False 'Activation' message in XP home

  • Thread starter Thread starter Philip Andrews
  • Start date Start date
P

Philip Andrews

Hi,

I get a message on an old installation of XP Home that 'Windows needs to
be activated'. This follows a major crash, where the power-supply and
motherboard bundle had to be replaced because the machine wouldn't boot at
all. When I click 'OK', the machine things for a few seconds and then tells
me that Windows is already activated ... pressing 'OK' takes me back to the
log-in screen. I can get into Windows OK through Safe Mode, where the
message doesn't appear - but not through Nomal Mode. Any help or advice
would be appreciated - the installation is about 4 years old, and appears to
have run perfectly up until this disaster occurred.

Cheers,

Philip
 
Hi Philip,

See if the information in this MSKB article helps you resolve the problem:

You are prompted to activate Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 every time
that you start the computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312295

Note that you need either the install CD for XP Home (that does not include
a Recovery or Restore CD supplied by OEM manufacturer, as that CD is usually
a "factory settings" image) or a folder on hard drive that contains the files
from the i386 folder of the install CD.



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User


"Philip Andrews" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I get a message on an old installation of XP Home that 'Windows needs to
> be activated'. This follows a major crash, where the power-supply and
> motherboard bundle had to be replaced because the machine wouldn't boot at
> all. When I click 'OK', the machine things for a few seconds and then tells
> me that Windows is already activated ... pressing 'OK' takes me back to the
> log-in screen. I can get into Windows OK through Safe Mode, where the
> message doesn't appear - but not through Nomal Mode. Any help or advice
> would be appreciated - the installation is about 4 years old, and appears to
> have run perfectly up until this disaster occurred.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Philip
>
>
>
 
"Philip Andrews" <philipfaeunst@tiscali.co.uk> wrote>
> Hi,
> I get a message on an old installation of XP Home that 'Windows needs to
> be activated'. This follows a major crash, where the power-supply and
> motherboard bundle had to be replaced because the machine wouldn't boot at
> all. When I click 'OK', the machine things for a few seconds and then
> tells me that Windows is already activated ... pressing 'OK' takes me back
> to the log-in screen. I can get into Windows OK through Safe Mode, where
> the message doesn't appear - but not through Nomal Mode. Any help or
> advice would be appreciated - the installation is about 4 years old, and
> appears to have run perfectly up until this disaster occurred.

Activation trouble:
http://rickrogers.org/fixes.htm

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
 
I read that when there is a factory install of Windows and there is a need
for a replacement of the MB that unless the MB is the same as the original
that there will be a need to purchase another license. The OS is tied to the
MB. If you replaced the MB with the same as original then there is another
issue. I have never had this issue as I have always purchased the OS
separately.

"Philip Andrews" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I get a message on an old installation of XP Home that 'Windows needs to
> be activated'. This follows a major crash, where the power-supply and
> motherboard bundle had to be replaced because the machine wouldn't boot at
> all. When I click 'OK', the machine things for a few seconds and then tells
> me that Windows is already activated ... pressing 'OK' takes me back to the
> log-in screen. I can get into Windows OK through Safe Mode, where the
> message doesn't appear - but not through Nomal Mode. Any help or advice
> would be appreciated - the installation is about 4 years old, and appears to
> have run perfectly up until this disaster occurred.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Philip
>
>
>
 
Not quite... *Some* major OEMs do that, keyed to a string in BIOS, but
generic OEM version can be transferred to another machine. And there are
plenty of system builders out there who use the generic OEM CD. IOW,
"factory installed" is too loose a term to be accurate.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"JustUs" <JustUs@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8C2B693D-E0B4-47AF-8EF6-9BD12F6FDA47@microsoft.com...
>I read that when there is a factory install of Windows and there is a need
> for a replacement of the MB that unless the MB is the same as the original
> that there will be a need to purchase another license. The OS is tied to
> the
> MB. If you replaced the MB with the same as original then there is another
> issue. I have never had this issue as I have always purchased the OS
> separately.
>
> "Philip Andrews" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I get a message on an old installation of XP Home that 'Windows needs
>> to
>> be activated'. This follows a major crash, where the power-supply and
>> motherboard bundle had to be replaced because the machine wouldn't boot
>> at
>> all. When I click 'OK', the machine things for a few seconds and then
>> tells
>> me that Windows is already activated ... pressing 'OK' takes me back to
>> the
>> log-in screen. I can get into Windows OK through Safe Mode, where the
>> message doesn't appear - but not through Nomal Mode. Any help or advice
>> would be appreciated - the installation is about 4 years old, and appears
>> to
>> have run perfectly up until this disaster occurred.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Philip
>>
>>
>>
 
On Sun, 1 Jul 2007 22:26:00 -0700, JustUs
<JustUs@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I read that when there is a factory install of Windows and there is a need
> for a replacement of the MB that unless the MB is the same as the original
> that there will be a need to purchase another license. The OS is tied to the
> MB. If you replaced the MB with the same as original then there is another
> issue. I have never had this issue as I have always purchased the OS
> separately.


This is not accurate. First, the issue is with OEM versions, whether
or not they are factory-installed. Second, the operating system is
*not* tied to the motherboard, but (by the EULA) to the first
*computer* it is installed on.

The problem is that the Microsoft OEM EULA does not precisely define
exactly what constitutes the "computer." Some people claim that the
motherboard constitutes the computer. However logical that might seem,
the EULA does not state that, and the EULA is the document that
defines the rights of both parties to the agreement.

Some of those people point to a web site for System Builders, where
Microsoft defines the computer as the motherboard. However it's not
what it says on some web site that defines the customer's rights, it's
the EULA; besides, that web site is not even available to the general
public. I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is that if it ever came to a
court case and someone cited that web site, he'd be laughed out of
court.

So, can you replace a motherboard, consider the result the same
computer, and reuse your OEM copy of Windows? Regardless of what I
think, you think, or anyone else thinks, or even what a court might
rule if it came to that, the real issue is whether Microsoft will
permit you to reactivate if you do. Unfortunately the answer is again
not clear-cut, and we have heard here from people who have had both
experiences--some were reactivated and others were not. If they refuse
to reactivate you and you take them to court, you might win, but who
of us would be willing to undergo that trouble and expense to find
out?

So the answer, with an OEM version, is that there is no real answer.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Huh... I was under the impression that OEMs like Dell, HP, etc., key the CD
to the mobo via the BIOS. Not true? Understand that I'm not talking about a
one-to-one relationship, just that the CD can only be used on specific
model(s) of mobo. Not true?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:bb6i83dkuejjhjudv3obfasefgef908cka@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 1 Jul 2007 22:26:00 -0700, JustUs
> <JustUs@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>> I read that when there is a factory install of Windows and there is a
>> need
>> for a replacement of the MB that unless the MB is the same as the
>> original
>> that there will be a need to purchase another license. The OS is tied to
>> the
>> MB. If you replaced the MB with the same as original then there is
>> another
>> issue. I have never had this issue as I have always purchased the OS
>> separately.
>
>
> This is not accurate. First, the issue is with OEM versions, whether
> or not they are factory-installed. Second, the operating system is
> *not* tied to the motherboard, but (by the EULA) to the first
> *computer* it is installed on.
>
> The problem is that the Microsoft OEM EULA does not precisely define
> exactly what constitutes the "computer." Some people claim that the
> motherboard constitutes the computer. However logical that might seem,
> the EULA does not state that, and the EULA is the document that
> defines the rights of both parties to the agreement.
>
> Some of those people point to a web site for System Builders, where
> Microsoft defines the computer as the motherboard. However it's not
> what it says on some web site that defines the customer's rights, it's
> the EULA; besides, that web site is not even available to the general
> public. I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is that if it ever came to a
> court case and someone cited that web site, he'd be laughed out of
> court.
>
> So, can you replace a motherboard, consider the result the same
> computer, and reuse your OEM copy of Windows? Regardless of what I
> think, you think, or anyone else thinks, or even what a court might
> rule if it came to that, the real issue is whether Microsoft will
> permit you to reactivate if you do. Unfortunately the answer is again
> not clear-cut, and we have heard here from people who have had both
> experiences--some were reactivated and others were not. If they refuse
> to reactivate you and you take them to court, you might win, but who
> of us would be willing to undergo that trouble and expense to find
> out?
>
> So the answer, with an OEM version, is that there is no real answer.
>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
On Mon, 2 Jul 2007 09:16:59 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

> Huh... I was under the impression that OEMs like Dell, HP, etc., key the CD
> to the mobo via the BIOS. Not true? Understand that I'm not talking about a
> one-to-one relationship, just that the CD can only be used on specific
> model(s) of mobo. Not true?



Yes, depending on the OEM, that's often true. But it's not true of all
preinstalled versions.

I read JustUs's message as referring to the licensing issue, not
BIOS-locking to the motherboard, but it's possible that I might be
wrong, and your interpretation is correct. Still, as I said, that's
true only of some OEMs.



> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
> news:bb6i83dkuejjhjudv3obfasefgef908cka@4ax.com...
> > On Sun, 1 Jul 2007 22:26:00 -0700, JustUs
> > <JustUs@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I read that when there is a factory install of Windows and there is a
> >> need
> >> for a replacement of the MB that unless the MB is the same as the
> >> original
> >> that there will be a need to purchase another license. The OS is tied to
> >> the
> >> MB. If you replaced the MB with the same as original then there is
> >> another
> >> issue. I have never had this issue as I have always purchased the OS
> >> separately.
> >
> >
> > This is not accurate. First, the issue is with OEM versions, whether
> > or not they are factory-installed. Second, the operating system is
> > *not* tied to the motherboard, but (by the EULA) to the first
> > *computer* it is installed on.
> >
> > The problem is that the Microsoft OEM EULA does not precisely define
> > exactly what constitutes the "computer." Some people claim that the
> > motherboard constitutes the computer. However logical that might seem,
> > the EULA does not state that, and the EULA is the document that
> > defines the rights of both parties to the agreement.
> >
> > Some of those people point to a web site for System Builders, where
> > Microsoft defines the computer as the motherboard. However it's not
> > what it says on some web site that defines the customer's rights, it's
> > the EULA; besides, that web site is not even available to the general
> > public. I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is that if it ever came to a
> > court case and someone cited that web site, he'd be laughed out of
> > court.
> >
> > So, can you replace a motherboard, consider the result the same
> > computer, and reuse your OEM copy of Windows? Regardless of what I
> > think, you think, or anyone else thinks, or even what a court might
> > rule if it came to that, the real issue is whether Microsoft will
> > permit you to reactivate if you do. Unfortunately the answer is again
> > not clear-cut, and we have heard here from people who have had both
> > experiences--some were reactivated and others were not. If they refuse
> > to reactivate you and you take them to court, you might win, but who
> > of us would be willing to undergo that trouble and expense to find
> > out?
> >
> > So the answer, with an OEM version, is that there is no real answer.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
That's a relief. I thought maybe I had it wrong all this time, <s>.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:nsji83l9n15ra3epusj895h8tpl0upc288@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 2 Jul 2007 09:16:59 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:
>
>> Huh... I was under the impression that OEMs like Dell, HP, etc., key the
>> CD
>> to the mobo via the BIOS. Not true? Understand that I'm not talking about
>> a
>> one-to-one relationship, just that the CD can only be used on specific
>> model(s) of mobo. Not true?
>
>
>
> Yes, depending on the OEM, that's often true. But it's not true of all
> preinstalled versions.
>
> I read JustUs's message as referring to the licensing issue, not
> BIOS-locking to the motherboard, but it's possible that I might be
> wrong, and your interpretation is correct. Still, as I said, that's
> true only of some OEMs.
>
>
>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
>> news:bb6i83dkuejjhjudv3obfasefgef908cka@4ax.com...
>> > On Sun, 1 Jul 2007 22:26:00 -0700, JustUs
>> > <JustUs@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> I read that when there is a factory install of Windows and there is a
>> >> need
>> >> for a replacement of the MB that unless the MB is the same as the
>> >> original
>> >> that there will be a need to purchase another license. The OS is tied
>> >> to
>> >> the
>> >> MB. If you replaced the MB with the same as original then there is
>> >> another
>> >> issue. I have never had this issue as I have always purchased the OS
>> >> separately.
>> >
>> >
>> > This is not accurate. First, the issue is with OEM versions, whether
>> > or not they are factory-installed. Second, the operating system is
>> > *not* tied to the motherboard, but (by the EULA) to the first
>> > *computer* it is installed on.
>> >
>> > The problem is that the Microsoft OEM EULA does not precisely define
>> > exactly what constitutes the "computer." Some people claim that the
>> > motherboard constitutes the computer. However logical that might seem,
>> > the EULA does not state that, and the EULA is the document that
>> > defines the rights of both parties to the agreement.
>> >
>> > Some of those people point to a web site for System Builders, where
>> > Microsoft defines the computer as the motherboard. However it's not
>> > what it says on some web site that defines the customer's rights, it's
>> > the EULA; besides, that web site is not even available to the general
>> > public. I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is that if it ever came to a
>> > court case and someone cited that web site, he'd be laughed out of
>> > court.
>> >
>> > So, can you replace a motherboard, consider the result the same
>> > computer, and reuse your OEM copy of Windows? Regardless of what I
>> > think, you think, or anyone else thinks, or even what a court might
>> > rule if it came to that, the real issue is whether Microsoft will
>> > permit you to reactivate if you do. Unfortunately the answer is again
>> > not clear-cut, and we have heard here from people who have had both
>> > experiences--some were reactivated and others were not. If they refuse
>> > to reactivate you and you take them to court, you might win, but who
>> > of us would be willing to undergo that trouble and expense to find
>> > out?
>> >
>> > So the answer, with an OEM version, is that there is no real answer.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
>> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Thanks for that tip - I followed it but still get the same problem. Looks
like 'reload time'.

Philip


"Patti MacLeod" <pam120@nospamshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:C2323B40-60D4-4E58-B8A4-C339EDF295B0@microsoft.com...
> Hi Philip,
>
> See if the information in this MSKB article helps you resolve the problem:
>
> You are prompted to activate Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 every time
> that you start the computer
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312295
>
> Note that you need either the install CD for XP Home (that does not
> include
> a Recovery or Restore CD supplied by OEM manufacturer, as that CD is
> usually
> a "factory settings" image) or a folder on hard drive that contains the
> files
> from the i386 folder of the install CD.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> --
> Patti MacLeod
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "Philip Andrews" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I get a message on an old installation of XP Home that 'Windows needs
>> to
>> be activated'. This follows a major crash, where the power-supply and
>> motherboard bundle had to be replaced because the machine wouldn't boot
>> at
>> all. When I click 'OK', the machine things for a few seconds and then
>> tells
>> me that Windows is already activated ... pressing 'OK' takes me back to
>> the
>> log-in screen. I can get into Windows OK through Safe Mode, where the
>> message doesn't appear - but not through Nomal Mode. Any help or advice
>> would be appreciated - the installation is about 4 years old, and appears
>> to
>> have run perfectly up until this disaster occurred.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Philip
>>
>>
>>
 
Back
Top