Activation question

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).

Lisa Baxter wrote:
> 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).

Wait 121 days and try to activate over the Internet. What that message is
telling you (actually) is that you have tried to activate too many times in
too short of a timeframe.

As for your reason for numerous installs. Neat.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

WOW STAN! YOUR FAST!
I wish MS responded as fast as you did (less than 10 min later). Thankyou
for you response & advise. I sense from your answer MS has that waiting
period for a reason, and I can assume what they might be, so it makes sense
to me now. Well, I'm gonna finish my coffee now, and create a new xp
unattended install answer file as set fourth in chapter 16 of my class
book, wipe the drive & re-install again. Well, on the brightside, I'm
getting very proficient at activating XP over the phone....gigle.....

Thanks again
Lisa Baxter

Lisa Baxter wrote:
> WOW STAN! YOUR FAST!
> I wish MS responded as fast as you did (less than 10 min later). Thankyou
> for you response & advise. I sense from your answer MS has that waiting
> period for a reason, and I can assume what they might be, so it makes sense
> to me now. Well, I'm gonna finish my coffee now, and create a new xp
> unattended install answer file as set fourth in chapter 16 of my class
> book, wipe the drive & re-install again. Well, on the brightside, I'm
> getting very proficient at activating XP over the phone....gigle.....
>
> Thanks again
> Lisa Baxter
>
Keep in mind you have 30 days to activate. If you're doing several
installs in a short time just don't activate.

gls858

Lisa Baxter wrote:
> 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).

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Wait 121 days and try to activate over the Internet. What that
> message is telling you (actually) is that you have tried to
> activate too many times in too short of a timeframe.
>
> As for your reason for numerous installs. Neat.

Lisa Baxter wrote:
> WOW STAN! YOUR FAST!
> I wish MS responded as fast as you did (less than 10 min later).
> Thankyou for you response & advise. I sense from your answer MS
> has that waiting period for a reason, and I can assume what they
> might be, so it makes sense to me now. Well, I'm gonna finish my
> coffee now, and create a new xp unattended install answer file as
> set fourth in chapter 16 of my class book, wipe the drive &
> re-install again. Well, on the brightside, I'm getting very
> proficient at activating XP over the phone....gigle.....

gls858 wrote:
> Keep in mind you have 30 days to activate. If you're doing several
> installs in a short time just don't activate.

Good Call, gls858!
I'd take that advice if I were you, Lisa.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Lisa Baxter wrote:
> 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?
>


Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


> 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).


The above being the case, and knowing that frequent re-installations
were expected, why did you bother to activate, at all?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
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both at once. - RAH

"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.


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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.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
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"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.

--
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