Microsoft to disable product activation over Net

Hello-

I am guessing that you DO need to copy the .BAK files. It makes sense if their strategy is not to permit activation in the case of major hardware configuration differences. My guess is that some part of windows compares the two to determine if there are differences.

It seems to me that when the exe changes, a new backup is created, therefore I would not be very supprised if they look at the times stamps of the two files even if there is not a perceived hardware discrepancy.

All guesswork, I am afraid. And in no way would I suggest that my thinking could be as isideous as the thinking that goes on at microsoft.


I heard somewhere that the red flag for hardware happens when too much (by their standards, of course) hardware is upgraded at one time. As I recall, changing a hard drive, alone will not be a problem, but change two and your activation will fail. Anyone know the specifics?

This is a sort of new challenge for me, because the one thing that I consider my biggest accomplishment in learning to maintain my computer has been to develope a system in which I can recover from a disaster, and be up and running in a short amount of time. No looking for files, or serial numbers, or system settings. This sort of erodes my confidence to some degree, because it is something that the end user (is led to believe) has no control over. What happens when you call up and explain you bought a computer second hand for which all of the original software was included. Just suppose they say "prove it". Not only is the value of the o/s you paid for in jeopardy, but let's suppose that this transpires at a time or place in which you cannot just run out and grab i new one. Should people now go out and purchase an emergency XP disk for just such an occasion?

I can see it now, the Emergency Edition XP, as it will be called will come conveniently mounted within a small glass frame that can be hung in your home or office. there will be a small mallet dangling from a chain and a plaque reading, In Case of Emergency, Break Glass!


-HandsOff

 

very true. xp has turned into a real mess. i will not be using it on any more computers i build. win2k is a viable option.

 

That's a good point, but see, for n00bs like me well hehe... cough... well, we wouldn't see that would we?

Oh man, that's a good one. If I ever meet you remind me to buy you a beer.

 

Well, if you laughed then perhaps I should buy you one as well!


- HandsOff

 

I suppose it wouldn't be a big deal for me to call and activate my toaster oven, should Microsoft get around to buying the toaster oven maker, force the competition out of the market with unfair business practices and then unilaterally dictate the terms to us toaster oven users.

I hate to think what the demands would be if they bought American Standard and monopolized the toilet industry.



- HandsOff

 

The amount of times I format my hard disk is obscene. Then again, I'm a cleanliness freak. If I have to call Microsoft each time I clean the drive it's really not that bad. But let's say that I want to clean my drive at night when I am most available... is that going to be a problem? Are the customer help-lines going to be open? (let's bear in mind I clean my drive at night because it saves time).

 

I've been in that situation before...In this case, you have to talk to some stupid automated machine...sometimes I dont properly understand what it says.

 

i dont get it..u can install xp offline? i have a xp disc and have loaded it heaps of times then go to run type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a everytime its activated too?? i always do mine offline just something i do? when installing..so im not sure how they can really get you to ring them?? or when i go online duz it auto happen?? Im kinda lost here..xp had driven me nutso ever since loading it.. has turned into one big mess i agree? i might go back to 2000 aswell..the crap ive had with xp since having it..its a real pain in the proverbal?

 

I figure it's going to be some kind of multiple serial keygen that they give you every time you want to reinstall it, and they log the amount of times that you install it so that after a while, you have to give explicit reasons etc. and go through some more long waits before you can reactivate it. Anyway, it's going to be cracked probably, so what's the point.

 

Well I think you have a pirated corporate version of XP (the devilsown version) which is pre-activated from the start. Are you able to install XP Service Packs?

 

well i installed xp2 service packfine?.. I meant i didnt install it over the net..but someone else set it up 4 me perhaps i worded it wrong? its not pirated as i have the Cd!! And says activated when i checked..I didnt think u had to activate over the net was my question thanks maddawgz

 

Hi Maddawgz

After all my complaining I have to say the same thing. I have never even once in my life called up microsoft to activate my XP. It does ask for my serial number, or key, or whatever you want to call it. I too have more questions than answers...i think it just zaps the number over to microsoft servers and they beam back the A OK.

You want to know what is really messed up? Okay, I bought the XP with my computer almost three years ago. when i opened the cd i get totally paranoid I am going to loose the "password" so i get out my big gold, yellow, green and red paint pens and I cover it with the "code" so that I will be able to use my disk to reinstall. What happens? when I reinstal I use the wrong code, because my computer came with to versions of xp. one was OEM and one not. so i have been using the oem code and activating no problem.

Then what happens? I want to try microsofts antispy program. the website says I have to (well, they talk me into) using their "genuine XP" cerification program. I guess i just wanted to see if i would pass. so it wants me to enter my disks "ID", but suddenly in an urge to want to pass, I enter my other number, five sets of five letters. Understand me, if you click my computers properties and look at the general tab it has the oem number (20 digits + OEM). my gut just told me it would work...and it did.

some part of me is hoping that with my genuine microsoft certification they may conceivably not make me call. Of course has any part of this made any sense?


- HandsOff


P.S. - Microsoft's Antispy program couldn't find its own ass using both hands!

 

Lol. Well at least you know that they tried to make it work... cough.

( ^^ in the mostly empty smoke-filled theatre, a couple of people who don't know how they got there clap mildly)

 

You only have to activate it once after installation, maybe your PC came pre-activated. Installing SP2 will not make you activate again.

 

I dont think this is gonna hamper your activation process because MS does not know who you are when you provide your CDKey in the Microsoft Genuine Advantage program.

Heck, I feel you can even use both of your keys on two different PCs. The genuine advantage program only validates CDKeys, and does not activate them.

Ya, calling up Microsoft, they ask for for the keys, lots of questions, and I find it irritating.

Regards,
Firecat

 

Prisoner's Of War, according to the Geneva Convention only have to provide name rank and serial number.

Shouldn't we have at least the same rights that a hostile power allows for its prisoners?


- HandsOff

 

Well being only a minor I cannot ask such questions can I?

 

I found even in those young days my questions were pretty much put up with.

 

Well...I'll try to TRY (haha ) the next time I call M$...