Windows - Activation

(Just for a moment I had to consider the possibility that it was my stupidity which had kept me virus and malware free all these years as opposed to me just being lucky )


In the real world I think it takes a little of both.

 

Minority ? Forget it, more and more companies are already using activation and the list will get longer during the years. All the softwares, I'm interested in have activation. If it seems to work for other companies, all other companies will follow.
Do I have to remember all these different activation methods ? I have better things to do. I paid for them, I agree with a serial number, I agree with a REAL activation method not a crippled one, but nothing more than that.
This is good for Linux and freewares of course.

 

I have not had the prob yet (knock on wood)

A/V and HIPS is all I have

I'm getting another (used) pc without an OS and will be using an xpHome install-disk that I have. When I read the 3 limit, I panicked. A "MS-induced"
paranoia, so to speak.

 

Hi, folks: Is there any incident that MS$ requires online activation instead of telephone contact? I remember the only time I need to activate WinXP home is after I reinstall O/S with supplied recovery disc. I have made two more reinstallation w/ the same disc, but was not prompted to activate it again. Perhaps different makes of pc or different Windows disc have different arrangements with MS$ ?

 

1 time + 2 times = 3 times - that is possible - you might have an activation problem next time, which will result in a phone-activation.
Maybe your disk wasn't formatted or zeroed, which allows a re-install without activation.

 

Can somebody describe how a phone activation works, because I like to be prepared when I call.
1. I know you have to call a number, which is displayed on the screen.
2. You have to give M$ a very long number, which is also displayed the screen.
3. Then you get a long number back from M$.
4. What next ?

My main question is : do you need an internet connection during that phone activation or not ?
I noticed that the connection to the server isn't always working for internet activation, even when MS Internet Explorer was working properly.

TIA.

PS: moving WPA.DBL/WPA.BAK from a previous activated Windows to a new unactivated Windows in "safe mode" does NOT work in practice.

 

Hello,
You could try live CD...
This might save you the hassle.
Mrk

 

What is a live CD ?

 

Linux, that you can boot into instead of installing

 

Linux ? I'm talking about WinXPproSP2.

 

Not sure how that would help I have a live-cd of xubuntu, in case of problems with windows though

 

Hello,
You can use ANY live CD with the ability to read and write to NTFS partitions, like BartPE, UBCD4WIN, Knoppix, and then copy the relevant files to and fro.
Simple, regardless what is installed on the comp.
Mrk

 

How would that assist Erik to activate WinXP?

 

Hello,
He stated that copying files in safe mode does not work.
Maybe copying them when the OS on the hard is dormant might work.
He'll have to try and see, if he wants.
Mrk

 

As you alluded to early in this thread Erik, a way to get around it is to take a backup image of you system immediately after XP has been installed and activated. Then install your other apps that have on-line activation and activate them, followed by taking another backup image.

Not ideal, but.....

 

I called the toll free number displayed on the screen. You have the choice to input the long number via the phone buttons, which doesn't work for me, however. As far as i remember i were offered to be connected to a human. I told the person, that i would like to activate Win XP. She asked for the displayed number, which i dictated slowly in blocks of three.

Obviously she typed the number in and after that was finished an automatic voice takes over, telling me the activation code. This happened slowly, with a break after each block of numbers after which there is the possibility to let the voice repeat it. I wrote this number down on paper and type it in after the phone call was completed.

I chosed the phone activation because at that time i hadn't any internet connection, so this is not needed.

 

Thanks alot SYS, this info really helps. I know now at least what I can expect from such phone activation and it won't be so new to me anymore, because this is my very first time.

 

Finally, I have my activated WinXPproSP2 back.

I had to type 9 x 6 digits = 54 digits on my cell-phone, like this :
123456-123456-123456-123456-123456-123456-123456-123456-123456
and don't make ONE mistake, because you have 54 chances to make such a mistake !!!

Then I got a female voice, who asked me : how many computers do you have.
My honest, but agitated answer : only ONE computer.

Then she connected me to a recorded voice and I had to write 7 x 6 digits = 42 digits on paper, like this :
123456-123456-123456-123456-123456-123456-123456
and don't make ONE mistake again, this time only 42 chances to make one !!!
Then I typed these digits in my activation screen.

To my big surprise, it WORKED. I was stupified, I never expected this would work, not from Microsoft.
No need to tell you, that I did a backup/restore of 3 images, I don't want to go through this again.
What a brilliant solution : 96 digits to activate WinXPproSP2 by phone.

Then I tried to patch WinXPproSP2 via "Windows Update", but that was a disaster : bad connection. I probably asked too much from Microsoft in one day.
I think my problems aren't over yet : WPA is OK now, but what about WGA ?
Win2000pro was alot easier, I can tell you that.

 

Hello,
I have done phone activation at least 2-3 times, as well.
Always talked to someone in Germany.
Mrk