Lost activation

A friend wanted to add a spare drive to his Win10 machine that was a
refurbished HP.

Whomever did the refurb did it with the BIOS set for RAID and the
machine would not boot with the second drive.
Without the 2nd drive, the machine would not boot with the BIOS set to AHCI


I used BCDEDIT to remove the RAID signature from the drive...set the
BIOS for AHCI and got the machine to boot fine with the 2nd drive and
all seemed well.

As long as the machine was on my bench I did all the needed Windows
updates, then shut it down.

Next day, before he came to pick it up I decided to do one last check
and saw the machine was no longer activated and I could not re-activate
on-line.

I had to use one of the Win10 product codes I own before I could give
him the machine back.


This was not the end of the world but I thought it was a bit ridiculous.

On 21/11/2018 15:39, philo wrote:
A friend wanted to add a spare drive to his Win10 machine that was a
refurbished HP.

Whomever did the refurb did it with the BIOS set for RAID and the
machine would not boot with the second drive.
Without the 2nd drive, the machine would not boot with the BIOS set to
AHCI


I used BCDEDIT to remove the RAID signature from the drive...set the
BIOS for AHCI and got the machine to boot fine with the 2nd drive and
all seemed well.

As long as the machine was on my bench I did all the needed Windows
updates, then shut it down.

Next day, before he came to pick it up I decided to do one last check
and saw the machine was no longer activated and I could not
re-activate on-line.

I had to use one of the Win10 product codes I own before I could give
him the machine back.


This was not the end of the world but I thought it was a bit ridiculous.

So what is the question here? All I could see is that you wanted to
tell us that "it is not the end of the world". We never said it is and
one wonders if you have been hallucinating again!!!!!!!

--
With over 950 million devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

philo wrote:
A friend wanted to add a spare drive to his Win10 machine that was a
refurbished HP.

Whomever did the refurb did it with the BIOS set for RAID and the
machine would not boot with the second drive.
Without the 2nd drive, the machine would not boot with the BIOS set to AHCI


I used BCDEDIT to remove the RAID signature from the drive...set the
BIOS for AHCI and got the machine to boot fine with the 2nd drive and
all seemed well.

As long as the machine was on my bench I did all the needed Windows
updates, then shut it down.

Next day, before he came to pick it up I decided to do one last check
and saw the machine was no longer activated and I could not re-activate
on-line.

I had to use one of the Win10 product codes I own before I could give
him the machine back.


This was not the end of the world but I thought it was a bit ridiculous.

There was a problem with the activation server, that
caused previously activated Win10 to show not activated.

I hope you kept records of what day this was.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3319...mber-2018.html

"Nov.8, 2018

A glitch with Microsoft's activation servers appears to be disrupting
many users's PCs, as Windows 10 erroneously reports their systems as
either un-activated or downgraded from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Home.

Users are advised to ignore the Windows messages and wait for the problem
to resolve itself, according to postings in Microsoft's support forums.
If those forum postings are accurate, however, the problem could take a
few days to resolve.

Microsoft has acknowledged the problem. “We’re working to restore product
activations for the limited number of affected Windows 10 Pro customers,"
Jeff Jones, a senior director at Microsoft, said in a statement.
"

Paul

On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
A friend wanted to add a spare drive to his Win10 machine that was a
refurbished HP.

Whomever did the refurb did it with the BIOS set for RAID and the
machine would not boot with the second drive.
Without the 2nd drive, the machine would not boot with the BIOS set to
AHCI


I used BCDEDIT to remove the RAID signature from the drive...set the
BIOS for AHCI and got the machine to boot fine with the 2nd drive and
all seemed well.

As long as the machine was on my bench I did all the needed Windows
updates, then shut it down.

Next day, before he came to pick it up I decided to do one last check
and saw the machine was no longer activated and I could not
re-activate on-line.

I had to use one of the Win10 product codes I own before I could give
him the machine back.


This was not the end of the world but I thought it was a bit ridiculous.

There was a problem with the activation server, that
caused previously activated Win10 to show not activated.

I hope you kept records of what day this was.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3319...mber-2018.html


** "Nov.8, 2018

*** A glitch with Microsoft's activation servers appears to be disrupting
*** many users's PCs, as Windows 10 erroneously reports their systems as
*** either un-activated or downgraded from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10
Home.

*** Users are advised to ignore the Windows messages and wait for the
problem
*** to resolve itself, according to postings in Microsoft's support
forums.
*** If those forum postings are accurate, however, the problem could
take a
*** few days to resolve.

*** Microsoft has acknowledged the problem. “We’re working to restore
product
*** activations for the limited number of affected Windows 10 Pro
customers,"
*** Jeff Jones, a senior director at Microsoft, said in a statement.
** "

* Paul




WOW thanks for that info.
I just did not want to take the chance of giving the guy his machine
back not activated.


BTW: Paul...his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one spinner,
SSDs are dirt cheap. Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G
2.5" SSDs on Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product
$23.99 That's lunch money!

On 11/21/18 11:27 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one spinner,
SSDs are dirt cheap.Â*Â* Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G
2.5" SSDs on Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product

$23.99Â*Â*Â* That's lunch money!



I have my main machine in a large case and can easily add drives.

As a photographer, I find my machine a bit slow in sorting and viewing
folders containing many images.

I think I might experiment a bit with an SSD


$23.99 ?


I have so much money I could even afford $24

philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:27 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one spinner, SSDs are dirt
cheap. Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G 2.5" SSDs on Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product

$23.99 That's lunch money!



I have my main machine in a large case and can easily add drives.

As a photographer, I find my machine a bit slow in sorting and viewing folders containing
many images.

I think I might experiment a bit with an SSD


$23.99 ?


I have so much money I could even afford $24

Philo,

I put a ssd in my laptop a few months ago.
Here are the specs of t EVO 860 vs Toshiba HDD:

Drive EVO 860 Tosh 320
Full boot, sec 0:39 1:36
Shut down, sec 0:09 0:19
MS Outlook: ON, 0:02 0:24
MS Outlook: OFF instant instant

HDD tune resultsEVO 860 Tosh 320
min MB/sec 178.4 5.0
max MB/sec 374.8 110.4
avg MB/sec 327.4 65.1
Access ms 0.1 22.4
Burst ms 126.8 103.2

I also put a nvme m.2 in the floor level comp.
It's specs are 30 times better than the EVO ssd in the laptop.

On 11/21/18 3:03 PM, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:27 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one
spinner, SSDs are dirt
cheap.Â*Â* Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G 2.5" SSDs
on Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product


$23.99Â*Â*Â* That's lunch money!



I have my main machine in a large case and can easily add drives.

As a photographer, I find my machine a bit slow in sorting and viewing
folders containing
many images.

I think I might experiment a bit with an SSD


$23.99Â* ?


I have so much money I could even afford $24Â*

Philo,

I put a ssd in my laptop a few months ago.
Here are the specs of t EVO 860 vs Toshiba HDD:

DriveÂ*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* EVO 860Â*Â*Â* Tosh 320
Full boot, secÂ*Â*Â* 0:39Â*Â*Â* 1:36
Shut down, secÂ*Â*Â* 0:09Â*Â*Â* 0:19
MS Outlook: ON, 0:02Â*Â*Â* 0:24
MS Outlook: OFFÂ*Â*Â* instantÂ*Â*Â* instant

HDD tune resultsEVO 860Â*Â*Â* Tosh 320
min MB/secÂ*Â*Â* 178.4Â*Â*Â* 5.0
max MB/secÂ*Â*Â* 374.8Â*Â*Â* 110.4
avg MB/secÂ*Â*Â* 327.4Â*Â*Â* 65.1
Access msÂ*Â*Â* 0.1Â*Â*Â* 22.4
Burst msÂ*Â*Â* 126.8Â*Â*Â* 103.2

I also put a nvme m.2 in the floor level comp.
It's specs are 30 times better than the EVO ssd in the laptop.




Thank you....will have to do this for sure

"Paul in Houston TX" wrote in message news

philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:27 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one spinner,
SSDs are dirt
cheap. Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G 2.5" SSDs on
Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product

$23.99 That's lunch money!



I have my main machine in a large case and can easily add drives.

As a photographer, I find my machine a bit slow in sorting and viewing
folders containing
many images.

I think I might experiment a bit with an SSD


$23.99 ?


I have so much money I could even afford $24

Philo,

I put a ssd in my laptop a few months ago.
Here are the specs of t EVO 860 vs Toshiba HDD:

Drive EVO 860 Tosh 320
Full boot, sec 0:39 1:36
Shut down, sec 0:09 0:19
MS Outlook: ON, 0:02 0:24
MS Outlook: OFF instant instant

HDD tune resultsEVO 860 Tosh 320
min MB/sec 178.4 5.0
max MB/sec 374.8 110.4
avg MB/sec 327.4 65.1
Access ms 0.1 22.4
Burst ms 126.8 103.2

I also put a nvme m.2 in the floor level comp.
It's specs are 30 times better than the EVO ssd in the laptop.


I think you meant 20 times faster than a 7200rpm HDD.
--
Buffalo

"Buffalo" wrote in message news

"Paul in Houston TX" wrote in message news

philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:27 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one spinner,
SSDs are dirt
cheap. Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G 2.5" SSDs on
Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product

$23.99 That's lunch money!



I have my main machine in a large case and can easily add drives.

As a photographer, I find my machine a bit slow in sorting and viewing
folders containing
many images.

I think I might experiment a bit with an SSD


$23.99 ?


I have so much money I could even afford $24

Philo,

I put a ssd in my laptop a few months ago.
Here are the specs of t EVO 860 vs Toshiba HDD:

Drive EVO 860 Tosh 320
Full boot, sec 0:39 1:36
Shut down, sec 0:09 0:19
MS Outlook: ON, 0:02 0:24
MS Outlook: OFF instant instant

HDD tune resultsEVO 860 Tosh 320
min MB/sec 178.4 5.0
max MB/sec 374.8 110.4
avg MB/sec 327.4 65.1
Access ms 0.1 22.4
Burst ms 126.8 103.2

I also put a nvme m.2 in the floor level comp.
It's specs are 30 times better than the EVO ssd in the laptop.


I think you meant 20 times faster than a 7200rpm HDD.
My mistake. If your MB has a m.2 slot and that MB supports 'nvm express'
technology , then you are correct.
So, make sure your MB has the proper slot and also supports 'nvm express'
technology or you are wasting your money buying one.
Sorry,
--
Buffalo

Buffalo wrote:
"Buffalo" wrote in message news

"Paul in Houston TX" wrote in message news

philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:27 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one spinner, SSDs are dirt
cheap. Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G 2.5" SSDs on Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product


$23.99 That's lunch money!



I have my main machine in a large case and can easily add drives.

As a photographer, I find my machine a bit slow in sorting and viewing folders containing
many images.

I think I might experiment a bit with an SSD


$23.99 ?


I have so much money I could even afford $24

Philo,

I put a ssd in my laptop a few months ago.
Here are the specs of t EVO 860 vs Toshiba HDD:

Drive EVO 860 Tosh 320
Full boot, sec 0:39 1:36
Shut down, sec 0:09 0:19
MS Outlook: ON, 0:02 0:24
MS Outlook: OFF instant instant

HDD tune resultsEVO 860 Tosh 320
min MB/sec 178.4 5.0
max MB/sec 374.8 110.4
avg MB/sec 327.4 65.1
Access ms 0.1 22.4
Burst ms 126.8 103.2

I also put a nvme m.2 in the floor level comp.
It's specs are 30 times better than the EVO ssd in the laptop.


I think you meant 20 times faster than a 7200rpm HDD.
My mistake. If your MB has a m.2 slot and that MB supports 'nvm express' technology , then
you are correct.
So, make sure your MB has the proper slot and also supports 'nvm express' technology or
you are wasting your money buying one.
Sorry,

Very true.
No point in a mvme m.x if there is no mb slot for it.

These are my m.2 specs:

Jul 24, 2018 Gaming computer
SSD: Samsung PRO 970, 512gb, NVMe M.2
HDD: WD 500gb, 7200 rpm, Black, SATA 3

Drive PRO 970 WD 500
Full boot, sec 0:40 0:54
Shut down, sec 0:07 0:17
MS Word, sec instant ~0:01
GIMP, sec 0:04 0:20

HDD test results using Crystal Disk 6.
Note: Free HD Tune cannot test NVMe

Crystal Disk 6 PRO 970 WD 500
Sequential read MB/s 3288.8 164.3
Sequential write MB/s 2328.3 163.0
Random Read 4KiB 1421.4 1.2
Random Write 4KiB 0.1 1.4

On 11/22/2018 6:25 PM, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
Buffalo wrote:
"Buffalo"Â* wrote in message news

"Paul in Houston TX"Â* wrote in message
news
philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:27 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 11/21/18 11:51 AM, philo wrote:
On 11/21/18 10:21 AM, Paul wrote:
philo wrote:
snip

his machine had an SSD and it really performed well.
I am now thinking of going that route for my own machines.

If you have a desktop and can put in 2 drives, one SSD and one
spinner, SSDs are dirt
cheap.Â*Â* Granted I'm not checking quality, but I see 128G 2.5"
SSDs on Newegg for ~$30.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-368-_-Product



$23.99Â*Â*Â* That's lunch money!



I have my main machine in a large case and can easily add drives.

As a photographer, I find my machine a bit slow in sorting and
viewing folders containing
many images.

I think I might experiment a bit with an SSD


$23.99Â* ?


I have so much money I could even afford $24Â*

Philo,

I put a ssd in my laptop a few months ago.
Here are the specs of t EVO 860 vs Toshiba HDD:

Drive EVO 860 Tosh 320
Full boot, sec 0:39 1:36
Shut down, sec 0:09 0:19
MS Outlook: ON, 0:02 0:24
MS Outlook: OFF instant instant

HDD tune resultsEVO 860 Tosh 320
min MB/sec 178.4 5.0
max MB/sec 374.8 110.4
avg MB/sec 327.4 65.1
Access ms 0.1 22.4
Burst ms 126.8 103.2

I also put a nvme m.2 in the floor level comp.
It's specs are 30 times better than the EVO ssd in the laptop.


I think you meant 20 times faster than a 7200rpm HDD.
My mistake. If your MB has a m.2 slot and that MB supports 'nvm
express' technology , then
you are correct.
So, make sure your MB has the proper slot and also supports 'nvm
express' technology or
you are wasting your money buying one.
Sorry,

Very true.
No point in a mvme m.x if there is no mb slot for it.

These are my m.2 specs:

Jul 24, 2018Â*Â*Â* Gaming computer
Â*Â*Â*Â*SSD: Samsung PRO 970, 512gb, NVMe M.2
Â*Â*Â*Â*HDD: WD 500gb, 7200 rpm, Black, SATA 3

DriveÂ*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* PRO 970Â*Â*Â* WD 500
Full boot, secÂ*Â*Â* 0:40Â*Â*Â* 0:54
Shut down, secÂ*Â*Â* 0:07Â*Â*Â* 0:17
MS Word, secÂ*Â*Â* instantÂ*Â*Â* ~0:01
GIMP, secÂ*Â*Â* 0:04Â*Â*Â* 0:20

HDD test results using Crystal Disk 6.
Note: Free HD Tune cannot test NVMe

Crystal Disk 6Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* PRO 970Â*Â*Â* WD 500
Sequential read MB/sÂ*Â*Â* 3288.8Â*Â*Â* 164.3
Sequential write MB/sÂ*Â*Â* 2328.3Â*Â*Â* 163.0
Random Read 4KiBÂ*Â*Â* 1421.4Â*Â*Â* 1.2
Random Write 4KiBÂ*Â*Â* 0.1Â*Â*Â* 1.4
J


Just ordered a 500 gig from NewEgg for about $80

Will give it a try in a few days