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You may be a victim of software counterfeiting!!!

in my defense however i have a perfectly legit boughten windows xp pro cd and key but i do not use it because i like to install windows every 2-3 months and i do not want to have to call microsoft everytime i do it
Laziness and ignorance is not a defense.
 
Originally posted by: dalearyous
why is it that windows decides to sneak in an update that constantly tells me i may be a victim of software counterfeiting when really for most its probably the other way around. i hope my entire post is read before the mods try to delete. i will admit, i do use a corporate windows xp pro cd key that got me this message the other day. in my defense however i have a perfectly legit boughten windows xp pro cd and key but i do not use it because i like to install windows every 2-3 months and i do not want to have to call microsoft everytime i do it. so i keep my legit cd and key in the box and use the other one. does anyone else do this?

Why do you install every 2-3 months?
 
im not admitting to anything. i have legit copy and using the same version/software. i spent the money. thats same thing as me taking my dvd, making a copy,...putting the dvd away and then watching the copied version just to save the original.

i install every 2-3 months mainly because i like my computer running top notch

laziness has nothing to do with it. i hate calling that stupid line. i do it all the time for work and figured why not. and just to back me up there is a thread right below this one here explaining his frustration over calling
 
i spent the money. thats same thing as me taking my dvd, making a copy,...putting the dvd away and then watching the copied version just to save the original.
Except that it isn't. You purchased one type of license (Retail or OEM) but are using another (Volume).

i install every 2-3 months mainly because i like my computer running top notch
Completely unnecessary.

laziness has nothing to do with it
It has everything to do with it. You have enough time to waste on reinstalling the OS from scratch every 2-3 months, but you can't take 30 seconds to activate? As noted in the thread you linked to, you should rarely have to call to reactivate. And if you kick your ridiculous formatting habit, you definitely wouldn't have to call to reactivate.
 
This may not be 100% on topic but for me it's a principle issue. Now, I own 2 copies of WinXP Pro Retail for both my wifes computer and mine. I have formatted 2-3 times at least in the last 18 months, give or take. I have not had any problems activating over the internet and have never had to call Microsoft.

Activation itself doesn't bother me but the fact that they are allowed to get away with that kind of protection scheme does. I paid for the license to use the software and I should be allowed to use it whenever I want and however I want within the terms of the license agreement without having to call or contact anyone for "permission". Of course, there will be the instigators and retards who will say, "If you don't like it, don't use their software". That's not very realistic and it's certainly not an acceptable solution.
 
why are you after my balls stash? yes it may be completely unnecessary, but when it only takes 15 minutes to format and install windows and sp2, i consider it worth it (its my pc maintenance). to resolve the issue for now i did the registry change and changed my windows xp cd key to the legit version which solved the problem. therefore, they must be the same type of license for that to work. oh, and whats with your signature? you have to have a disclaimer in your sig?
 
why are you after my balls stash?
You have the wrong idea dude.

but when it only takes 15 minutes to format and install windows and sp2, i consider it worth it (its my pc maintenance).
It takes even less time to restore an image of your machine that is configured how you like, and you don't need to reactivate.

That said, if your computer requires a wipe and reinstall every two months for maintenance, you might want to be a little more cafeful with what you put on your computer and where you surf on the Internet. Or at least run as a non-admin.
 
That said, if your computer requires a wipe and reinstall every two months for maintenance, you might want to be a little more cafeful with what you put on your computer and where you surf on the Internet. Or at least run as a non-admin.

figured you say that. a guy reinstalls windows every few months and they immediately assume he doesn't know what he is doing or isn't careful on the net.

im just a perfectionist
 
Just click on phone activation

It will generate a code and call the 1-800 number

Talk to the indian person... tell him yeah you installed 1 CPU... say you formated etc tell him your installation ID

This will work only if you have a valid key
 
Originally posted by: dalearyous
figured you say that. a guy reinstalls windows every few months and they immediately assume he doesn't know what he is doing or isn't careful on the net.

im just a perfectionist
You're talking to someone who works for Microsoft, so of course Windows never needs to be reinstalled. You can fix anything by digging into the registry and finding the deeply buried key that is causing your computer to randomly misbehave... because we know that everyone is a computer science PhD.

Anyway, that doesn't excuse not using a legit copy of Windows...
 
I wish I had a PhD. But I never suggested that you never need to do a reinstall. If you get a virus or some spyware on the box, the only thing I would suggest is a wipe and reload. Usually, malware is the only thing that leads to reinstalls every few weeks.

If you read my posts, you'll see that I suggested making an image, which would solve the problem of reinstalling AND reactivation.
 
Originally posted by: dalearyous
why are you after my balls stash? yes it may be completely unnecessary, but when it only takes 15 minutes to format and install windows and sp2, i consider it worth it (its my pc maintenance). to resolve the issue for now i did the registry change and changed my windows xp cd key to the legit version which solved the problem. therefore, they must be the same type of license for that to work. oh, and whats with your signature? you have to have a disclaimer in your sig?

You then have to install MS updates, drivers, all of your applications, then move data back over. I'd wager that your "15 min. install" is more like 1-2 hours. Invest in a quality imaging program (Acronis TrueImage) and then your 15 min install will have merit. 😛

If you're having to reinstall the OS every 2-3 months you should really look at your usage habits and learn proper troubleshooting skills.
 
If you're having to reinstall the OS every 2-3 months you should really look at your usage habits and learn proper troubleshooting skills.

sorry you guys must of completely missed the reason for me reinstalling windows every few months. image idea is a good idea except drivers change all the time and i found myself installing drivers after the image.

learn proper troubleshooting skills? thats funny considering thats what i do for a day job besides my coding and web development. all im saying is that i like my computer running in top condition with the latest drivers etc for all my computer usage whether it be work or gaming. ive never reinstalled windows because of a virus, spyware or any other crap you can get on the net.

between the hardware that i have the the internet connection i have 15 mins is all i need. as far as backing up stuff thats what partitions are for.
 
image idea is a good idea except drivers change all the time and i found myself installing drivers after the image.
Consider imaging it without any post-install drivers, and then you can install the latest-&-greatest drivers after restoring an image.
 
sorry you guys must of completely missed the reason for me reinstalling windows every few months.
I think we missed it because you haven't given us one. Are you swapping out hardware? Short of a new motherboard, new hardware shouldn't require a reinstall.

I reinstall OSs on a daily basis, but that's because I'm testing Vista daily builds, or building a new scenario in my virtual server lab. But my main non-testing machines run fine with the original installs.
 
Originally posted by: dalearyous
That said, if your computer requires a wipe and reinstall every two months for maintenance, you might want to be a little more cafeful with what you put on your computer and where you surf on the Internet. Or at least run as a non-admin.

figured you say that. a guy reinstalls windows every few months and they immediately assume he doesn't know what he is doing or isn't careful on the net.

im just a perfectionist

Dude, I know where you are coming from. I used to be the same way. I would notice my computer just wasn't as "snappy" as it was after a fresh install. But I was logging in with an admin account and now I only log in as a limited user and any time I need admin rights I can usually do a right click and run as... I also use Firefox now. I have not reinstalled my XP computer in like 2 years, and it still runs "snappy."
 
Originally posted by: dalearyous
learn proper troubleshooting skills? thats funny considering thats what i do for a day job besides my coding and web development. all im saying is that i like my computer running in top condition with the latest drivers etc for all my computer usage whether it be work or gaming. ive never reinstalled windows because of a virus, spyware or any other crap you can get on the net.

Where are these reasons? Updating drivers does not require a fresh install, nor will it hinder performance if you do it correctly. I still call shens on the 15 min. install. 😛
 
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