Help with rebuild

[Blacktharne]

I bought a new case, mobo, and RAM and rebuilt my Gateway 700...

Everything has gone smoothly up to this point...I made the necessary changes in the BIOS and entered Windows, but it says I must activate Windows online before it will actually allow me to enter windows...

Problem is I'm unable to "establish a connection with the activation server"...I'm connected via broadband...


Is there a way around this?

Do I just have to reinstall Windows?

This is my first experience with all of this, thanks for the help

 

[montag451]

you need to use IE i think.

You can use telephone to do this. Should be a phone number on the cd sleeve that you can ring.

 

[mechBgon]

You might also try starting in Safe Mode.

Another very real danger, if you don't have a router to filter out worm attacks, is that your system has already been infected by worms directly from the modem. If you don't have a WinXP with SP2 pre-integrated, I have some tips intended to help with that.

 

[Blacktharne]

Hey Mech,

I've been following your guide to do all this, it's been extremely helpful, thanks much for that...

I followed your advice and it's hooked up via a router w/ firewall, so I don't think that worms/virus are the problem...

I've got the CD that came in the Gateway package, but no telephone number...It won't even let me into windows without first activating it...I guess maybe I should just do a reinstall of Windows...

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Blacktharne
Hey Mech,

I've been following your guide to do all this, it's been extremely helpful, thanks much for that...

I followed your advice and it's hooked up via a router w/ firewall, so I don't think that worms/virus are the problem...

I've got the CD that came in the Gateway package, but no telephone number...It won't even let me into windows without first activating it...I guess maybe I should just do a reinstall of Windows...

no...do a repair..

 

[mechBgon]

Good to hear that guide's coming in useful Ahhh, I think I remember now, your Gateway was acting flaky... it's comin' back to me now

You can read more about why Windows is wanting activation if you check out this page. Go down about 2/3 the way and they talk about the hardware criteria that is used by WinXP.

I suggest starting in Safe Mode and see if it will let you opt for the telephone activation method. If you need the number to call, it's... lessee here... if you're in the United States, call 888-571-2048 and tell them that "hey, I have this Gateway 700 and the mobo freaked out on me so I replace it with an aftermarket one" (do I remember the situation right?) and they should go with that. They'll ask to confirm that the OS is only installed on this computer and not any others, probably.

HTH

 

[ScrapSilicon]

nm..moot advice

 

[Blacktharne]

I called that number and talked to a person and everything is activated and well...for the most part...So thanks for that...

To refresh you're memory...I wanted to add 512MB RAM, but had RAMBUS on old systems, so you recommended that I get a new Mobo and a gig of DDR and an Antec SLK...All of which I did...

Problem is...I'm at a friends so I can use his broadband connection for updates (I live in the country and am limited to dial up ) and I can't seem to get connected...I tried hooking directly up to the modem and using the router and neither method works...His computer connects without a problem...


I've got the ASUS P4P800 SE and I installed the driver for the onboard Marvell Yukon Gigabit Ethernet 10/1...I was momentarily able to connect aparently because I activated my Symantec, but now I'm getting a "limited connectivity" error and an "IP address conflict"...

When both computers are connected via the router neither will connect...

I know less about "software" than I do about hardware...I've messed around with the network features of windows, but don't really see anything wrong...

Any suggestions?

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Originally posted by: Blacktharne
Hey Mech,

I've been following your guide to do all this, it's been extremely helpful, thanks much for that...

I followed your advice and it's hooked up via a router w/ firewall, so I don't think that worms/virus are the problem...

I've got the CD that came in the Gateway package, but no telephone number...It won't even let me into windows without first activating it...I guess maybe I should just do a reinstall of Windows...

I too wanted to take this time to thank you Mech for the guide. I used it in building my first computer ever and it went off without a hitch. So thank you for that. It helped a ton. :beer:

 

[lucky9]

Go to Device Manager and remove the network card and reboot. And double check the router setup.