Windows "Activation"

MJ_Avalanche · 05-31-2008, 11:15 AM

So, I just hooked up my desktop this morning for the first time after being out of town for the past month and Windows decided that I had made "significant hardware changes" (which, of course I haven't) and I need to reactivate Windows within 3 days or else they'll make everything go boom... Well, they didn't say that last bit, but I'd assume that's what'd happen.

Anyways, I did some Googling and it seems that everyone just called MS and got a new activation code, which is all well and good, but I don't have the disk that this copy of Windows was install from, so I'm sure they wouldn't go too kindly for that, and I'd be out the cost of another license of Windows.

Any suggestions that might help me work around having to talk to MS? Has this even happened to anyone else?

Thanks,
Mike

PatrickStar4491 · 05-31-2008, 11:42 AM

Do you still have the product key and all that jazz? It's usually placed somewhere on the computer case.

MJ_Avalanche · 05-31-2008, 11:48 AM

I built my own machine, so nothings on the case.

PatrickStar4491 · 05-31-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_Avalanche

I built my own machine, so nothings on the case.

Ah... I'm not quite sure what to do about that, then.

**surferdude9375** · 05-31-2008, 12:23 PM

I had near the same problem when I did actually change hardware and had to reactivate. My computer also being built by myself did not have the handy sticker on the outside and I couldn't find the CD or CD Key written down anywhere.

Lucky for us, Windows still has the CD Key saved but its encoded somewhere in the registry. I found this program that finds it and gives you the correct CD key. Then I went with what everyone else had done and called Microsoft and got a new activation key and everything was fine.

Hope it works for you too.

danlong · 05-31-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_Avalanche

So, I just hooked up my desktop this morning for the first time after being out of town for the past month and Windows decided that I had made "significant hardware changes" (which, of course I haven't) and I need to reactivate Windows within 3 days or else they'll make everything go boom... Well, they didn't say that last bit, but I'd assume that's what'd happen.

Anyways, I did some Googling and it seems that everyone just called MS and got a new activation code, which is all well and good, but I don't have the disk that this copy of Windows was install from, so I'm sure they wouldn't go too kindly for that, and I'd be out the cost of another license of Windows.

Any suggestions that might help me work around having to talk to MS? Has this even happened to anyone else?

Thanks,
Mike

What?

Activation???

What in blazes is Redford, Washington up to now??? Reason # 49568385609863 why I scream at any program that tries to .NET my box. TurboTax did that this year to me, and I got rid of it as soon as taxes were done. I'm currently running windblows 2000 until EOL, maybe longer. In in 2030 no one will be exploiting virus for it anymore

What do you mean it went boom? Sounds almost like illegal search and seizure.
Maybe .NET gets sore if you don't spend enough time sending them demographics of where you've been to or what you've bought on the net. "We haven't heard from you for awhile so we're going to pretend you're a pirate and disable you". If there are any log records I'd take them to the attorney general, unless the EULA has some little blurb " even though you paid alot of money for this software we reserve the right to mess with you anytime at our discretion."

OOps, missed the part that you made up the go boom part.

Surfer, did they have the decency to explain what business it was of theirs what hardware you'd put in and why they would shut the OS down?

Myself, I always load the entire OS disk in it's own directory ( so you don't beatup the original disk when you make changes or hardware upgrades) or does MS not let you do that anymore either.

Sorry about venting, But this deactivating .....at random ......WoW!

danlong · 05-31-2008, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surferdude9375

I had near the same problem when I did actually change hardware and had to reactivate. My computer also being built by myself did not have the handy sticker on the outside and I couldn't find the CD or CD Key written down anywhere.

Lucky for us, Windows still has the CD Key saved but its encoded somewhere in the registry. I found this program that finds it and gives you the correct CD key. Then I went with what everyone else had done and called Microsoft and got a new activation key and everything was fine.

Hope it works for you too.

Interesting utility, I'm surprised he hasn't been harassed for aiding piracy. Especially the HIVE thing.

Andrew · 06-01-2008, 08:54 AM

Danlong, you are the world's most ravenous fanboy. [/linux/freebsd user]

danlong · 06-01-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Danlong, you are the world's most ravenous fanboy. [/linux/freebsd user]

I resemble that remark

MJ_Avalanche · 06-03-2008, 10:26 AM

And as it turns out, I wound up not needing my CD Key anyways... go figure... MS is lame.

Thanks anyways, though, guys. That key grabber program could come in handy.

MrCrabby · 06-03-2008, 11:47 AM

Yeah, if you do it online, it puts in the key automatically.

**surferdude9375** · 06-03-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_Avalanche

And as it turns out, I wound up not needing my CD Key anyways... go figure... MS is lame.

Thanks anyways, though, guys. That key grabber program could come in handy.

It works for any program that you have installed that uses a CD-Key. It told me my cd key for stuff like MS Office, Nero, PShop, and all kinds of stuff. It will come in handy I'm sure.