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View Full Version : Tip of the Day: XP Activation

davidj
08-29-2007, 11:32 PM
I think I actually stuck with my last XP install for two years but I finally upgraded to a real hard drive (WD 500GB Sata2) and my recent install was getting really nasty on bootup so I decided I'd install my OS to it. I've owned my copy of XP Pro since it was released (October 2001?) and I've reinstalled a bunch since then.

This last time I did it I got some BS about having activated my XP too many times. :mad: Either this was related to recent WPA server issues or they were serious. Regardless I wasn't calling India. Fortunately I still had my old XP install on another drive and I could get my activation data from it and not have to go through that crap.

This page (http://netsecurity.about.com/od/windowsxp/qt/aaqtwinxp0829.htm) has a good step-by-step on how to backup your activation so you don't have to put up with it on the reinstall.

I did something a little different and when I'd boot XP it would say 'do you want to activate' even after copying the activated files; well I clicked Yes and it skipped straight to the good stuff and told me I was activated so I guess all was good by copying the old activation files.

Don't let the man keep you down.
ReefBlueCoupe
08-29-2007, 11:36 PM
A quicker way is to just call the number, tell the Indians your computer crashed, and that it's only installed on one computer, and get a new code. It takes 5 minutes. You can activate this way a billion times.
Verne
08-30-2007, 11:21 AM
Don't have to talk to anyone. When I called about two months ago it was all automated.

Verne
ReefBlueCoupe
08-30-2007, 01:54 PM
Well it is automated if it's able to be activated. If it's been activated too many times already though, human interaction is required. At least, it has been for the last 5 years.
davidj
08-30-2007, 02:49 PM
Yeah, and if copying my activation files wasn't going to work I was tempted to start sweet talking the chick on the other line because that's what I usually get... Indian chicks.

I think the last time I called everyone was on vacation and there was no one to activate the junk. :mad:
Verne
08-30-2007, 03:25 PM
Mine had been activated too many times. Mine was all automated. Maybe I just got lucky.

Verne