XP Pro makes me re-activate even when I'm re-installing over itsel

[Guest]

Some program I installed messed up my WinXP Pro and I ended up having to boot to the XP Pro installation CD, format and reinstall. The program detected that I had windows already installed and I chose to format over it, but the program was not smart enough to realize that I was installing the exact same copy over itself, and forced me to re-activate and since I had used my last activation I had to call MS and get a new activation code.

Now, according to the Microsoft rep. I will have to buy a new copy of XP Pro next time I have to reformat and I'll be out $200 bucks!! It seems extremely unfair. I should ONLY have to re-activate if I have changed hardware or installing on a different machine and not have to reactivate if I'm reinstalling over the SAME machine! Are there any MS reps out there that can tell me what I can do about this. I feel cheated and ripped off and I do NOT think MS intended to do this!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I think you may have misunderstood the conversation. You can activate
or reactivate Windows XP as often as you wish, as long as you install or
reinstall Windows XP on the same computer. However, you'll have to contact
Microsoft if unable to activate via the internet to obtain a new activation code
at no charge.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Some program I installed messed up my WinXP Pro and I ended up having to boot to the XP Pro installation CD,
format and reinstall. The program detected that I had windows already installed and I chose to format over it,
but the program was not smart enough to realize that I was installing the exact same copy over itself, and
forced me to re-activate and since I had used my last activation I had to call MS and get a new activation
code.
|
| Now, according to the Microsoft rep. I will have to buy a new copy of XP Pro next time I have to reformat
and I'll be out $200 bucks!! It seems extremely unfair. I should ONLY have to re-activate if I have changed
hardware or installing on a different machine and not have to reactivate if I'm reinstalling over the SAME
machine! Are there any MS reps out there that can tell me what I can do about this. I feel cheated and ripped
off and I do NOT think MS intended to do this!

 

[Guest]

Woo hoo!! Thank you so much!!! I do not know what the MS Rep meant when she said it was a "One time thing" when I asked if I should save the registration code she gave me. Very odd, Or I'm just confused at 4:AM in the morning. hehe

Thanks again!

 

[Steve N.]

Woo hoo!! Thank you so much!!! I do not know what the MS Rep meant
when she said it was a "One time thing" when I asked if I should save
the registration code she gave me. Very odd, Or I'm just confused at
4:AM in the morning. hehe

Thanks again!

Yeah, 4AM can have that effect

Save the code anyway, in case you need to re-activate in the future.

What software messed up XP so bad that you had to re-install XP anyway?
Usually there are easier and better ways to deal with most problems.

Steve

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Well, of course you'd have to activate after formatting the hard
drive and reinstalling the OS. I don't understand how anyone could
possibly expect otherwise, since the hard drive format would have
erased the OS's record of once having been activated, along with
everything else.

If the Microsoft representative told you that you'd need to buy a
new WinXP license the next time, I can only conclude that your
explanation of events wasn't very convincing, and the agent concluded
that you were attempting to install one license on multiple computers.
(Another, less likely possibility, is that you managed to connect to a
trainee who was, during that call, unmonitored.) Were you, by any
chance, a bit angry/upset -- based upon your completely unreasonable
belief that the OS would so how magically "know" it had already been
activated once -- and therefore venting/ranting when you spoke to the
agent?

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. If it's been more than 120 days since you last activated
that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to activate via
the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you might have to
make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

Some program I installed messed up my WinXP Pro and I ended up

having to boot to the XP Pro installation CD, format and reinstall.
The program detected that I had windows already installed and I chose
to format over it, but the program was not smart enough to realize
that I was installing the exact same copy over itself, and forced me
to re-activate and since I had used my last activation I had to call
MS and get a new activation code.

Now, according to the Microsoft rep. I will have to buy a new copy

of XP Pro next time I have to reformat and I'll be out $200 bucks!!
It seems extremely unfair. I should ONLY have to re-activate if I have
changed hardware or installing on a different machine and not have to
reactivate if I'm reinstalling over the SAME machine! Are there any MS
reps out there that can tell me what I can do about this. I feel
cheated and ripped off and I do NOT think MS intended to do this!

 

[Alex Nichol]

Some program I installed messed up my WinXP Pro and I ended up having to boot to the XP Pro installation CD, format and reinstall. The program detected that I had windows already installed and I chose to format over it, but the program was not smart enough to realize that I was installing the exact same copy over itself, and forced me to re-activate and since I had used my last activation I had to call MS and get a new activation code.

If you format the disk you are starting from scratch, and the system has
no way of knowing it is activated. But if it is substantially the same
hardware you check out all is working (you have 30 days), then get on
the net, go to Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools -
Activate Windows and do so again on the net in about 20 seconds

 

[Alex Nichol]

Now, according to the Microsoft rep. I will have to buy a new copy of XP Pro next time I have to reformat and I'll be out $200 bucks!! It seems extremely unfair.

ANd that interpretation - if indeed it ever was made, is totally wrong.
See my page www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

Woo hoo!! Thank you so much!!! I do not know what the MS Rep meant when she said it was a "One time thing" when I asked if I should save the registration code she gave me.

That means that the code concerned relates to this occasion of
activating, and you can't save it up to use next time, but will have to
get a new one. which should *not* require you to phone in yourself
anyway
That code involves things like the time at which the installation
started.