copy of
Windows? To be specific, was the license you are using installed on the
PC you sold to someone?
This is ticking me off. I am not buying another copy of windows just
because this one decides it wants to pitch a hissy fit because I formatted my
second HDD. I love microsoft. Bill Gates is one of my heroes but this is
getting ridiculous. Can anyone tell me why this is doing this and why It wont
let me use my key. I only entered it twice before. The first time was when I
first put together my comp and installed it. The second was when I attempted
to make a Raid 0 array with my 2 WD Raptor 150's.
Click to expand...

I've added and removed drives several times, all without activation
being triggered. I've also switched between RAID mode and non-RAID mode
on the board without activation being triggered.

It would be interesting to know what actually triggered it - meaning,
did you move the drives from one controller to another controller?

Also, you can activate by phone, without any issues.
 
"activate by phone".

How to activate Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890/en-us

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

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

:

| For the second time on my second computer I have been asked to reactivate
| windows xp within 3 days due to "Hardware Changes". Gee. isnt that what
| someone does when they install stuff on a brand new $4000 computer? the thing
| that is bugging me is this is the second time. Both times it rejected my key
| because it has "been used too many times." The first time this occured was on
| my last comp build and I finally sold it to a guy who bought a new copy of
| windows. This is ticking me off. I am not buying another copy of windows just
| because this one decides it wants to pitch a hissy fit because I formatted my
| second HDD. I love microsoft. Bill Gates is one of my heroes but this is
| getting ridiculous. Can anyone tell me why this is doing this and why It wont
| let me use my key. I only entered it twice before. The first time was when I
| first put together my comp and installed it. The second was when I attempted
| to make a Raid 0 array with my 2 WD Raptor 150's.
 
My reply is at the bottom of your message :

Malke said:
Panda_man wrote:
Click to expand...
But that is still wrong. There is no limit to the number of activations
you can have. You may need to telephone instead of activating online,
but there is no limit.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Click to expand...


But guys , I have asked Microsoft Bulgaria about this many times ,
theyanswered me several times that as I said you can activate Windows only 3
times a years if hardware change has been made . Yes , I know there is no
limit if there is no hardware change !
Are they lying me ???

< If you are right , it would be great ,by the way >


Panda_man
--
Prevention is always better than cure !
--
My web page:
http://pandaman.my.contact.bg
Learn how to protect your computer:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
Please , rate posts
 
Panda_man said:
But guys , I have asked Microsoft Bulgaria about this many times ,
theyanswered me several times that as I said you can activate Windows
only 3
times a years if hardware change has been made . Yes , I know there
is no limit if there is no hardware change !
Are they lying me ???

< If you are right , it would be great ,by the way >
Click to expand...

In this case, I (and the others who gave the same answer) am right and
MS Bulgaria is wrong. This wouldn't be the first time an MS support
person had the wrong answer. ;-)

Perhaps MS Bulgaria was really referring to whether the person would
have to activate by phone if they went over a certain limit within a
set period of time.

Malke
 
But guys , I have asked Microsoft Bulgaria about this many times ,
theyanswered me several times that as I said you can activate Windows only 3
times a years if hardware change has been made . Yes , I know there is no
limit if there is no hardware change !
Are they lying me ???

< If you are right , it would be great ,by the way >


Panda_man
Click to expand...

I think the confusion may be the "120-day reset" that was added with...
SP2? You can do major hardware upgrades within that time period but after a
certain number of major changes (tracked by the hardware hash), activation
is by phone instead of over the internet. To accommodate customers that
like to upgrade, the hardware hash is reset every 4 months - previous
changes are "erased" and you start again with a clean slate.

A great article on activation and what constitutes a "major hardware
change" can be found here:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm
 
Simply choose the option to activate by phone.
There are unlimited activations on the same computer.

The computer you sold...
Did you also furnish the original CD and Product Key?
If so there was no need to buy another since activations are unlimited.
 
By any chance are you using an "OEM" version of XP? Those sell for about
half of the full retail version, but they are good only on the original
hardware. That is, they can not be moved to new hardware. That usually
means no new motherboard (or new BIOS), but I suppose that it could mean
some limit on the total number of changes besides the motherboard.

Note that the OEM version of XP installed by major corporation (e.g., Dell,
Gateway) does not use the same sort of activation as that sold to smaller PC
makers (like you). The former is usually "BIOS locked", and should not
require re-activation, unless the BIOS is updated, or the motherboard is
replaced. And, if you get a warantee repair from a major PC maker, they
should handle the re-activation for you.

But, assuming that you have the "retail" version of XP, not the OEM version,
then the number of re-activations is theoretically unlimited. BUT, if you
do more than about one every 120 days, the automatic re-activation will
fail, and you will need to talk to Microsoft support. They will certainly
ask what you are trying to do. Replacing hardware, such as disks, CD, NIC,
even motherboard are all permitted under the retail license. If they are
satisfied, they will trade strings of digits with you to re-activate. I had
to do this once; it took about 5 minutes.
 
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