Activation-How do I stop the insanity?

ANONYMOUS wrote:
Alias wrote:


Oh, and if he had a cracked OS, not a genuine one, he would never
have had to activate. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.



Done it. Cracked OS would probably not work on his system considering
he has PnP requiring re-activation! This says it all!

This makes no sense, and all is says is that you are a fool.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

Ghostrider wrote:
Mark Smith wrote:

"kurttrail" wrote in
message ...

Mark Smith wrote:

Many people use the "Corp Edition" to bypass PA problems, even
though they own a legit copy.



Wait a minute. You telling me if I have XP Pro I don't have to fool
with this activation?



Using a "volume license" may avert some of the issues related
to activation but it also opens the door to other ones. Use of
volume licenses should be limited to sites where they belong,
such as the business with an IT staff to roll out the updates
and patches. For the average home user to attempt updates whilst
using Windows XP on a volume license would not work well without
the person having the knowledge of an IT to maintain it or access
to an IT who is supporting the machine under the license. YMMV on
this idea.

You don't need IT knowledge to update a Corp Version. All you need is
to learn Common Sense Computing.

http://comsense.microscum.com

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

Mark Smith wrote:
"kurttrail" wrote in
message ...
Mark Smith wrote:

Many people use the "Corp Edition" to bypass PA problems, even
though they own a legit copy.


Wait a minute. You telling me if I have XP Pro I don't have to fool
with this activation?

No, the Corp Version or Conversion is a Volume Licensed copy of XP, or
one that has been converted using VL files.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

Richard Urban wrote:
I have plugged in thousands of USB devices into many hundreds of
different computers. The next time doing so causes me to have to
either reboot or reactivate a computer, will be the first time that I
have seen this phenomenon.

I would call this an anomaly, not a standard occurrence. Deal with it
and get on with your life. It is inconsequential, at best.


"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
About three days ago I posted a message here or in the hardware group
defending MS Activation because it took me less than 3 clicks; it
was fast and easy. Well guess what.

I hooked up a USB camera last night. I got a popup saying that
before the effects could take place I had to reboot. When I
rebooted, I got the Activation popup saying I my hardware
configuration had changed. Before that I switched HDD's around and
put in a new cd drive. I
don't know how I could have exceeded anything. Anyway, I let the
activation automatically dial me into their 800 number. I am on
dial-up by the way. Then I got disconnected saying I had exceeded my
activations. I then
realized I was going to have to enter a 60 digit number, so I said
screw it and opted out to talk directly to a rep. I was on hold for
4 minutes. When she came on, I told her all I did was connect a usb
camera. She explained that everytime my hardware changed I would
have to reactivate. I told her I had a new video card coming and a
new DVD writer
coming, so I had better wait before reactivating now because I don't
want to have to go through this again when my new hardware arrives
from newegg. She said I could not wait and that I was going to have
to call out
my 60 digit number and then she would reissue me a new number that I
had to enter to reactivate.

This whole process took exactly 10 minutes. And I am going to have
to go through this every time I connect a USB camera? Are you
kidding me? The camera is a cybershot and when I plug it into my USB
hub it says
found new hardware but you must reboot before changes can take
effect. Will MS pay for me to get a card reader so I don't have to
keep
disconnecting my camera? I can't believe I am going to have to go
through this again when my video card gets here. I am going to make
damn sure I do the DVD writer at the same time.

How much money is MS saving by doing this activation? I am telling
you that I am actually thinking about getting an illegal copy of XP
now!!!!! When I bought this XP from Circuit City, you guys should
have had
this disclaimer on it:

WARNING: Microsoft now makes it very inconvenient for you to use XP
if you are going to build your own computer.

Yes, other people being treated like they are guilty is inconsequential
to those that are fascists at heart.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

Richard Urban wrote:
Your very first post.

I am just telling you that plugging in a USB camera should NOT be the
cause of a reboot or a reactivation. If you know this, the
information you posted was extraneous and not pertinent to what
occurred with your system, and should not even have been included
with the description of your experience. By the end of your first
post you turned to ranting.
BTW, the time you took with only your first post would have been well
spent by just reactivating your operating system. You have spent well
over ten times that amount of time now!

What a Dick! Activation only screws with real paying customers, and is
a total waste of time, and sometimes more.



"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
I never said the camera caused the activation!!!!!!! What is wrong
with you people? I said that is why I rebooted!! I also said right
after that that I switched around two HDD's and put in a new cdrom.
What post were you guys reading?

"Richard Urban" wrote in message
...
I have plugged in thousands of USB devices into many hundreds of
different computers. The next time doing so causes me to have to
either reboot or reactivate a computer, will be the first time that
I have seen this phenomenon.

I would call this an anomaly, not a standard occurrence. Deal with
it and get on with your life. It is inconsequential, at best.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
About three days ago I posted a message here or in the hardware
group defending MS Activation because it took me less than 3
clicks; it was fast and easy. Well guess what.

I hooked up a USB camera last night. I got a popup saying that
before the effects could take place I had to reboot. When I
rebooted, I got the Activation popup saying I my hardware
configuration had changed. Before that I switched HDD's around and
put in a new cd drive. I
don't know how I could have exceeded anything. Anyway, I let the
activation automatically dial me into their 800 number. I am on
dial-up by the way. Then I got disconnected saying I had exceeded
my activations. I
then realized I was going to have to enter a 60 digit number, so I
said screw it and opted out to talk directly to a rep. I was on
hold for 4 minutes. When she came on, I told her all I did was
connect a usb camera. She explained that everytime my hardware
changed I would have to reactivate. I told her I had a new video
card coming and a new DVD writer
coming, so I had better wait before reactivating now because I
don't want to have to go through this again when my new hardware
arrives from newegg. She said I could not wait and that I was going
to have to call out
my 60 digit number and then she would reissue me a new number that
I had to enter to reactivate.

This whole process took exactly 10 minutes. And I am going to have
to go through this every time I connect a USB camera? Are you
kidding me? The camera is a cybershot and when I plug it into my
USB hub it
says found new hardware but you must reboot before changes can
take effect. Will MS pay for me to get a card reader so I don't
have to keep
disconnecting my camera? I can't believe I am going to have to go
through this again when my video card gets here. I am going to
make damn sure I do the DVD writer at the same time.

How much money is MS saving by doing this activation? I am telling
you that I am actually thinking about getting an illegal copy of
XP now!!!!! When I bought this XP from Circuit City, you guys
should have had
this disclaimer on it:

WARNING: Microsoft now makes it very inconvenient for you to use
XP if you are going to build your own computer.



--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

Richard Urban wrote:
I know that it seems to suck, but you just got a bad tech. A popup on
your screen will tell you exactly how many days you have to activate
or reactivate. Believe what your computer tells you, not some person
from a third world country.

I change hardware much more than others also. I have had to
reactivate about 4-5 times over the years because of this. My
situation is NOT the norm. Many, many people buy a computer and used
it until it dies, without even adding one additional program or piece
of hardware. They don't know that they can. They replace what may go
bad by sending the computer back to the manufacturer. What they
usually get is an exact replacement part.
Also, their computer may have, in fact, been activated by the
manufacturer or need no activation because of the way the
manufacturer installs the operating system on their computers. The
customer/user does not even know that the process exists.

You and I are different. I have learned to live with it and I am
certain that you can also. At most, it is a phone call of about 5
minutes.

Yep and some Americans learned to live with the Bush administrations
lies.

And the phone call takes more than 5 minutes liar. Just navigating the
BS menus, and typing in your activation code, and then having to repeat
it takes longer than 5 minutes. And that is if a rep is available
immediately. MS seems to have cut down on the number of phone reps, and
a wait on hold is likely to.



"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
"Richard Urban" wrote in message
news:eaMB1D6%

......you turned to ranting.
BTW, the time you took with only your first post would have been well
spent
by just reactivating your operating system. You have spent well over
ten times that amount of time now!


Thanks for the recap.

You are right that I am ranting now. I am frustrated, especially
because I know I have a new video card coming and a 1gig of ram
coming. The MS tech said when I install that I am going to have
activate again. You are wrong about the USB not needed in my original
post. I have
never seen a pop up like that before, so it was relevant.

And I did reactivate. I had no choice. The tech said I had no
choice, even though there was a tab on the activation screen that
said I could continue later. I had asked if I could wait because I
knew I had new hardware coming.

I hope you noticed from all this that I have not complained about XP
at all. It is just the activation, and because I just learned from
the tech that I am going to have to get a new number every time I
activate from now on.

And before when all I had to do was click three times, I had no
complaint about the activation process.



--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

Ghostrider wrote:
Mark Smith wrote:

"kurttrail" wrote in
message ...

Mark Smith wrote:

Many people use the "Corp Edition" to bypass PA problems, even
though they own a legit copy.



Wait a minute. You telling me if I have XP Pro I don't have to fool
with this activation?



Using a "volume license" may avert some of the issues related
to activation but it also opens the door to other ones. Use of
volume licenses should be limited to sites where they belong,
such as the business with an IT staff to roll out the updates
and patches. For the average home user to attempt updates whilst
using Windows XP on a volume license would not work well without
the person having the knowledge of an IT to maintain it or access
to an IT who is supporting the machine under the license. YMMV on
this idea.

Getting updates with a volume license is no different than getting updates
with a regular license. We have used both in the same domain environment. It
works the same out of the domain also.

Mark
If you visit:
http://www.licenturion.com/xp/
and download:
XPInfo executable
you will have a tool that shows the status of your system "votes".
At least on my system, no votes change when installing/uninstalling USB devices including my Nikon CoolPix 4300.
Stuart


"Mark Smith" wrote in message ...
About three days ago I posted a message here or in the hardware group
defending MS Activation because it took me less than 3 clicks; it was fast
and easy. Well guess what.

I hooked up a USB camera last night. I got a popup saying that before the
effects could take place I had to reboot. When I rebooted, I got the
Activation popup saying I my hardware configuration had changed.

Before that I switched HDD's around and put in a new cd drive. I don't know
how I could have exceeded anything. Anyway, I let the activation
automatically dial me into their 800 number. I am on dial-up by the way.

Then I got disconnected saying I had exceeded my activations. I then
realized I was going to have to enter a 60 digit number, so I said screw it
and opted out to talk directly to a rep. I was on hold for 4 minutes. When
she came on, I told her all I did was connect a usb camera. She explained
that everytime my hardware changed I would have to reactivate.

I told her I had a new video card coming and a new DVD writer coming, so I
had better wait before reactivating now because I don't want to have to go
through this again when my new hardware arrives from newegg.

She said I could not wait and that I was going to have to call out my 60
digit number and then she would reissue me a new number that I had to enter
to reactivate.

This whole process took exactly 10 minutes. And I am going to have to go
through this every time I connect a USB camera? Are you kidding me?

The camera is a cybershot and when I plug it into my USB hub it says found
new hardware but you must reboot before changes can take effect.

Will MS pay for me to get a card reader so I don't have to keep
disconnecting my camera? I can't believe I am going to have to go through
this again when my video card gets here. I am going to make damn sure I do
the DVD writer at the same time.

How much money is MS saving by doing this activation? I am telling you that
I am actually thinking about getting an illegal copy of XP now!!!!!

When I bought this XP from Circuit City, you guys should have had this
disclaimer on it:

WARNING: Microsoft now makes it very inconvenient for you to use XP if you
are going to build your own computer.

"John Corliss" wrote in message
...
Alias wrote:
(clipped)
Actually, if you clean install XP SP1, followed by SP 2, then
updates, then motherboard drivers, video card, audio card drivers,
then programs, and *then* devices like printers, cameras, etc.,
you're much better off.

Thanks for mentioning this because I'm going to try to upgrade from ME
to XP Home SP2 using this technique. For the last couple of days, I
was thinking about how best to deal with the peripherals. However, can
you provide more info about why it's better to install all the
programs before attaching and detecting peripherals? With M.E.,
whenever I do a format and total reinstall, I always make sure that
all of my hardware (including all peripherals) is functioning before
installing any programs (well, that is except for Winzip and
Acroread).

A lot of USB peripherals must have the drivers installed before the
hookup.
Winzip has caused me problems with XP. Besides windows has its own
built in zip/extract function.

"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
"ANONYMOUS" wrote in message

I am retired now after 40 years service with a top university in
London. I am an emeritus professor of Computing and Artificial
Intelligence.


LMAO!!! Now who has nothing better to do?

Ok, if you say so, I guess that makes it true. Bye bye.

PROVERB

WHEN YOU CAN'T DO.....PREACH/TEACH

You people may find it hard to believe that a pnp device could trigger
activation but, it happened to me also. I loaded the software for my web
cam(Logitech) and rebooted like it said to do. When up came the activation
screen, you must phone MS to activate. Luckily I could use the touchtone
input method of activation.

"ANONYMOUS" wrote:



Alias wrote:

It insults the intelligence of people who have paid for a product to
prove they did not once, but twice. There is no reason why paying
customers should be forced to take their time and help MS catch the "bad
guys" who just go about their cracking and laugh at dummies like you who
fall in line and say, "activation? Yes sir, yes sir, three clicks full,
sir".

I agree there is no reason for paying customers to have to go through
this process but we don't know whether the OP's problem was just because
he hooked his camera to a usb port that triggered the re-activation. It
sounds incredible to be true!



Are you openly accusing the OP of being a liar? You're kinda like
activation: guilty of piracy until you prove otherwise.


I am not accusing anybody. i am simply highlighting the flaws in the
story. It is incredible! Have you had an instance of plugging anything
to a USB port that triggered a re-activation?

We always advice people to disconnect everything from the system when
installing an OS. This includes cameras, printers, scanners etc. The
only thing that is attached is a keyboard and a mouse. Now when you
plug your printer, scanner etc, are you telling me this requires
re-acticvations?

RUBBISH or somebody said B/S.

It didn't give you the option to activate online, only by phone? Had you
changed any hardware prior to installing the camera since the last
activation?

Alias

tfw48079 wrote:

You people may find it hard to believe that a pnp device could trigger
activation but, it happened to me also. I loaded the software for my web
cam(Logitech) and rebooted like it said to do. When up came the activation
screen, you must phone MS to activate. Luckily I could use the touchtone
input method of activation.

"ANONYMOUS" wrote:



Alias wrote:

It insults the intelligence of people who have paid for a product to
prove they did not once, but twice. There is no reason why paying
customers should be forced to take their time and help MS catch the "bad
guys" who just go about their cracking and laugh at dummies like you who
fall in line and say, "activation? Yes sir, yes sir, three clicks full,
sir".


I agree there is no reason for paying customers to have to go through
this process but we don't know whether the OP's problem was just because
he hooked his camera to a usb port that triggered the re-activation. It
sounds incredible to be true!



Are you openly accusing the OP of being a liar? You're kinda like
activation: guilty of piracy until you prove otherwise.


I am not accusing anybody. i am simply highlighting the flaws in the
story. It is incredible! Have you had an instance of plugging anything
to a USB port that triggered a re-activation?

We always advice people to disconnect everything from the system when
installing an OS. This includes cameras, printers, scanners etc. The
only thing that is attached is a keyboard and a mouse. Now when you
plug your printer, scanner etc, are you telling me this requires
re-acticvations?

RUBBISH or somebody said B/S.

Frank wrote:
"John Corliss" wrote in message
...

Alias wrote:

(clipped)
Actually, if you clean install XP SP1, followed by SP 2, then
updates, then motherboard drivers, video card, audio card drivers,
then programs, and *then* devices like printers, cameras, etc.,
you're much better off.

Thanks for mentioning this because I'm going to try to upgrade from ME
to XP Home SP2 using this technique. For the last couple of days, I
was thinking about how best to deal with the peripherals. However, can
you provide more info about why it's better to install all the
programs before attaching and detecting peripherals? With M.E.,
whenever I do a format and total reinstall, I always make sure that
all of my hardware (including all peripherals) is functioning before
installing any programs (well, that is except for Winzip and
Acroread).


A lot of USB peripherals must have the drivers installed before the
hookup.
Winzip has caused me problems with XP. Besides windows has its own
built in zip/extract function.

Frank, I know that drivers sometimes need to be installed before
hardware. I was only refering to programs, not drivers.

--
Regards from John Corliss
I don't reply to trolls and other such idiots. No adware, cdware,
commercial software, crippleware, demoware, nagware, PROmotionware,
shareware, spyware, time-limited software, trialware, viruses or warez
please.

Wondering why you adopt such an aggressive/angry stance. Doesn't seem
like such a good idea when you are seeking help or advice. Just my
personal opinionthough, not trying to be a "pain".

Regards
Echy

Mark Smith wrote:
I never said the camera caused the activation!!!!!!! What is wrong with you
people? I said that is why I rebooted!! I also said right after that that I
switched around two HDD's and put in a new cdrom. What post were you guys
reading?

"Richard Urban" wrote in message
...

I have plugged in thousands of USB devices into many hundreds of different
computers. The next time doing so causes me to have to either reboot or
reactivate a computer, will be the first time that I have seen this
phenomenon.

I would call this an anomaly, not a standard occurrence. Deal with it and
get on with your life. It is inconsequential, at best.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"Mark Smith" wrote in message
.. .

About three days ago I posted a message here or in the hardware group
defending MS Activation because it took me less than 3 clicks; it was
fast and easy. Well guess what.

I hooked up a USB camera last night. I got a popup saying that before the
effects could take place I had to reboot. When I rebooted, I got the
Activation popup saying I my hardware configuration had changed.

Before that I switched HDD's around and put in a new cd drive. I don't
know how I could have exceeded anything. Anyway, I let the activation
automatically dial me into their 800 number. I am on dial-up by the way.

Then I got disconnected saying I had exceeded my activations. I then
realized I was going to have to enter a 60 digit number, so I said screw
it and opted out to talk directly to a rep. I was on hold for 4 minutes.
When she came on, I told her all I did was connect a usb camera. She
explained that everytime my hardware changed I would have to reactivate.

I told her I had a new video card coming and a new DVD writer coming, so
I had better wait before reactivating now because I don't want to have to
go through this again when my new hardware arrives from newegg.

She said I could not wait and that I was going to have to call out my 60
digit number and then she would reissue me a new number that I had to
enter to reactivate.

This whole process took exactly 10 minutes. And I am going to have to go
through this every time I connect a USB camera? Are you kidding me?

The camera is a cybershot and when I plug it into my USB hub it says
found new hardware but you must reboot before changes can take effect.

Will MS pay for me to get a card reader so I don't have to keep
disconnecting my camera? I can't believe I am going to have to go through
this again when my video card gets here. I am going to make damn sure I
do the DVD writer at the same time.

How much money is MS saving by doing this activation? I am telling you
that I am actually thinking about getting an illegal copy of XP now!!!!!

When I bought this XP from Circuit City, you guys should have had this
disclaimer on it:

WARNING: Microsoft now makes it very inconvenient for you to use XP if
you are going to build your own computer.

The last time I reactivated by phone I WAS done within 5 minutes. Sorry to
inform you of this. I was here - you weren't!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"kurttrail" wrote in message
...
Richard Urban wrote:
I know that it seems to suck, but you just got a bad tech. A popup on
your screen will tell you exactly how many days you have to activate
or reactivate. Believe what your computer tells you, not some person
from a third world country.

I change hardware much more than others also. I have had to
reactivate about 4-5 times over the years because of this. My
situation is NOT the norm. Many, many people buy a computer and used
it until it dies, without even adding one additional program or piece
of hardware. They don't know that they can. They replace what may go
bad by sending the computer back to the manufacturer. What they
usually get is an exact replacement part.
Also, their computer may have, in fact, been activated by the
manufacturer or need no activation because of the way the
manufacturer installs the operating system on their computers. The
customer/user does not even know that the process exists.

You and I are different. I have learned to live with it and I am
certain that you can also. At most, it is a phone call of about 5
minutes.

Yep and some Americans learned to live with the Bush administrations lies.

And the phone call takes more than 5 minutes liar. Just navigating the BS
menus, and typing in your activation code, and then having to repeat it
takes longer than 5 minutes. And that is if a rep is available
immediately. MS seems to have cut down on the number of phone reps, and a
wait on hold is likely to.



"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
"Richard Urban" wrote in message
news:eaMB1D6%

......you turned to ranting.
BTW, the time you took with only your first post would have been well
spent
by just reactivating your operating system. You have spent well over
ten times that amount of time now!


Thanks for the recap.

You are right that I am ranting now. I am frustrated, especially
because I know I have a new video card coming and a 1gig of ram
coming. The MS tech said when I install that I am going to have
activate again. You are wrong about the USB not needed in my original
post. I have
never seen a pop up like that before, so it was relevant.

And I did reactivate. I had no choice. The tech said I had no
choice, even though there was a tab on the activation screen that
said I could continue later. I had asked if I could wait because I
knew I had new hardware coming.

I hope you noticed from all this that I have not complained about XP
at all. It is just the activation, and because I just learned from
the tech that I am going to have to get a new number every time I
activate from now on.

And before when all I had to do was click three times, I had no
complaint about the activation process.



--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"