XP activation hel1

[CMonster]

I have built a few systems now with with WinXP on them and had relatively no activation troubles at all -these were perfectly legal installs.

Today was different, however, after I replaced the failed motherboard of a low-end emachine with a "near" identical board - WinXP then demanded to be reactivated in order to log on. Activation via Internet was refused when using the sticker product key, so I called Microsoft and was passed to 3 different people at 3 different numbers, the last guy refered me back to emachines -emachines told me it was a software issue with Microsoft and refered me back to Microsoft

Finally, I ran the product restore CD -loosing all of a 5th grade classes data and custom settings (not a big loss) and at last the product activated okay over the Internet using the sticker key on back of the box -sheese!

What a hassle for honesty sake.

[DanGrease]

I agree it can be a pain
This is why you use Linux yourself isnt it CMonster?



dan

But the 'feature' is there to PROTECT you, CMonster.

I'm uber-glad that MSDN versions don't need to be activated.

[Scott Tiger]

Originally posted by Whir
I'm uber-glad that MSDN versions don't need to be activated.

I didn't realized that. I thought the key you used is what determined whether or not you need to activate Windows or not. Granted, not all CD's will use a corporate keys but still..

You are probably right, ST. But I have the MSDN key to go with MSDN versions.

And sometimes you will still have to activate stuff from MSDN too. When we first got XP on the subscrip, we had to activate it, but we each had ten licenses. Somewhere along the line we got a copy that didn't require activation. <shrug>