Windows XP Activation

[imported_Doughboy]

I, like most of you, upgrade components all of the time. When I upgrade a part here and there I set the old ones aside and before you know it I have enough to make a whole machine out of the old parts. This is the case with my 3rd PC. I'd like to build a HTPC with my 2nd PC (that is currently running XP Pro). I'd like to install THAT version and key of XP Pro on the 3rd PC and purchase a version of XP MCE for the 2nd machine. The trouble is that, apparently, I've have exceeded my number of activations allowed with my copy of XP Pro... so how do I get this done. I've read that you can call Microsoft and explain the problem and they can reset the activations for you, but what number do I call to do this? the only number that's given at the activation screen is 888-571-2048. This number only seems to get you a voice prompted system to activate windows. Please help.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Doughboy
I, like most of you, upgrade components all of the time. When I upgrade a part here and there I set the old ones aside and before you know it I have enough to make a whole machine out of the old parts. This is the case with my 3rd PC. I'd like to build a HTPC with my 2nd PC (that is currently running XP Pro). I'd like to install THAT version and key of XP Pro on the 3rd PC and purchase a version of XP MCE for the 2nd machine. The trouble is that, apparently, I've have exceeded my number of activations allowed with my copy of XP Pro... so how do I get this done. I've read that you can call Microsoft and explain the problem and they can reset the activations for you, but what number do I call to do this? the only number that's given at the activation screen is 888-571-2048. This number only seems to get you a voice prompted system to activate windows. Please help.

Go thru the voice system, if it can't activate you automatically it will give you a chance to talk to a human....

 

[imported_Doughboy]

Go thru the voice system, if it can't activate you automatically it will give you a chance to talk to a human....


[/quote]

so then they can re-set the activation?

 

[Robor]

Yep... And believe it or not they are pretty decent about it.

I have a retail copy of XP Pro on my desktop. I have an IBM T42 with a valid XP license. Well, I didn't want all the stuff IBM loads on their default load so I wiped it and used my retail copy of XP Pro to do it. It worked fine. I reloaded the desktop and got prompted for activation. I called Microsoft and told them the truth and the guy just gave me an activation right then.

I know that's not the way it's supposed to work but since IBM doesn't ship their Thinkpads with an XP CD you can't just do a clean reload.

 

[gsellis]

Yep. Just tell them that you have swapped this hardware and now it requires reactivation. Plan on being on the phone for at least 15 minutes as you get to read a long series of digits, type a long series of digits, and may have to regen and do it over.


Just did this last week for a Dell because I replaced the mobo with a Gigabyte board after Dell told me it was $145 dollars for a new 945G board (the second one I have had fail in the two units I own.)

 

[spyordie007]

Just did this last week for a Dell

You're going to have to call in on activation for any Dell (or several of the other major vendors') COA CD Keys.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: Doughboy
I, like most of you, upgrade components all of the time. When I upgrade a part here and there I set the old ones aside and before you know it I have enough to make a whole machine out of the old parts. This is the case with my 3rd PC. I'd like to build a HTPC with my 2nd PC (that is currently running XP Pro). I'd like to install THAT version and key of XP Pro on the 3rd PC and purchase a version of XP MCE for the 2nd machine. The trouble is that, apparently, I've have exceeded my number of activations allowed with my copy of XP Pro... so how do I get this done. I've read that you can call Microsoft and explain the problem and they can reset the activations for you, but what number do I call to do this? the only number that's given at the activation screen is 888-571-2048. This number only seems to get you a voice prompted system to activate windows. Please help.

Go thru the voice system, if it can't activate you automatically it will give you a chance to talk to a human....

in the voice system,right when they ask if you want to activate a copy of windows xp, hit * 0 and you'll go directly to an agent, bypassing the pain of inputting the numbers

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: Doughboy
I, like most of you, upgrade components all of the time. When I upgrade a part here and there I set the old ones aside and before you know it I have enough to make a whole machine out of the old parts. This is the case with my 3rd PC. I'd like to build a HTPC with my 2nd PC (that is currently running XP Pro). I'd like to install THAT version and key of XP Pro on the 3rd PC and purchase a version of XP MCE for the 2nd machine. The trouble is that, apparently, I've have exceeded my number of activations allowed with my copy of XP Pro... so how do I get this done. I've read that you can call Microsoft and explain the problem and they can reset the activations for you, but what number do I call to do this? the only number that's given at the activation screen is 888-571-2048. This number only seems to get you a voice prompted system to activate windows. Please help.

Go thru the voice system, if it can't activate you automatically it will give you a chance to talk to a human....

and good luck trying to understand them

Ausm