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Thread: Serial Key has been used too many times

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    Serial Key has been used too many times

    Hey Im having a problem with my partner computer. After a major crash, I was required to reinstall Windows XP Home Edition, But it says my serial number has been used too many times..

    I've been onto Microsoft's website, where it mentions a £46 charge just for help?!

    Is there anyway (a normal email address for Microsoft for example) that I can get help, without been charged for something thats not my fault?

    Is it just me or is this a cheek??

  2. #2
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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    What is the *exact* message that it gives you? This is generally the error that you would see if you were using a known compromised (ie warez) key. If it's just that the machine has been activated over the internet it should point youi to the telephone activation line (which certainly won't cost you £46)

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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    Strange, when you come to install XP it will say you have exceeded the amount of times you can do this. It will give you the option to telephone MS for a new product id key and its free. Did this the other day building up my brothers pc and there is no charge.

    They ask you the usual questions like if it installed on this pc only, where did you buy it store or OEM etc and they just give you a new key over the phone. You will however need to do this everytime you rebuild XP in the future.

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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    You don't need to do this every time that you rebuild XP, as long as you don't make any hardware changes, you can copy a file called WPA.dll, onto a memory stick or something (from WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\) and then after you reinstall windows you can past this back into the WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ folder, and it just uses your old registration with microsoft, with no hassle.

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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    Quote Originally Posted by Will:) View Post
    You don't need to do this every time that you rebuild XP, as long as you don't make any hardware changes, you can copy a file called WPA.dll, onto a memory stick or something (from WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\) and then after you reinstall windows you can past this back into the WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ folder, and it just uses your old registration with microsoft, with no hassle.
    Wish I had heard of that trick before. Every time I ended up rebuilding with the same hardware XP would moan and fire off the phone MS routine.

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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    It is a great time saver!!!

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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    How many times are you meant to use a serial key then? I've reinstalled windows about 6 times now, and I've had activations pop up through changing so much hardware, but each time it's registered me online straight away.

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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    I think I hit rebuild number 10 and the activation kicked in with XP Pro

  9. #9
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    Activation where you had to ring them? I've had the activation kick in several times, but each time it activated online without a problem.

  10. #10
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    Re: Serial Key has been used too many times

    After the 10th rebuild of XP it always gave me the phone MS option for the new product ID number. In the end I just made ghost images of the drives.

    Moved to vista ultimate 64 now so will be a while before I need to touch the xp pro cd again to rebuild the old machine

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