First off, this is my Dad's computer he bought in 2003 online with winblows xp home on it I put an ATI 9250 in it (he has onboard video) in hopes of getting a dual monitor setup. After setting up the video card, we got a 'You must activate winblows in 3 days" message.

My Dad called me this evening asking for a number to call microsoft to activate. I told him to just click on the icon, and it will give you the number to call. Long story short, this is the last day he can use winblows according to the OS! We spent at least an hour on hold with microsoft, and the computer is still not activated!

I have had to re-activate my main rig several times due to changing from IDE to SATA and various hardware changes, never a problem.

Any ideas or suggestions on this? If it were my computer, format and reinstall, but he will not do that, even looks at me funny when I suggest reinstalling winblows on the computer.

Any ideas, suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Oh yeah, get a shortcut missing when I tried the winblows activation option on the computer.

Thanks for your time.

E

it really should give you a number to call after you try to activate it online. if it doesnt---sounds like the registry got messed up somehow.....

Quote: Originally Posted by LwrS10 it really should give you a number to call after you try to activate it online. if it doesnt---sounds like the registry got messed up somehow.....

I think you are on to something there, when I tried to activate it, I just got the flashlight box, then nothing. If the registry is messed up, what is my best course of action?

Thanks for the help!

E

Perhaps unrelated, but...

When I set up my dedicated folder machine, I started with wiping the HD, installing Win98 (full) and then my XP Home UPGRADE CD to finish the job. The computer wasn't on the network yet, but for some reason, it never asked me for the activation thing (WTF )it's still puttering away here under my desk, no issues, and DL's all the security patches/fixes/updates with no problems...

See if the machine set a Restore Point while finalizing the install, you may be able to get it back to where it was when it was asking you for the Activation Code... (maybe, not sure, but worth a shot, IMO)

Fred, if you need, I can send you the Activation number I have stored in my cell for just such occasions as this...

Looks like this problem is solved, thanks for all the help and ideas! My Dad spent 7 hours on the phone with Microstuff today... 7 hours... I could not do that. I would format, install Mandrivia, or toss the dang thing in the river first!

The best I can tell is that it was an OEM WinXP version, and that caused major problems, also some spyware screwing things up. He is activated and back up, dang, I have to go back and get the folding program back on!

Have a good one, and thanks agian for all the help

E

Quote: Originally Posted by Fred_G Looks like this problem is solved, thanks for all the help and ideas! My Dad spent 7 hours on the phone with Microstuff today... 7 hours... I could not do that. I would format, install Mandrivia, or toss the dang thing in the river first! The best I can tell is that it was an OEM WinXP version, and that caused major problems, also some spyware screwing things up. He is activated and back up, dang, I have to go back and get the folding program back on! Have a good one, and thanks agian for all the help E

This is a situation I have never heard of. My dad bought a computer online with windoze installed and activated on it. It is an OEM version of windows. Through some research and what the windows folks said, the mobo is tied into the OS. His mobo died a month or so ago, was out of warranty with the company he bought it from, but was replaced by ASUS.

Here begins the problem.... From what I have seen, a pre-activated OEM windows computer cannot handle very many changes. The mobo change raised one flag, then the new video card told this version of windoze that it cannot work any more. My Dad had to pay $35 to microstuff to get it back up more or less. Last time I was there, he was slowly progressing with the upgrades to Service Pack 2.

To properly replace the mobo, you would have to buy (since it is old) a mobo from the builder of the computer so that it is compatable with the OEM version of winblows.

I understand Microsucks position, if you have their OS, you should have paid for it. But to cause this much hassle to a person who bought even an OEM winblows OS is crazy! How does this hurt the Haxers?

Have a good one all! RANT over!

E

Quote: Originally Posted by Fred_G This is a situation I have never heard of. My dad bought a computer online with windoze installed and activated on it. It is an OEM version of windows. Through some research and what the windows folks said, the mobo is tied into the OS. His mobo died a month or so ago, was out of warranty with the company he bought it from, but was replaced by ASUS. Here begins the problem.... From what I have seen, a pre-activated OEM windows computer cannot handle very many changes. The mobo change raised one flag, then the new video card told this version of windoze that it cannot work any more. My Dad had to pay $35 to microstuff to get it back up more or less. Last time I was there, he was slowly progressing with the upgrades to Service Pack 2. To properly replace the mobo, you would have to buy (since it is old) a mobo from the builder of the computer so that it is compatable with the OEM version of winblows. I understand Microsucks position, if you have their OS, you should have paid for it. But to cause this much hassle to a person who bought even an OEM winblows OS is crazy! How does this hurt the Haxers? Have a good one all! RANT over! E

I've seen this before. It was on either a Dell or HP a couple of years ago. Same setup. The systemboard died and was replaced. He upgraded the HD but wasn't able to install the OS from the CD because it detected a different systemboard than what was originally installed.

I know what Im about to say is quite taboo around here, but I have a purchased copy of windows, cd, cd-key and manuals and the nice little booklet cd case. And guess what! Im using a hacked version right now!...you know why? I re-install my pc every 1-2 months and now my cd-key with microsoft, after about 8 re-installs is

OUT OF ACTIVATIONS!

I spent $200 on a copy of XP Pro and I cant even use it! Screw Microsoft!

Quote: Originally Posted by TYCOON I know what Im about to say is quite taboo around here, but I have a purchased copy of windows, cd, cd-key and manuals and the nice little booklet cd case. And guess what! Im using a hacked version right now!...you know why? I re-install my pc every 1-2 months and now my cd-key with microsoft, after about 8 re-installs is OF ACTIVATIONS! I spent $200 on a copy of XP Pro and I cant even use it! Screw Microsoft!

I have been lucky so far, all I have had to do is call winblows and sit on the phone, and eventually I get someone who can activate it. Change your harddrive interface, have to reactivate. Stupid... I know some people with, well, 'left-handed' copies of XP, and they never seem to have any trouble.

That is some twisted logic! Torture their legit customers with re-activation so somehow all the customers with a 'copy' of windows will rush out and buy a legit OS that is more of a hassle...

It seems that when people get super rich, they lose touch with reality. Look at Trump's hair, all the crazy stuff you hear about M Jackson, and other super rich people over the years. I guess Bill Gates is going to change his name to $.


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That was supposed to say "out of activations"


And im really pissed at the moment...im online, however the family pc...is out of activations...wow...I hate microsoft..