I paid for my xp pro cd - but the key has been used too many times, they say. I think that is stupid. You are only allowed so many reformats? Why should I give up my key that I paid for? ^&^%&*^$ MS!
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I paid for my xp pro cd - but the key has been used too many times, they say. I think that is stupid. You are only allowed so many reformats? Why should I give up my key that I paid for? ^&^%&*^$ MS!
With XP you'll have to call M$ to re-establish the authenticity. A pain but that's how it is. I'm sure someone has the toll free # handy.
its true what lynchknot is saying.
if you request activation of xp too many times.
they will refuse to grant you the activation key and you will need to reformat every month or pay to receive an extention.
this is the same if you are doing it online or on the phone.
well, you don't have to reformat every month, you just have to telephone activation from now on when you reformat.
so did they help you out or are you gonna be locked out in a month?
Just when he formats again.Quote:
Originally posted by egghead
so did they help you out or are you gonna be locked out in a month?
It's just the ability to register online is disabled. The product key is the same but you have to call in.
I just tell them that my hardware is incompatable and they reactivate me with a new key,but as it was explained your original key stays on file.No biggy.After 2 times activating you are blocked.The phone number is right on the screen and on the package pamphlet.:cool:
Just link them to lynchknot@TZ, i'm sure they will understand...hehe
:( I like to reformat after a couple of months. With or without problem. All the while I thought there are no limit :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally posted by lynchknot
I paid for my xp pro cd - but the key has been used too many times, they say. I think that is stupid. You are only allowed so many reformats? Why should I give up my key that I paid for? ^&^%&*^$ MS!
Now.... /me wonders why
Question (I'm curious): Did you remove or add or change any of your hardware?
BTW, the baby is sooo cute :cool:
Yes I changed PC but kept my HD. The first couple times was no problem. It's just that I reformatted 4 times in the last couple weeks!
create a disk image and there will be no need to add an activation to your PC, Just restore from that image :D AFAIK.
Does this work? It would solve a lot of problems :D Im lucky I have a corporate version ;)Quote:
Originally posted by Big Booger
create a disk image and there will be no need to add an activation to your PC, Just restore from that image :D AFAIK.
ps. How big would the image be for a fresh install of XP with SP1 plus updates ??
But don't forget to activate before you make your image.:D :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally posted by Big Booger
create a disk image and there will be no need to add an activation to your PC, Just restore from that image :D AFAIK.
of course, zipp hit the rhino in the nads.
You have to activate your XP copy, then do the disk image, and as long as you install it on the same machine, you should be golden.
:D
I have an image of XP Pro with Sp1 without any programs nor updates = 707 mb.Quote:
Originally posted by cash_site
Does this work? It would solve a lot of problems :D Im lucky I have a corporate version ;)
ps. How big would the image be for a fresh install of XP with SP1 plus updates ??
if your using ghost, enable compression
i turned off system restore in xp to reduce its size and got it down to fit on a single 650mb disc :)
this image has all my drivers and driver applications for sound video capture etc...
only problem is. i don't use that computer anymore:(
can we create a generic image with no drivers?
can we uninstall all the drivers and create an image after shutdown?
10 minute image install is better than the 40min + install
I don't mind installing windows - it's the reinstallation of all the programs and settings that get me.
I agree Lynch, windows especially XP is simple and easy to install, I hate doing all the updates, why cant they bring out SP2 sooner :msncry:
Excellent, so XP SP1 should fit on 1 cd :D that does make it simplier ... I wonder how many cd's for OfficeXP SP2 as well ;)
Could I just run all my programs and games in D and just keep my OS in C? I had one game in D when I reformatted and it's still there working.
I don't see why you can't do that Lynch.I've got my 80Gig split up where the opsys is on C and everything else is on the other partitions.Then when you reinstall windows it will ask about those other partitions and you just reformat C and install xp on that.As long as you keep the filing systems the same you can access the other parts.
well, yes, you can install all your apps in D, but the image has to have the entries in the registry, if not, it doesn't care that you have programs in another drive. I guess you could always do backups of part of the registry.
Humm, it is possible to run a registry back up, and then install a program and have a backup only with the changes?? then you could have a registry back up by program, and just run that. Just remember that some progrmas even if you install them in D or E will have to install some files in C, or the OS drive. An example is Office, but other programs put files in the Windows directory, or a shared directory (Ex. Symantec app)
No you can't. Even if you try to point all installations to Drive D it will still install some stuff on C. At this point if you fromat C, then all the programs on D will not work. Look you can always make an image with all of your programs installed. I keep 2 images myself, a fresh install of XP and then another with everything (all my programs) included. If you screw up there are always 2 images to choose from.Quote:
Originally posted by lynchknot
Could I just run all my programs and games in D and just keep my OS in C? I had one game in D when I reformatted and it's still there working.
That's it lynchknot :) You've changed PC which is the reason on why you received "invalid key". It was published in MS page " the Microsoft activation clearinghouse system will automatically allow activation to occur over the Internet four times in one year on substantially different hardware." - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../xpactiv.asp#dQuote:
Yes I changed PC but kept my HD. The first couple times was no problem. It's just that I reformatted 4 times in the last couple weeks!
I do not have to worry then since I'm not changing PC ;)
"Reinstallation of Windows XP on the same or similar hardware and a subsequent, reactivation can be accomplished an infinite number of times"
BB's idea is very useful (Thanks BB) to avoid activation error or invalid key. I agree with you lynchknot :)... it is easy to reinstall Windows but we are trying to avoid the activation problem that you just had. BB's suggestion should help users who changed hardware or plans to change hardware :)Quote:
Originally posted by lynchknot
I don't mind installing windows - it's the reinstallation of all the programs and settings that get me.
Regards,
Donna
Yeah WPA was to prevent the widespread of piracy by limiting the number of times you can activate, but why wouldnt the WPA be updated after the first time you activated on the new computer, so the next time would be as if it was the normal computer ??
Also, you can install apps and games on other HDs, just be careful if they require some registry keys or install files on C. I know it works, cos I received a copy of some software straight from their computer ;)
A nice DVD burner would solve our problems, just create image of everything installed :D Maybe TZ can buy one, then pass it around for everyone to make a backup ?? LOL
I have a DVD burner, i'm trying to arrange my desk and stabilize my pc so that I can do that.
MY XP key got "locked" out due to being used to many times and for a while I had to use telephone activation.
However they may have changed this, or have a timeout in place as the last time I was able to activate online without a phone call
perhaps they monitor to see if the key has been "mass" used for a while and if not, allow it to be used again without phone authorisation
Just a thought
I think, the list of hardware gets updated every 120 days or so, so you can activate it online. Not sure though.
I think activation is the most stupid idea MS have ever come up with since windows ME.
Can you imagine how much it costs them to run those activation servers, man the phones for customers who need to activate over the telephone, and offer technical support for screwed up activation issues???
Not to mention how many customers they lost because customers don't want to be tied to MS once they buy the software. Who wants MS to watch over them all the time. MS can decide what hardware you can run on your copy of Windows.
I mean think about it, if you buy a copy, they are saying you can only install it on 1 maybe 2 PCs. So what happens if you sell your PC, and buy a new one. Do you have to buy a new OS?
I hate activation. I know older people who haven't a clue about how to do the phone activation, so they just give up.
It's sneaky what MS is doing.. that is why I have started using Linux, Red Hat and Mandrake. I can install it on as many PCs as I like, and say the hell with MS if they become to invasive..
I recommend you all to give linux a shot as soon as Red Hat 10 and Mandrake 10 are released (might be some time)!