Windows activation

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I have installed windows xp professional on a new gateway 200X (arc). The installation of windows goes great. When I try to install the drivers from the gateway driver disk, windows asks for imediate activation. Of course, Gateway says it's Microsofts problem, and they will not help. I can't activate windows at that time because none of the machine specifics are recognized yet, ie. no modem, no network cards, no video cards or monitors, etc. Any help out there
Thank
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Choose the option to activate by phone.
Call the displayed number, done in about 5 minutes.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


Joffa said:
I have installed windows xp professional on a new gateway 200X
Click to expand...
(arc). The installation of windows goes great. When I try to install
the drivers from the gateway driver disk, windows asks for imediate
activation. Of course, Gateway says it's Microsofts problem, and they
will not help. I can't activate windows at that time because none of
the machine specifics are recognized yet, ie. no modem, no network
cards, no video cards or monitors, etc. Any help out there?
 
The problem with activating at that time in the installation process is that several pieces of hardware have not been recognized by the computer yet. I think enough would change to trigger another activation request. Bottom line, Gateway's driver install program is flawed and they won't acknowledge that.
 
It asks you to activate then, do you have to activate then or can it
wait?
If it can wait, there is no problem at all.
If you have to activate again, just do it.
There is no limit as to the number of times you can activate.
Windows XP must be activated one way or another.

One thing is for sure, this is OEM Windows XP and thus it is not
Microsoft's issue since Microsoft has nothing to do with Microsoft.
If the Gateway tech referred you to Microsoft for more than
activation, the tech was mistaken.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


joffa said:
The problem with activating at that time in the installation process
Click to expand...
is that several pieces of hardware have not been recognized by the
computer yet. I think enough would change to trigger another
activation request. Bottom line, Gateway's driver install program is
flawed and they won't acknowledge that.
 
This is not an OEM version of Windows XP. I purchased it from Fry's Electronics a couple of days ago. Retail version, Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 1a. (full version, not upgrade) I purchased this to replace the Windows XP Home version that came on the Gateway computer. The problem is with a install program on the Gateway driver restore disk. The program installs drivers for the video and monitor. Gateway said to download the installer from their website, but it is the same installer program (same version number) as what is on my restore disk. This is just one of those "it's not my problems" issues. I have to admit, in the last 15 years that I have used computers, this is the FIRST time that I have had any problems like this. Unfortunetly, this one involves about $1,500 in computers and software, bummer!
 
Since it is retail, Gateway does not have to help since it is not the
original OS.
Microsoft does not normally deal with drivers since drivers are the
responsibility of the hardware manufacturer.
In this specific situation it is really no ones responsibility to
assist for free.

The only thing it seems you can do is install Windows, 30 days to
activate.
You can install the drivers in that time and then activate.
Since Windows XP is retail, you must activate.
The OEM Windows XP Home that came preinstalled was most likely
preactivated.
The Windows XP Home CD is now a coaster since OEM is normally non
transferable regardless the condition of the original computer.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


joffa said:
This is not an OEM version of Windows XP. I purchased it from Fry's
Click to expand...
Electronics a couple of days ago. Retail version, Windows XP
Professional, Service Pack 1a. (full version, not upgrade) I purchased
this to replace the Windows XP Home version that came on the Gateway
computer. The problem is with a install program on the Gateway driver
restore disk. The program installs drivers for the video and monitor.
Gateway said to download the installer from their website, but it is
the same installer program (same version number) as what is on my
restore disk. This is just one of those "it's not my problems" issues.
I have to admit, in the last 15 years that I have used computers, this
is the FIRST time that I have had any problems like this.
Unfortunetly, this one involves about $1,500 in computers and
software, bummer!
 
Your missing the problem. It will NOT give me 30 days to activate. It requests IMEDIATE activation. I install windows, all goes fine. I then begin installing drivers that windows did not install. When I do this, Windows requests that I activate it before it will let me use the computer. No way around it. No thirty days! Do it NOW! I can't get the computer far enough into completion before this happens. It takes approx. 1 hour to install windows. 5 minutes later, it won't function without activation!
 
But do you activate by phone?

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


joffa said:
Your missing the problem. It will NOT give me 30 days to activate.
Click to expand...
It requests IMEDIATE activation. I install windows, all goes fine. I
then begin installing drivers that windows did not install. When I do
this, Windows requests that I activate it before it will let me use
the computer. No way around it. No thirty days! Do it NOW! I can't get
the computer far enough into completion before this happens. It takes
approx. 1 hour to install windows. 5 minutes later, it won't function
without activation!
 
You may Activate it a dozen times if you need to, you just have to call the
800 number and explain to them that it is still on the same PC and you have
to Activate before you install all the drivers, and afterwards too. Don't
worry about bothering them, afterall THEY ASKED FOR ALL THE TROUBLE if the
first place.

P.S.
Most of their personel are very polite when you call.
 
joffa said:
Your missing the problem. It will NOT give me 30 days to activate. It
Click to expand...
requests IMEDIATE activation. I install windows, all goes fine. I then begin
installing drivers that windows did not install. When I do this, Windows
requests that I activate it before it will let me use the computer. No way
around it. No thirty days! Do it NOW! I can't get the computer far enough
into completion before this happens. It takes approx. 1 hour to install
windows. 5 minutes later, it won't function without activation!

So activate it by phone. If you need to activate again after the drivers are
installed, which I doubt as activation depends on actual hardware, not
drivers, all you have to do is activate again. It really isn't a big deal.

If the problem is the drivers on the Gateway CD, you could just go to
Gateway's site (on another computer) and download the drivers you need and
burn them to a CD and then use that CD to install. It doesn;t matter that
the drivers are the same version, Gateway had probably customized the CD
somehow, which is why it's triggering the immediate request for activation.
 
Lawrence;
It is no trouble and no one asked for the trouble you suggest.

Also it has already been mentioned that "There is no limit as to the
number of times you can activate", not limited to 12 as you suggest.

It is also not always a toll free number.
Many parts of the world do not have a toll free activation number.
 
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