stupid reinstallation

[Daymonkey]

hi i reinstalled my copy of win xp pro doing a full install due to major virus, and now when i try to activate it says that the key has been used to many time as far as i concerned i have had only one pc, using this product key the one i was using , so i thought i willl go through the telephone so i did, and then when i have gone through putting the installation id thing (when you have to type the number on the screen in through your phone keypad) i get your ........(cnt rmbr what it is called) coudl not be verified


why is this as i really need to activate my windows


please nobody give me any dodgy links i want to activate xp legit ok

[Ceefer]

I've recently had the same problem. I've re-installed and re-activated Windows XP three times now, on the same computer, for various reasons. Each time I've found that the only way that would work was to actually speak to a Microsoft operator (someone in India I think!) who asked for the first 6 numbers in my activation key (the one that wouldn't work). She then gave me a new activation key over the phone which I typed into the relevant boxes. Then voila! Product re-activated OK.

[myth]

I hve a program that activates it for me!

[PMM]

Make sure you talk to a MS support operative

I get this alot due to the numerious changes in my systems from upgrades
& testing, when there is a major change in your setup Windows knows and
think's its a different system so prompts for re-activation.

After so many re-activations your forced to get a new key from MS by
giving them a ring, its one of there safeguards against non-legit copies

So don't go thinking its because your system key is being used elsewhere
its just that you have used up your quoter for how many times your have
re-activated.

Yes its rather annoying and I could throttle Bill Gates when it happened to me
when I had PcFormat taking pics of my Rig but its a simple enough process.

[Daymonkey]

thanks for your replies i am phoning them now will tell you how i get on

[Platinum]

After your next activation, take a ghost image of your hard drive and just use that instead of a reinstall, you will never need to activate again

[Daymonkey]

i have now activated (u guys rule)how do i take a ghost image of my hard drive platinum could you tell me how as i would like to do this.

[killgORE]

WHAT.. a legit copy and u have to go through hassle. I was considering re-installing but I might ghost it. SOD phoning anyone. I paid already.. Is this relatively new i.e. not in windows 2000 <- lost track how often I installed that -> but only an XP "feature"..

I assure you this does NOT prevent the warez people doing anything. It just iritates people that paid. Since an illegal user will be able to get a new crack or whatever it is that those kids do these days.

[myth]

Yep! There is a way to backup the activation key file though!

You got to use XP manager..

[killgORE]

well.. I was going to be installing Gentoo completly soon anyway.. just a matter of time before my tv card gets proper support.. then I will have a minute windows install with about 10 gigs of space for games/demos.. one thing linux can't do really well. U don't need more than 10 g for games.. just delete em after you are done

[Ceefer]

To 'ghost' an image of your hard drive you need Norton Ghost, though there are probably other programmes that do it too. I think Acronis make one. You will also need (ideally) a second hard drive to ghost the image to, or a partition on your current drive.

[Daymonkey]

what do you reckon the difference between norton ghost 2002 and norton ghost 2003

[Ceefer]

Don't get Ghost 2002! This is what I use and it is truly horrible. Definitely the most user-unfriendly piece of software I have had the misfortune to buy. You have to run it from DOS which, if you're running Windows XP, means running it from a bootable floppy (or CD). With Win98 you can restart your PC in 'Safe Mode Command Prompt' then type in the DOS string to run it. I only use it because I paid good money for it, and it actually does a good job of creating images and clones.

Get Ghost 2003 which (I think) runs under Windows XP.