Xp Reactivation

In the process of ATTEMPTING to isolate software conflicts (I'll post another one on that) I unticked ALL in Startup and ALL in Services in SYSCONFIG...........since replaced ticks.

It didn't help....but on rebooting I got this messsage.

Hardware on this computer has changed significantly, due to these changes Windows must be reactivated within 3 days.

Is this scary stuff or not?
Will I lose data/info?
Do I need to be concerned?
Can this reactivation be avoided by utilising system restore and if so is it necessary?

Lotsa question.......maybe I just shoulda said..is it a problem.

Thankyou all
roy66

 

Not sure why this happened, but you should reactivate if it says that you need to. If you don't, you will be stopped at the logon screen. Sys Restore will most probably NOT undo this. Just follow the directions. If you have problems doing it over the net, just call the number given.

 

REACTIVATE??????

Just what does that ' actually involve'?????

 

When the box pops up and asks you to reactivate, just go online as directed and answer the questions. If you need to do it by phone, they will give you directions, you give them your product key, and they issue you an activation code.
Not difficult.

 

Regrettably due to the numerous irregularities since acquiring this new PC I am becoming a bit paranoid about losing data and settings.

I appreciate the simplicity of following instructions it's just the end result I am concerned with and am not overly convinced that the welfare of the end user is the ultimate concern of B.G. and the MS team.

You commenced by saying 'Not sure why this happened,'

Your counsel to me seems to be to follow
instructions....regardless.

What I am seeking to determine is what actually takes place on REACTIVATION.

roy66

 

You give them numbers, they give you numbers, and you then don't get locked out of your system when you put in the activation code.

If you don't activate and your time runs out, you will only be able to use XP in Safe Mode.

It's possible that XP re-identified some of your hardware, or you added something new, and the total exceeded the number of hardwre changes allowed before re-activation. This helps MS to ensure that it has been installed only on the licensed computer.

 

Mayhaps you only lost your wpa.dbl file, which is the super secret creation that contains all the voodoo hash information about your hardware configuration. If you have a backup copy of it somewhere, just copy it back to your Windows\system32 folder.

More information about activation can be had here.

It's a good idea to back that file up since it isn't one of the protected system files and can cause you a lot of bother, even though you are perfectly legal. If it gets deleted, you will be required to re-activate unless you happen to have one of several OEM versions of XP that come pre-installed. Those versions do not need re-activation due to any hardware changes except a change of the original BIOS information. It's the one time that it's better to have an OEM installed copy of XP. The rest of the time it drains.

 

Thanks for the clarification especially the link that you provided Zephyr.
Whilst I don't pretend to understand it all it does enlighten me somewhat.

I have the OEM yet am still getting the 3 day activation warning.

The wpa.dbl file is still in my system but I have accepted your counsel and backed it up to afloppy, should such a criscis ever eventuate that I would need to reinstall it.

Looks like I'll have to bow to BGand MS and comply with their request/demands.

roy66
Man I sure wish that once you paid for a product it actually became yours to do whatever you want.

 

get the win xp pro ver you dont need to activat it just install it with the key and away you go sorted

 

Hello roy,

Perhaps you should restore, you can always undo it, and see what happens. If nothing else, it may point you in the direction of why it happened.

Regards - Charles

 

THANKS ALL,

It was no drama at all....I was just becoming a bit paranoid.

roy66