golinux Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Today I switched out my secondary drive for one to match the 250 GB primary drive I put in when I set up the dual boot a few weeks ago. I have made three hardware changes to my box - these two drives and the hardware modem. The first time I booted into XP after the latest change, I got a warning that Windows needs to be reactivated because of the hardware changes. A message like that is never a good thing. Has any one here suffered through a reactivation? What's the best and least hassle way to do it - I noticed an option to do it by phone which is probably what I'd choose to do. But what do I know about the hazards along the activation road. Your advice and experiences please!! Sister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerman Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Today I switched out my secondary drive for one to match the 250 GB primary drive I put in when I set up the dual boot a few weeks ago. I have made three hardware changes to my box - these two drives and the hardware modem. The first time I booted into XP after the latest change, I got a warning that Windows needs to be reactivated because of the hardware changes. A message like that is never a good thing. Has any one here suffered through a reactivation? What's the best and least hassle way to do it - I noticed an option to do it by phone which is probably what I'd choose to do. But what do I know about the hazards along the activation road. Your advice and experiences please!! Sister I've never got a notice due to change of hardware but did have to call once or twice to activate the first time. It was quick and painless. However, pay close attention to the fast talking agent as it's obvious they do this all day, everyday and have it memorized and ready for speed talking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDWAGON Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 For a similar reason, I had to re-activate once too. The first try was via the internet and when that didn't work I went the phone way. The MS rep asked me quite a few questions but I stayed with what I had done (my change was a different video card and another HD. After that, they gave me a set of new letters to place in the activation slots and after that I had no problems. I think what might have made the difference was that I told the rep that I have for several years been building my own custom computers and I do make some changes after they are completed. Frank... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 When I swapped my hard drives for much bigger units, I Ghosted the old drives to the new ones under DOS. When the new drives were powered up, Windows didn't even realize that something had happened. It suited me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golinux Posted August 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 When I swapped my hard drives for much bigger units, I Ghosted the old drives to the new ones under DOS. When the new drives were powered up, Windows didn't even realize that something had happened. It suited me. I think MS might not have liked the ext3 partitions floating around on those drives. In any case, I have been reactivated. I actually decided to go the automated route. I was surprised I didn't even have to enter my key - "they" found it somewhere on my system. Makes me wonder exactly what else "they" found in there . . . hmmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDWAGON Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 I think MS might not have liked the ext3 partitions floating around on those drives. In any case, I have been reactivated. I actually decided to go the automated route. I was surprised I didn't even have to enter my key - "they" found it somewhere on my system. Makes me wonder exactly what else "they" found in there . . . hmmm. Very easy to find your XP product key---There's a small program called Keyfinder.exe that when triggered will automatically bring up the product key for your operating system. You can download the small file from just about anywhere on the internet. Frank... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 I have to laugh when MS talk earnestly in Vista about "protecting your computer from spyware". Way cynical! All their stuff phones home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golinux Posted August 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Very easy to find your XP product key---There's a small program called Keyfinder.exe that when triggered will automatically bring up the product key for your operating system. You can download the small file from just about anywhere on the internet. Frank... Thanks but not necessary (for me at least). I still have the key under the shrink wrap of the original XP Pro sleeve. When this computer was built, I wouldn't let them deface it by sticking the windows key on it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlinsinger Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 The first reactivation, you can use the automated, after that you must "phone home". Have had to do that 2 or 3 times after upgrading processor or motherboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerman Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Very easy to find your XP product key---There's a small program called Keyfinder.exe that when triggered will automatically bring up the product key for your operating system. You can download the small file from just about anywhere on the internet. Frank... Hope you don't mind for the push Frank but the one you posted is old. The latest version is here. The old version doesn't even work with Office 2003. Actually, this latest version is a year old. Not sure if it will work with Vista or not either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golinux Posted August 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 The first reactivation, you can use the automated, after that you must "phone home". Have had to do that 2 or 3 times after upgrading processor or motherboard. Thanks for the heads up! I wonder why it didn't complain after the modem and boot drive switch but waited till the second drive was changed . . . hmmm . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdanteek Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Thanks for the heads up! I wonder why it didn't complain after the modem and boot drive switch but waited till the second drive was changed . . . hmmm . . . What hardware does Windows XP check? The system checks these ten categories of hardware: Display Adapter SCSI Adapter IDE Adapter (effectively the motherboard) Network Adapter (NIC) and its MAC Address RAM Amount Range (i.e., 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc.) Processor Type Processor Serial Number Hard Drive Device Hard Drive Volume Serial Number (VSN) CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM How much hardware can I change before I have to reactivate? The way WPA works is it asks for ‘votes’ from each of the ten categories listed above. It ‘polls’ the hardware to see if its still there or was ever there and if 7 “yes, I am here and unchanged” votes come in everything will function normally. If you change any hardware in any category then you will lose that “yes vote” but will not lose any more votes thereafter if you keep changing that same type of hardware. For example you can replace the video card as much as you like because once its been changed once the vote is already lost. Some hardware such as soundcards dont count as a vote at all, however other cards such as your NIC card counts for 3 votes so if you keep your NIC, CPU, Motherboard and ram the same you can change anything else as much as you like. Windows XP Activation Explained cd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDWAGON Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Hope you don't mind for the push Frank but the one you posted is old. The latest version is here. The old version doesn't even work with Office 2003. Actually, this latest version is a year old. Not sure if it will work with Vista or not either. I have no problem at all Paul with the "push". New, old--I have had no problems with the old one myself, but I'd rather be up to date on the program. So I downloaded the new one you posted Paul. Thanks for the "nudge". BTW, it does work with Vista. Right after I downloaded and unzipped it I tried it on the Vista side of my dual boot and the P.K. came right up.. I've probably got more old files on my computer than you can shake a stick at , So any time I can update any of them that's good. Now if I could just "UPDATE" a couple of others, I'd be business Frank... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlinsinger Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 What hardware does Windows XP check? The system checks these ten categories of hardware: Display Adapter SCSI Adapter IDE Adapter (effectively the motherboard) Network Adapter (NIC) and its MAC Address RAM Amount Range (i.e., 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc.) Processor Type Processor Serial Number Hard Drive Device Hard Drive Volume Serial Number (VSN) CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM How much hardware can I change before I have to reactivate? The way WPA works is it asks for ‘votes’ from each of the ten categories listed above. It ‘polls’ the hardware to see if its still there or was ever there and if 7 “yes, I am here and unchanged” votes come in everything will function normally. If you change any hardware in any category then you will lose that “yes vote” but will not lose any more votes thereafter if you keep changing that same type of hardware. For example you can replace the video card as much as you like because once its been changed once the vote is already lost. Some hardware such as soundcards dont count as a vote at all, however other cards such as your NIC card counts for 3 votes so if you keep your NIC, CPU, Motherboard and ram the same you can change anything else as much as you like. Windows XP Activation Explained cd I believe it also checks chipset. I have sapped MBs with different chipsets and had to reactivate. I have changed MBs with the same chipset, and no reactivation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gi7omy Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 I have to laugh when MS talk earnestly in Vista about "protecting your computer from spyware". Way cynical! All their stuff phones home. You forgot to mention Alexa Brendon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Did I? How is Alexa relevant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gi7omy Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Alexa is built into IE6, IE7 and any malware cleaner nails it right off (it's a MS snooper) From here: "Lavasoft's Ad-Aware identifies a standard registry key included with Internet Explorer as "Data Miner" spyware, with little or no further explanation, and offers to delete it. I hope this page offers a better explanation, and other alternatives to deletion. Spybot identifies it too, with more explanation, and they have a smarter strategy to deal with it " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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