Constant activation

I have been using XP Pro for over a year. For some reason I am now being asked to activate everytime I boot up. I went through a long session with MS tech to do a reinstall/repair. That corrected it for two days then I began to get the Activate screen again. Everything else works fine. I have made no major changes to the system.

 

I think I have solved the problem. At the activation screen I decided to take the "Activation by phone" option rather that the internet option. I called MS, told the guy the problem. He gave me a new registration number (not Product Key-it stays the same) which I filled in to all the little blocks on the screen. Clicked OK and things seem to be back to normal. I wish I had thought of this first as going the Tech Support route took several hours.

 

It's back...

Well that worked for a week. Now the activation screen is back at log on. Seems like any minor changes such as updating video driver etc starts this problem again.

 

Hi Rob: See my post under "General Discussions" We must be on MSFTs "lets create a dissatisfied customer" list.

Martin

 

Yes indeed. What puzzles me is that I have been upgrading drivers etc for over a year and now suddenly I get the Activate pop-up. I just go ahead and click the boxes without registering and everything is ok. Tomorrow I have to speak to the "female sugar sweet voiced computer reading and writing their 50 or 60 digit codes, although last time I got a male implying I was stealing their software...

 

Yeah Rob, I've had that experience too. In an earlier post I said it was like the third degree with the only thing missing is the light and the rubber hose.

Don't be surprised that after wasting all that time talking to the computer it comes back with that annoyingly sweet voice and apologizes it can't activate & sends you by 'phone to the supervisor with the rubber hose.

I recently downloaded an update to MSFT Plus Digital Media, those stupid people made me activate the "free update" by 'phone, & the lady at MSFT says "and how many machines do you have this software running on?" Just the approach and how she said it had me seeing red, let alone having to activate their update to a program bought and paid for and running on this machine for a year. And that they were so anxious for me to download the update, included a free bonus if you did.

I wish they would save the millions they must waste on their stupid activation schemes and devote it to make their software secure. I've got so many security patches on this machine I can't count 'em.

So, good luck tomorrow, I hope you can convince MSFT you are not a crook.

Martin