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Activating my Windows XPFollow

#1 Aug 25 2004 at 1:53 AM Rating: Decent
Here's my little problem. I recently contracted a virus on my computer, so I basically stuck in a friend's WIN XP PRO CD to erase and reinstall on my main drive where I keep my OS on.

Everything goes smoothly until it asks me to activate and register myself. So I thought okay I've been told I don't need to register myself so I should be okay. I go to activate Windows and it says that the 25 digit serial number exceeded it's uses. I try to enter it in any ways but it still says the same thing.

It says I now have only 30 days till it expires. What happens exactly when it expires? When I had my computer put together, my Dad hired someone to install the software onto my computer and I don't know exactly what he did. It seemed like he had some sort of hack or crack though where it never asked me to activate my CD.

Any ways... if anyone could help me out, I would appriciate it alot =)
#2 Aug 25 2004 at 1:56 AM Rating: Decent
i needed to do the same thing...couldnt figure it out so i just bought expensive anti virus softwear and made a bad thing good ^^h
#3 Aug 25 2004 at 2:01 AM Rating: Decent
but about the activating my windows, do you know anything about it?

I have the AVG anti virus program and until yesterday, it's been the best thing. The virus just kept appearing after it says it gets rid of it though. =\
#4 Aug 25 2004 at 2:02 AM Rating: Decent
You are probably SOL.

Things you can do:

1) While your computer still runs, download kazaa and see if you can get windows xp. (look for a download that says corporate edition, those ones don't require activation). (steal)

2) Have your friend come over and call microsoft while at your computer. He needs to tell them that he is moving his OS from one system to another. (lie)

3) Go out and buy a copy. If you have an old windows disc sitting around you can use the upgrade, $99.



#5 Aug 25 2004 at 2:11 AM Rating: Decent
hmmm those are interesting ideas... last time I checked, it cost money to use Kazaa now? The whole friend thing may not work since friends that I know that own a original copy don't even live in the same state as I do.

Would you happen to know if my OS will just not work after 30 days though?

What do you mean by SOL?
#6 Aug 25 2004 at 5:42 AM Rating: Good
After 30 days, your windows XP will NOT work. It must be activated to work, unless you have corp edition, which you do not....

SOL = shiite outta luck

Here's how you can avoid the problem entirely:

*IF* you know you're going to be reinstalling windows XP on the same machine, look in your windows/system32 directory and find a file named WPA.dbl. Copy this file onto a floppy. Then reinstall windows. Once you've completely patched windows up to date and got your drivers back up to date, reboot using a DOS disk. Copy the wpa.dbl file from the floppy onto your hard drive, replacing the wpa.dbl currently in the windows/system32 directory. Voila, you've got your system back to where it was without going through the Windows Activation process.


Note: Don't bother to try using this to pirate. WPA.dbl describes your hardware and if the info in the file doesn't match what XP is reading as your current hardware, the WPA.dbl file will just be reset to its original status, forcing you to go through the activation process.


Do you have a legit copy of the operating system? If not, you can get one fairly cheap these days. When I built my last computer, I picked up XP pro for $104. All it took was a few minutes of shopping and it arrived at my home in only 2 days.
#7 Aug 25 2004 at 7:23 AM Rating: Decent
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If your looking for a Win XP Pro CD Key, I have a several at home I know work. If you can wait a couple of hours until after work, I will post a couple for you to try.

Sorry, it's the best I can offer right now.
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#8 Aug 25 2004 at 8:00 AM Rating: Decent
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729 posts
Why don't you have a disc of your own? Is it one of those lovely HP cheap tricks that they steal 10GB of your hard drive and create a reinstall partition that doesn't work to begin with? There is supposed to be information on how to retrieve your lost key on the Screensavers website. I will try and locate it, but if you don't have your original OS on your system, then you are kind of SOL. MS went out of their way to make things difficult for people.
#9 Aug 25 2004 at 9:25 AM Rating: Decent
If your sure the CD you used is Legitimate all you need to do is this.

Call the Microsoft Activcation people.

Tell them you changed your cpu/motherboard, oh say Pentium III to Pentium IV. Just to make this clear, "Hello, I took my Hard Disk drive out of my old system and put it into my new system. Now I am being required to Activate my WinXP".

They will say congratulations on the upgrade. You make some innocent snide remark about why does MS make me do this.

They give you a number to type in.

You do that, all is well with the world. They say Have a nice day, yadda yadda yadda.

If the CD you used was pirated, oh well, tell them you bought the system from an online supplier (reference pricewatch.com) and everything was fine until you downloaded SP1. They will send you to a group that deals with this. They can offer you a package on the low end of $10 US or High End of $80.

Edited, Wed Aug 25 10:29:06 2004 by JDurga
#10 Aug 25 2004 at 11:03 AM Rating: Decent
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144 posts
Just call Microsoft and explain the problem to them. They will give you a code after you are made to jump through some hoops.
#12 Aug 25 2004 at 6:07 PM Rating: Decent
VERY VERY NICE! THANK YOU ALL!

I didn't expect this large of a reply in one day. Thank You to each and everyone of you that took the time to reply. I actually got help from a LS friend in FFXI to help me with this matter too.

I just wanted to make this a little bit more clear though since what I wrote was a bit general.

My brother has a good friend, who's parents work at MS back in WA state. They have this 3 disc copy that isn't made to be re-sold to anyone. He let me borrow the pack of CDs and I proceeded to install MS XP PRO. Tried activating it but it said it was already being used and I needed to enter in another one.

So no, it's not a pirated CD. It's a legit CD that isn't mine, probably being used by my brother's friend's parents.

When I built my computer, some guy my Dad knew installed Win XP Pro on my computer and I'm guessing he had some sort of hack or cd key generator to get passed the activation.

But yeah, I hope that clears it all up. I'll try those CD keys Fizzel as I'm guessing you probably got them the way a friend taught me how I could get them also =)

Thanks for taking the time posting that though Fizzel and to everyone else who replied!
#13 Aug 26 2004 at 8:16 AM Rating: Decent
After 30 days as long as you dont restart your computer everything is fine...but if you do restart your comp then you better get a cd key or your screwed. Luckly I have a shi7 load of Legit XP Pro Cd Keys so this isn't a problem for me.

And after you have activated the same XP Pro CD Key twice you have to wait another 120 days before you are allowed to use it again.
#14 Aug 26 2004 at 8:21 AM Rating: Default
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30,086 posts
I bought a car for $29 and now they're saying they want it back. Anyone know what I can do to keep it? The people who sold me the car are called "Enterprise" or something.
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