"Michael Stevens" <mstevens@bogusmvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23KkbqbfCGHA.3784@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> In news:eMaLvxQCGHA.336@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl,
> Vanguard <vanguard.code@comcastNIX.net> replied with a ;-)
>> "Lisa Baxter" <lisapctech@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:Xns97369D534D580lisapctechyahoocom@207.46.248 .16...
>>> PROBLEM:
>>> I've reinstalled XP numerous times (see below why) & activated online
>>> with no problems. Recently, after a reinstall , when I go to
>>> activate, I get a message that reads "cannot activate - product key
>>> used too many times". I then have to go through the touble of
>>> calling MS and have them issue me an activation code (which I've
>>> done 5 times already). I find it annoying to have to activate by
>>> phone. Why has XP stopped activating over the net, and why the
>>> activation message? NUMEROUS REINSTALLS:
>>> I'm currently enrolled in an A+ certification course. I'm Learning
>>> many methods to clean install XP such as on single & multiple
>>> partitons senarios, Multi OS's, network installations, automated
>>> installs using answer files. Using my practice PC, I use a purchased
>>> XP Pro Upgrade (I have Windows 98 CD for proof of upgrade).
>>
>>
>> How would the activation server it wasn't a pirate installing multiple
>> copies of the same license? How would the activation server know
>> that a thief hadn't resold the same license to many buyers?
>>
>> Why do you need to activate at all? Obviously you are using the
>> license for training. Why do you need that instance to be running
>> longer than 30 days? Obviously you should know long before a month
>> expires whether or not the install worked okay or to perform any
>> tweaks that you want. You are treating these installs as disposable
>> installs, so treat them that way and don't bother activating them. You'll
>> get a month of use out of the test install.
>
> You only get three days on a reactivation and that was added on SP1. 30
> days is on the initial install only.
Maybe for a reactivation. However, the OP said they were reinstalling the
OS. They didn't upgrade or perform an in-place upgrade (Repair). For a new
install, it hasn't contacted the activation server until the user lets it,
so they get 30 days on that install.
3 days is a stupidly short interval. Someone installing before the weekend
would find out that after coming back to work after the weekend, especially
a long weekend (like they got Friday off for Christmas Eve and Monday off,
too) that Windows was already dead. Stupid.
From what I read at
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo..._Bulletin.doc:
"Microsoft will add a three-day grace period for users who are asked to
re-activate due to changes in their hardware configuration. Previous to
SP1, a user was required to reactivate immediately upon boot if a
significant hardware changes had occurred. With SP1, users will have three
days to complete this re-activation. ... A re-install of the operating
system will reset this counter."
This is ambiguous. Set WHICH counter? The 3-day hardware change counter?
Or the 30-day retail trial period counter? Here "reinstall" could only be
enforced for the counters if the registry were left in place; i.e., the
reinstall is an upgrade or in-place upgrade (Repair). If the user does a
*clean* install (which, to the user, is a reinstall) of Windows XP, there
won't be any registry entries for the counter(s) so you get the 30-day trial
period.
--
__________________________________________________
Post replies to the newsgroup - Share with others.
E-mail: Remove "NIX" and append "#VC811" to Subject.
__________________________________________________