Windows Activation Sucks.
Tuesday, November 29th, 2005 - 7:29pm
I actived my new copy of Windows one day last week.
Then this week my second video card comes in, I salvage a third hard drive from an older computer, and I replace a CD-RW with a DVD/CD/R/RW drive.
Then windows tells me the hardware configuration of the machine has changed "significantly" and then proceeds to bring up the "Let's Activate Windows!" window.
It then tells me I have three days before it just stops working.
Is this common?
Is windows going to freak out every other time I change out a piece of hardware?
I've never had this happen before and I was really curious.
XBLive: Thin J | PSN: Thin_J | Battle.net: ThinJ.284
You know stuff. - MannishBoy
Yep, it will.
It does that. You shouldn't have a problem, even if it tells you that you need to call some 1-800 number. Tell then you swapped some stuff out and they'll give you the new number
XBox Live: SwampYankee68
STEAM: SwampYankee
Miami, FLSeattle, WAFree yourself my friend.
http://www.nliteos.com/download.html
Steam|Xbox Live|LoL|Twitter|
I believe there is a program called XP Antispy which allows you to deactivate the "activation" mechanism. The legality of this is questionable but this feature is so utterly paranoid and annoying that I consider this deactivation a necessity.
What version of Windows does this? I run XP Home. I've swapped out video cards and added a DVD burner and never got that message. Maybe because I didn't do it all at the same time?
BHA: Lyonroar, Mundor, Slycke
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The algorithm they use for determining a "significant change" is a bit of a mystery, but the idea is that once you've changed out enough components, XP thinks it's on a "different machine" and triggers this event. I can tell you for sure that swapping mobo/cpu will definitely cause the activation. I was irate when it happened to me, but I just called the 800 number and was done with the process in a minute or two; it was totally harmless. Annoying, yes, but at least they lube you up before the rogering.
I called it, just sayin'.
Could replacing a CPU with another of the exact same model CPU show up as a change? Other than that the only thing I've altered in the last few days is switching out that CDRW for the DVDRW.
But anyway, I called them on the phone last night and after a really irritating "conversation" I got it activated again.
It would have been less frustrating if the guy on the other end of the line had spoken coherent english, but I think that's an entirely different discussion.
XBLive: Thin J | PSN: Thin_J | Battle.net: ThinJ.284
You know stuff. - MannishBoy
Yes. Its tied to the CPU Serial Number. I thought it was 3 changes at once... such as CPU, NIC, Video. But I don't think CD Drives count.
Steam: Painthappens
I guess I added the second video card the same day the CPU showed too.
But that would still only be two changes if the DVD drive didn't count
My confusion here actually came from my old(er) Dell computer that I replaced with this new rig.
At one point I took out that thing's hard drive and both optical drives, plus adding a floppy drive, all at once, and never saw this activation thing.
I even reinstalled windows onto freshly formatted hard drives on it twice without having to bother with any activation.
It was like it was immune to the whole thing.
So in this one little lonely case, Dell for the win.
XBLive: Thin J | PSN: Thin_J | Battle.net: ThinJ.284
You know stuff. - MannishBoy
"Ello, Mr. Tin Guy. I'm now able to be helping you in trubbul shooting your PC. Is your monitor turned on? Dat is always a big problem with computers. Yes? Good. Is your power cable plugged into the wall socket? Dat is the most second type problem."
Foamy the Squirrel: Tech Support
BHA: Lyonroar, Mundor, Slycke
It was more like "Hi, my name is Bob and I'll be helping you today".
My first thought is "Yeah, I bet your name is bob."
And on it went from there. With the accent the guy had, in my head, the stereotypes start appearing and I imagine a guy that looks sort of like one of the MEC-Assault class troops in BF2 sitting on the other end of the phone. Only he's waiting until he hangs up the phone to stand, wave his AK in the air, and scream "DEATH TO THE INFIDEL WHO INSTALLS NEW HARDWARE! JIHAD! JIHAD!"
Then I realize I'm a stereotyping asshole and I just have to suck it up and deal with it.
XBLive: Thin J | PSN: Thin_J | Battle.net: ThinJ.284
You know stuff. - MannishBoy
Don't you just love how Microsoft treats everyone like their a software pirate until they can prove otherwise? In the meantime, the real pirates are probably distributing cracked copies of XP like mad.
Buttonmashing.com
X-Box Live Gamertag - Botswana GWJ
Less chatter more splatter!
Pffffffft. Coherent english is for sissies.
Steam: [GWJ] Mr.Green | Xbox Live: MrGreen | PSN: MrGreenPSN | Wii: 4859 2... oh f*ck it.
There's also a time component in there, IIRC. X amount of hardware changes within Y number of days, I think.
Steam: duckilama
T.Rex is more impressive than a cockroach, but that doesn't mean it aged better. - CheezePavillion
You speak it just fine.
XBLive: Thin J | PSN: Thin_J | Battle.net: ThinJ.284
You know stuff. - MannishBoy
Dell uses a proprietary OEM version of Windows that does not require activation. However, you also can't use the CD key, or install disc on any computer other than dell. Has something to do with motherboard branding, I think.
/who Relk
*Error too many results. Please narrow your search and try again.
There is also a regular OEM version (also a coprorate edition if you will) that does not require activation either. The CD Key for the corporate one is of course tied to the corporations Site License... so pirating that would be a bad thing
Steam: Painthappens
Yeah, you can't use any of the discs that come with a dell to install onto another computer anymore. They all just bring up a big "THIS ISN'T A DELL AND YOU'RE RETARDED" window and tell you they can't install.
XBLive: Thin J | PSN: Thin_J | Battle.net: ThinJ.284
You know stuff. - MannishBoy
The thing is you get a valid CD-key, they don't care. I have ported my one copy of XP home that I have had since like 2001 to 2 different HD's, 2 differnent Mobo's/CPU and I have had no problems. The OEM version that I bought doesn't have one component left in the PC that is an original part. But they don't care. I did get the automated CD-Key check once.. that was fun!
It could be worse.. they could have some obscure reference to a manual page in it like they used to do with old PC games
Playing WoW as: new father with a liquid crack habit
"Nation, I've always said that rainbows are just God's way of frowning at gay people." Stephen Colbert
Windows Activation isn't really that big of a deal. I have 3 machines all running the same copy, and I have to activate them every once and awhile due to hardware changes. It won't do it online, but if you call them up and answer some routine questions they'll activate it for you, never had any problems so far.
Xbox Live Gamertag : Barab
Battle.net: Barab,767
So you're saying I'm a sissy huh?
Steam: [GWJ] Mr.Green | Xbox Live: MrGreen | PSN: MrGreenPSN | Wii: 4859 2... oh f*ck it.
I am actually currently running a Dell copy of XP Media Center Edition on a computer that has nothing in common with the actual Dell (it's on a desktop, it came on a laptop). No problems, though it did require activation. If what y'all are saying is true, maybe it doesn't apply to XP MCE. Either way, it's true that the MPEG DVD software that came with the Dell won't install on the desktop, even though it's running Dell's copy of XP MCE.
Quote:
- Legion, keeping it frighteningly in the family.
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The littlest fremen.
Miami, FLSeattle, WAHere's an idea. Use the program I linked to and make a custom version of XP. To do this...
1. Copy the contents of the windows disc to your hard drive.
2. Run program and point it to the folder you copied the disc too
3. Follow the wizard instructions
4. Read documentation as needed
Doing this you can get a installation that boot in 10 seconds or less, shut down in 10 seconds or less; is half the size of xp stock; doesn't run extra crap; automatically installs (just drop it into the drive and come back later); installs in 10 minutes or less; and lots of other goodies.
Steam|Xbox Live|LoL|Twitter|
Mine already boots and shuts down about that fast, but the rest of it sounds really groovy. I'm about to reinstall again and get rid of my partition, since BF2 doesn't like not being reinstalled after windows is reinstalled, there's little point for me. Does that proggy also help with slipstreaming SP2? My XP is 3 years old and OEM. I guess I should RTFA, eh?
Steam: duckilama
T.Rex is more impressive than a cockroach, but that doesn't mean it aged better. - CheezePavillion
Miami, FLSeattle, WAYar, lots of nice goodies I wouldn't be able to tell you in the manual. The wizards takes care of everything really so there isn't much of a manual to read. My favorite feature though is driver integration.
http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html
Steam|Xbox Live|LoL|Twitter|
Do you use this on your gaming machine?
Steam: duckilama
T.Rex is more impressive than a cockroach, but that doesn't mean it aged better. - CheezePavillion
Edwin, I love you. That is friggin' awesome! Based on your experience, is it ok to do this when windows has been installed for a while or is it better to make an image just after installing it - completely with all necessary drivers and so on. I'ld imagine it would have more clutter in it if done later.
Roo wrote:
Coldstream wrote:
That post, Edwin, is IT bookshelf entry ready. Should come in handy and I'll try nlite out myself.
"Fine. Take her out to lunch and then at an opportune lull in the conversation poke your finger directly in her anus. Chances are she'll leave you alone after that. If not, hey buttsex!" - ColdForged
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EVE - Promethean Starter/Persephone Starter
Miami, FLSeattle, WAGaming machine, server, work servers, work workstations, everything. You thought ghosting was the sh*t? Try ghosting 12 different configurations, because, well its a PITA. With Nlite and Unattended you just make the installation sequence and just throw the disc into 900 PC's at once. BAM! Entire company is back up and running in 10 minutes.
You don't make an image of you windows installation. You take the stock retail XP disc and modify it. Once everything has been modified you make an image of that and burn it. It's like MS makes a super special version of windows xp installation disc. If I am reading your post right, you are thinking about this like ghost, which it isn't.
I thought I did, but looks like I didn't.
Steam|Xbox Live|LoL|Twitter|
You read my post right. Thanks for the clarification, will be trying it out this weekend.
Roo wrote:
Coldstream wrote: