Windows Activations Problem

[JustJon]

<p>Allow me to preface this by saying I legally purchased a copy of Windows XP Pro within it's first couple months...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I've used it several times to install on different computers.&nbsp; My buddy gave me his laptop and desktop to wipe and reinstall windows from scratch.&nbsp; I had no probs with the laptop, but when I installed Windows on the desktop, it was saying I had activated that serial number too many times.</p><p>The options are enter a new serial (I don't have one) or to call the 1-800 and activate it over the phone and give a string of numbers that are on-screen.&nbsp; I call the number, read those numbers over to the computer on the phone, and it tells me there's a prob and tries to throw me over to a real person.&nbsp; When it does that, it gives me a message in a British woman's voice saying it cannot connect me.</p><p>So, what can I do to allow myself to activate my legal, purchased copy on my friend's computer?&nbsp;</p>

[MadMatt]

<p><font size="2">I think you are getting the British lady in error - There may be some sort of backup or phone error on their end.&nbsp; I have had to call before (for both Windows and Office), and get a real person most times, unless they are overloaded with calls.</font></p><p><font size="2">I'd give it a shot again a little later.&nbsp; However, don't tell them you are putting it on a new computer - make up something about using your XP on&nbsp;a lab computer and you have needed to do frequent reinstalls.&nbsp; They can't argue with that (I don't think).</font></p>

[angrymissy]

<p>Haha I've heard Jeff do this 1,000 times.</p><p>Enter the serial #, it will tell you to call the 800 #.&nbsp; You'll enter it and it will say you need to confirm it with a representative.&nbsp; They will transfer you, tell her you are reimaging a computer, your hard drive failed, etc.&nbsp; Then they will give you new #'s to put into the screen and it will work.&nbsp; I've done it myself for my family's computer.</p><p>The error with we cannot connect you was probably just a phone glitch</p>

[cupcakelove]

Legally, you are only allowed to install your copy on only one computer (and if it came pre-installed, like if you ordered a Dell, you cannot transfer that copy to another computer even if you remove it from the original). That's why you have to activate it, and why it stopped working you after you did it a few times. To fix your problem I suggestion you obtain a volume copy of Windows XP that does not require activation.<br />

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by cupcakelove on 8-14-06 @ 10:48 AM</span>

[HeyGuy]

What are the major differences between xp and xp pro?

[CuzBum]

<strong>CampoNJ</strong> wrote:<br />What are the major differences between xp and xp pro? <p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pro costs more!<img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/lol.gif" border="0" /><img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/lol.gif" border="0" /><img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/lol.gif" border="0" /></p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by CuzBum on 8-14-06 @ 11:57 AM</span>

[cupcakelove]

<strong>CuzBum</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>CampoNJ</strong> wrote:<br />What are the major differences between xp and xp pro? <p> </p><p>Pro costs more!<img border="0" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/lol.gif" /><img border="0" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/lol.gif" /><img border="0" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/lol.gif" /></p>

<span class="post_edited">This message was edited by CuzBum on 8-14-06 @ 11:57 AM</span><p>And Pro has a lot of networking abilities that you only really need on a computer in an office.&nbsp; They did this so that companies that want to use their computers on a network, are forced to spend the extra money.<br /></p>

[JustJon]

<p><a href="http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article10-002" target="_blank">differences between home and pro<br /></a></p><p>I'll try calling again tonight and hope to talk to a person&nbsp;</p><a href="http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article10-002" target="_blank"></a>

[FUNKMAN]

<p>i'm using a copied version of XP pro and when i performed my last Update/Install they found out and now i have a permanent icon in my tray that every once in a while initiates a pop up about not having a genuine license and if i click on it it sends me to the microsoft site to purchase a genuine copy.</p><p>i'm curious if it will eventually lock up the pc?&nbsp; </p><p>i remember it saying i wasn't able to get any more Updates but i recently been getting the notice for Updates waiting to Install.&nbsp; I think it's a trick&nbsp;but i'm probably being paranoid...&nbsp;</p>

[JustJon]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>FUNKMAN</strong> wrote:<br /><p>i'm using a copied version of XP pro and when i performed my last Update/Install they found out and now i have a permanent icon in my tray that every once in a while initiates a pop up about not having a genuine license and if i click on it it sends me to the microsoft site to purchase a genuine copy.</p><p>i'm curious if it will eventually lock up the pc? </p><p>i remember it saying i wasn't able to get any more Updates but i recently been getting the notice for Updates waiting to Install. I think it's a trick but i'm probably being paranoid... </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There's a rumor it would lock up the pc, but it won't right now, so don't worry.&nbsp;</p>

[PapaBear]

<p>Missy's right. Enter it, then call the number. You may end up being on hold for a while, but they eventually ask you a few questions about how many computers you have it on, then they give you a new number to use.</p><p>It's happened to me a couple of times on my son's comp, because I've reformatted it so many times.</p>