XP activation invalid ID

[Unrealed2]

I just replaced the mainboard in my computer that had XP Home installed. When I started the computer it said I had to activate the product, when I contacted Microsoft they told my the activation code showed the product was invalid and I would have to return the softwarre to the place I purchased the computer and that they would replace it for me. When i called the store where i bought the system they said they would not replace the software. Any ieas or has anyone else encountered this before.

Thanks

 

[BmXStuD]

Call again chances are you WONT speak to the same operator. Maybe this person is way more nicer and can help further.

 

[IamDavid]

Man, have fun. I went thru this a little while back with MS. I swapped a MSI Mobo with an ECS mobo and upgraded the CPU. Then I had to re-activate.. MS said I couldn't.. I called them 3 different times. Finally I gave up and DL'ed the "hack".. I will NEVER buy another piece of software that requires activation!!!!! As long as you have a valid COA screw em. Go get the corporate version.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Go get the corporate version

that is really the only version of office XP and windows XP to have. I waited untill those were available to me before i "downgraded" from windows 2k.

 

[shansen008]

I am running into the same problem, which of the "hacks" did you use? MS is such a pain in the a$$.

 

[Zugzwang152]

did you build your own machine or was the install of XP Home an OEM version? I've swapped cpu + mobo before, and my reactivation went through just fine. you may want to try formatting and reinstalling completely and then activating from there to see what happens.

 

[13black]

I have heard that the OEM version of XP is tied to the computer it is sold with. You can't transfer it to another PC ever. If you have an OEM version that may be why it read back an invalid code. Changing the hardware changes the hash code you send to Micro$oft to get your activation code. Can you say "Corporate Edition"

 

[Doomer]

Not true. I recently built a new computer using all new hardware. I installed my OEM version of WinXP Pro and it reactivated via the web without a hitch. I'm thinking that after a certain period of time, maybe 6 months or a year, you're allowed to reactivate no matter what changes have been made. Even if it's a whole new system like mine was.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I had this License key previously installed on my old box for a year or so.

 

[13black]

Originally posted by: Doomer
Not true. I recently built a new computer using all new hardware. I installed my OEM version of WinXP Pro and it reactivated via the web without a hitch. I'm thinking that after a certain period of time, maybe 6 months or a year, you're allowed to reactivate no matter what changes have been made. Even if it's a whole new system like mine was.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I had this License key previously installed on my old box for a year or so.

That's good to hear, I wondered if it was true, would suck if it was. I have the corporate version of XP and office XP so i'm covered.

I heard it was 120 days. You can only change so many pieces of hardware before you need to activate again, but the counter resets every 120 days. Somebody may prove me wrong here too.

 

[Panther505]

Y'all need to read.... The man said XP Home least that is what I see. XP Pro and Home act differently.

I would try to call again. My suggestion (if the product is not OEM) is to pleasantly ask for the persons name and operator #, and then why the software is invalid and needs to be returned and then state that this is a HW swap (again do not say this if the copy that is installed is OEM... The key is tied to the HW). and that you would like to get it reactivated. If you are refused then I would politely ask for to speak to the operators manager or shift leader. Again... patiently state you case and continue to ask for names, operator id #s and email addresses. When you are asked why you are collecting this information tell them that IF you cannot get your product reactivated that you will be contacting your State's Attorney General, Washington State's Attorney General, the US Attorney General, and the news media with the fact that MS has finally shown that they will not "reactivate" a legimitately obtained copy of XP Home and you want to have everyone's name, operator # and email correct when you tell the story.

I would expect that you get 1 of 2 things:
1. Reactivated if the copy that you have is Retail (again OEM is tied to the HW that it is originally installed on)
2. A complete explaination of what is wrong.. preferably emailed to you... Might not make you feel better but it may spell it out clearly...

Finally I would probably do a clean install of Home... Reactivation should not be too hard.

 

Not true. I recently built a new computer using all new hardware. I installed my OEM version of WinXP Pro and it reactivated via the web without a hitch. I'm thinking that after a certain period of time, maybe 6 months or a year, you're allowed to reactivate no matter what changes have been made. Even if it's a whole new system like mine was.

I went through the same experiance this month. Built a entire new system. Ran my XP Pro OEM install expecting I would have to make the dreaded phone call after the install but it activated just fine over the net.

 

[dbwillis]

I installed an OEM Compaq/HP XP Home on my vmware and activated it, as well as installed it on my test box and called in and got the activation stings and reacitvated it..without any problems.
I didd mentioned that I swapped HDD, added a stick of RAM and added a updated the CPU

 

[Unrealed2]

Well I called Microsoft again and got different operator than the last. I told them what happened and they had me retype my product id key where it say change product id. It generated a new activation code that the operator inputed and came back clear. she gave me a new 42 digit activation ID and I am up and running again .

thanks all for the input

 

[dbwillis]

Cool..now I wonder if you can use that 42 digit code again sometime...

 

[DTSS]

UNREAL.............WHY IN THE HELL DO WE BUY MICROSOFT?


DARYL

 

[13black]

Buy? Micro$oft? Can't you just download it like you can Linux? Oh yah that's why Bill started the activation thing with XP. Gee do you think it's working? Not!

 

[stash]

^^^

FUD

 

[Panther505]

Originally posted by: 13black
Buy? Micro$oft? Can't you just download it like you can Linux? Oh yah that's why Bill started the activation thing with XP. Gee do you think it's working? Not!

Now that is the mentality that caused Bill to implement activation!! I am not a MS fan by any stretch but I have avoided and will avoid casual copying. I will run an eval or a massaged (read bypassed activation) system for a while but if I like it I will buy it. Now I will generally buy from someone that offers trials or 30 day software. Why? because that way I can test drive what I am getting.

I beta tested ME and then XP Pro and Home. I liked ME over 98SE on the HW that I was running (I found it more stable) until I became a W2K convert. When the XP beta started I immediately decided that I did not like the Eye Candy BUT I liked the increase in speed and functionality... I have bought 98, 98SE, ME, W2K, and XP Pro over the years and Office 97, 2K, and XP too. Will I buy another version of any of these now that I exclusively run linux, probably if my wife wants one of them...


When you buy HW you are paying someone for the development and you usually see the results in the increased performance. When you buy SW you are paying for the time that it took to write, QA, and release the code as well as the R&D for the next generation of the code that will go into the next product that you want...

Try to remember that stealing is stealing whether from Walmart or alt.binaries.warez

Panther.

 

[elkinm]

Stealing and downloading is not quite the same thing, or not in this case. Although buying a program that cannot be used is in every way stealing. I can handle registering once where I might recieve an instant activation code as well as a copy mailed to me that will always work with this software. Just like Autodesk and Pro/E and likes do and there are far more expensive then XP.

I actualy bought the Pro version as soon as it came out and suffered greatly, and swithced to the CORP version as soon as I found it and forgot all my registration problems.

 

[Nothinman]

If it's that much of a pain stop using it. As long as you keep using Windows (even via piracy) you confirm MS' belief that a computer is unusable without their software. Windows is ubiquitous only because everyone thinks they need it, stop using it and prove otherwise or else things will only get worse for you.

 

[drag]

No kidding, I am sure MS employees are thrilled to hear that no matter how much abuse and torment that it puts it's costumers thru they will always come back for more and willing to spend hundreds of dollars in the proccess. Hell, having to release the "corporate" edition ensured that even if people got tired of putting up with their s**t and got tired of paying for it, or were just to plain cheap, they are willing to risk fines and jail times to pirate and transfer a inferior version of their operating system all over the internet for free (you can't upgrade it or patch it, can you?). This, of course, insures that people will continue to demand services and drivers for windows-related products instead of just switching to a alternative and then demanding that vendors must support window's competetor's operating systems.

Why do you think that they spent so much time and money in a effort to make XP authentification hard to trick (to get the fully supported version) and then released a version that required less effort than win95 to get past registration? Mnnn. If MS wanted to release a easy to install "corporate" version, they would of just provided a easy means to authenticate installs using a automated w2k deployment services like it uses for windows 2000. Bill Gates isn't quite THAT dumb. Like nobody thought that people would leak the corporate edition. They just didn't want hobbyists and gamers to continue using win98.

Maybe you souldn't call the pirated version "corporate" maybe you should call it the "sheeple" version.

 

[Mitzi]

Originally posted by: drag
...they are willing to risk fines and jail times to pirate and transfer a inferior version of their operating system all over the internet for free (you can't upgrade it or patch it, can you?)....

FYI - in my experience the corporate version was not an inferior version of WinXP, it was still possible to update and patch via the normal means including Windows Update.

 

[drag]

ya I wasn't sure about that. Every version of windows since 98 I never realy ran updates for, exept when I did them for work. Microsoft grabs as much information as possible off of your windows and stores them in there database. More then they say they do. I remember reading somewhere that some company in germany actually anylized the stream of information coming out of windows during a windows update. In one instance they used internet explorer to pull the mac address off of your nic card to form a hardware id in a form of a cookie that they could use to match a user database. You see that way they can track your movements even if your turn off your cookies, install a different windows OS, or whatever. I am personally not that thrilled to be parting with personal information without my knowledge and consent, and I am even less thrilled to have my ip address and mac address associated with a pirated operating system in some MS database, plus who knows what other kinds of information MS would find usefull about it's customers. Like for example creating a unique identifier for each version of windows media player and sending information back to MS everytime you play a dvd. (which it does)

I guess on the internet privacy is non-existant anyways.

But just keep in mind that if MS realy went out of it's way to bust every person using illigal version of windows it could with out much trouble. Anyways what's the point of putting up with that crap for if you don't like it? I don't have a problem with anybody who uses windows. It's their choice to put up with that crap if they want, but at least be sure to bug the living daylights out of MS when ever you get the chance, instead of taking the easy/dishonest way out. You might as well get your moneys worth. Personally I'd rather buy a extra stick of ram, or save up for a better video card, instead of paying for part of Bill Gate's next big mansion and then get punished for it later when I need a upgrade.

 

[13black]

The corporate version of windows XP is a volume license version or XP pro. I have herd that all you have to do is change the PID on your purchased xp pro to make the copy a volume license edition. Don't know if it's true, sounds to easy to be true. The corporate version of office xp is a volume license version of office xp pro + front page. If you have the write MSDN subscription you get them all on cd, I have them all.