Activation problems

Hi

I am running XP Home Retail and after successfully integrating SP2 with my copy of XP, I formatted my hard drive and re-installed XP. Once back on the desktop, I connected to the internet and tried to 'Activate Windows' using my CD Key but I got a message saying something like my key was 'unauthorised'.

How is this possible?

I last activated my copy of XP around 8 months ago and, according to Microsoft, if I have not had to contact the activation centre over 120 days days, then the sheet is wiped clean and I can start again using the current hardware as the current baseline to make more changes.

So, what is going on? Have the activation rules changed recently?

I contacted the Activation Centre and spoke to a "Rep" in India who told me that once she had activated XP for me, I would then have to call Microsoft everytime I needed to activate windows after this. Surely this can't be correct because when I first installed XP, I was able to activate many, many times online and only had to call Microsoft after a determined number of activations.

Here is an extract from articles issued by M$:
(http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm)

The license for a retail version of Windows XP is in perpetuity. You get to use Windows XP forever, if you choose.

But Microsoft recognises that machines do get upgraded. If, following the activation after setup, you do not need to contact the activation center for 120 days (any changes you make during this time being seen as acceptable when the system boots), then the sheet is swept clean and you can start again using the current hardware as the new baseline to make more changes.

If you get a new computer, you are entitled to remove Windows XP from the one that is being junked, and install the same Windows XP on the new machine - but you will have to do the reactivation by a voice call and explain (unless, as was just mentioned, 120 days have passed since the activation was last performed).

I would appreciate some input from any Microsoft experts please.

Regards

What you should have done was install XP - activate - then install SP2.

"Dave" wrote in message ...
Hi

I am running XP Home Retail and after successfully integrating SP2 with my copy of XP, I formatted my hard drive and re-installed XP. Once back on the desktop, I connected to the internet and tried to 'Activate Windows' using my CD Key but I got a message saying something like my key was 'unauthorised'.

How is this possible?

I last activated my copy of XP around 8 months ago and, according to Microsoft, if I have not had to contact the activation centre over 120 days days, then the sheet is wiped clean and I can start again using the current hardware as the current baseline to make more changes.

So, what is going on? Have the activation rules changed recently?

I contacted the Activation Centre and spoke to a "Rep" in India who told me that once she had activated XP for me, I would then have to call Microsoft everytime I needed to activate windows after this. Surely this can't be correct because when I first installed XP, I was able to activate many, many times online and only had to call Microsoft after a determined number of activations.

Here is an extract from articles issued by M$:
(http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm)

The license for a retail version of Windows XP is in perpetuity. You get to use Windows XP forever, if you choose.

But Microsoft recognises that machines do get upgraded. If, following the activation after setup, you do not need to contact the activation center for 120 days (any changes you make during this time being seen as acceptable when the system boots), then the sheet is swept clean and you can start again using the current hardware as the new baseline to make more changes.

If you get a new computer, you are entitled to remove Windows XP from the one that is being junked, and install the same Windows XP on the new machine - but you will have to do the reactivation by a voice call and explain (unless, as was just mentioned, 120 days have passed since the activation was last performed).

I would appreciate some input from any Microsoft experts please.

Regards

Incorrect - a "slipstreamed" version will always out perform and carry less
baggage than and "upgraded" version. This is the same concept as doing a
"fresh" or "clean" install versus an "upgrade" - "upgrades" always carry
unneeded and most of all, unwanted baggage that can and will interfere with
smooth system operation.

--

Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service

*************************************************

"Jerry" wrote in message
...
What you should have done was install XP - activate - then install SP2.

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Hi

I am running XP Home Retail and after successfully integrating SP2 with my
copy of XP, I formatted my hard drive and re-installed XP. Once back on the
desktop, I connected to the internet and tried to 'Activate Windows' using
my CD Key but I got a message saying something like my key was
'unauthorised'.

How is this possible?

I last activated my copy of XP around 8 months ago and, according to
Microsoft, if I have not had to contact the activation centre over 120 days
days, then the sheet is wiped clean and I can start again using the current
hardware as the current baseline to make more changes.

So, what is going on? Have the activation rules changed recently?

I contacted the Activation Centre and spoke to a "Rep" in India who told
me that once she had activated XP for me, I would then have to call
Microsoft everytime I needed to activate windows after this. Surely this
can't be correct because when I first installed XP, I was able to activate
many, many times online and only had to call Microsoft after a determined
number of activations.

Here is an extract from articles issued by M$:
(http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm)

The license for a retail version of Windows XP is in perpetuity. You get
to use Windows XP forever, if you choose.

But Microsoft recognises that machines do get upgraded. If, following the
activation after setup, you do not need to contact the activation center for
120 days (any changes you make during this time being seen as acceptable
when the system boots), then the sheet is swept clean and you can start
again using the current hardware as the new baseline to make more changes.

If you get a new computer, you are entitled to remove Windows XP from the
one that is being junked, and install the same Windows XP on the new
machine - but you will have to do the reactivation by a voice call and
explain (unless, as was just mentioned, 120 days have passed since the
activation was last performed).

I would appreciate some input from any Microsoft experts please.

Regards

You might try my key fix.

See here
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/key.html


Greg R
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/

Correcting last post

since you already have xp sp2.
Ignore my last sentence on this web page.
"Then install xp sp2"

This is not my tip. But I modified for the home & pro users

Greg R
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/