Xp reactivation--How many of you have used up your five lives?

[dpick]

Originally posted by: dpickShe was nice, heard me out, but we had to go through the whole process. I told her it will be a couple of years until Longhorn is released. I will change plenty of hardware and update plenty of drivers until that happens.

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Did you feel good after you yelled at the rep because you had to pick up a phone and reactivate Windows?

Does it make you feel good to acuse me of acting like an ass when you're the one who more closely fits the bill.

 

[ShaqDiesel]

XP reactivation has been flaky with my system. I've added hard drives, changed CPUs, added RAM, etc, all without needing to reactivate. But once all I did was update my DVD+/-RW firmware and I had to call in.

 

[gonzo2k]

I added 1 stick of memory and had to reactivate one of the office machines.
It seems my hardware configuration had changed significantly from the original.

On my own machines... I've never had a problem reactivating by phone following a clean install.

I own a least 1 copy of XP for each machine I build... I'm not concerned which disk I use for setup & activation... neither is MS, it seems.

 

[zerocool84]

HAHAHAHAHA im gettin really sick and tired of this. after i reinstalled my video card last week and having to call for that. i uninstalled and updated my wireless g pci card drivers and IT SAID I HAD TO REACTIVATE DAMMIT

 

[bazcor]

There is a handy little (freeware) util XPinfo at http://lists.gpick.com/pages/Windows_XP_Tools.htm that will show the status of your WPA. Shows how near to tripping the reactivation you are...

 

[PingSpike]

I just use windows 2K. Its the same damn thing, and it doesn't have the activation.

 

[stash]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I just use windows 2K. Its the same damn thing, and it doesn't have the activation.

Interesting comment, after your rant in the other thread saying that 2000 SP4 and XP SP2 is not an apples to apples comparison.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: STaSh

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I just use windows 2K. Its the same damn thing, and it doesn't have the activation.

Interesting comment, after your rant in the other thread saying that 2000 SP4 and XP SP2 is not an apples to apples comparison.

You might try reading one sentence at a time, and then piecing them together to understand concepts when they are presented. Instead of grabbing out of context sound bytes and trying to use them to make feeble arguements.

The differences between 2K SP4 and XP SP2 not withstanding, both operating systems are close to the same under the hood, can run the same applications and when fully patched with the most recent available updates are close to the same in terms of security.

You were comparing XP SP2 which came out like 4 months ago, to 2K SP4 which came out a year and a half ago. There have been just a few patches released for 2K since that time, and it is unfair to compare the two. A more accurate comparison would have been to compare two fully patched systems running the respective operating systems. But then again, I thought that was obvious.

 

[stash]

But then again, I thought that was obvious.

Eh..so did I. I guess that's why I didn't specify a clean install of 2000 SP4 with all subsequent patches vs. a clean install of XP SP2. My bad for not being clear there.

Regardless, in such a comparison, XP SP2 still wins, mainly because of the firewall being enabled by default. Obviously, 2000 users can install a firewall, but I'm thinking of the vast majority of Windows users out there---those that don't even understand what a firewall is or why they need it. For those users, XP SP2 is a better choice.

 

[PingSpike]

I would say XP SP2 is better for the average user as well. Most people just walk right into spyware, don't run any kind of firewall and don't know what they are, or ever even update their system. SP2 made the wise choice of just forcing a lot of these things onto them. The next logical step seems for MS to bundle antivirus right with the OS...

But then again, I don't consider myself a member of that camp.

 

[DrCool]

not sure why your having to call..

MS actually refreshes your activiation info every 6 months, so as long as your only re-activating ever 6 months, you could techincally install the software on a new computer, every 6 months, and still activiate via the internet..

It does help to have a few LEGITIMATE copies lying around. I just alternate between the couple copies I have and have only had to call once or twice, installing / activating then deciding I wanted a different drive configuration..

 

[Novaoblivion]

Originally posted by: DrCool
not sure why your having to call..

MS actually refreshes your activiation info every 6 months, so as long as your only re-activating ever 6 months, you could techincally install the software on a new computer, every 6 months, and still activiate via the internet..

Yeah this is true although I had heard it was every 3 months I am able to reformat and install XP about every 3 months with out it flipping out on m I just activate over the internet everytime and it works like a charm.

 

[zerocool84]

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i tried activating it over the net i guess just to mess around and IT LET ME ACTIVATE OVER THE NET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! after all these times of me not being able to activate it over the net and having to call them, I was able to activate it over the net. maybe they reset my number or something the last time i called them but i dont know, it let me activate it over the net

 

[bleeb]

Just use the corporate edition... but have a legal, bought copy. Micro$oft still gets their money, and you get a hassle-free (activation wise) operating system... now for the other problems associated with this os.....

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: bleeb
Just use the corporate edition... but have a legal, bought copy. Micro$oft still gets their money, and you get a hassle-free (activation wise) operating system... now for the other problems associated with this os.....

That's still against the EULA. Unless you have a volume license you shouldnt be using it.

And at least call it by the proper name, about the only place you hear anyone say "corporate edition" is with the pirated copies. It's called the "Volume Licensing"

 

[rbV5]

Remember when you uninstall your vid driver and restart, your computer sees a new hardware device--bingo. Reactivation, at least for me.

I beta test video card drivers and have installed/uninstalled/reinstalled on various XP installations numerous times on several rigs (sometimes several times a week) Never, not a single time has it ever triggered re-activation on any of my rigs. Includes XP, XP SP1, XP SP2 and XP MCE 2005.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Remember when you uninstall your vid driver and restart, your computer sees a new hardware device--bingo. Reactivation, at least for me.

I beta test video card drivers and have installed/uninstalled/reinstalled on various XP installations numerous times on several rigs (sometimes several times a week) Never, not a single time has it ever triggered re-activation on any of my rigs. Includes XP, XP SP1, XP SP2 and XP MCE 2005.

well i guess ur lucky cus its happened to me TWICE!!!!!!!!!! also just by reinstalling my nic card, clearing my bios, hmm too many other things to list

 

[istari101]

Originally posted by: mikecel79
BTW even the corporate editions need a license key, but they don't need activation.

I own a legal copy of XP, but use a corporate CD whenever I need to reinstall due to the headache. I was under the impression that there were corporate versions that do and do not require a product key. I have one that has SP1 intergrated that requires no product key, and one that has SP2 integrated that requires a key. Can anyone shed some light on this?