Just last night I realized you have to "activate" Windows. WTF?! Since I got my new comp, Windows has been popping up an annoying reminder to activate it. All this time I had been assuming it is an optional thing, like registering your software, but then I clicked on the popup to see if there's any way to make it go away. Reading the menu, I realized YOU HAVE TO ACTIVATE! That means calling up Microsoft (it's probably easier to do over the internet, but expecting an internet connection is not presumptuous at all) and telling the machine your bajillion digit product number so that it can give you the corresponding bajillion digit activation number. And after wasting several minutes talking to a machine, it decided it can't find my number and put me on hold for a rep; AARGH!
Windows activation
Miscellaneous Forums/General Discussion/Windows activation Um, dude... you're four years late. ;o)
lol - I hate this cause you have todo it every time you re-install, is just a big pain is the ass if your a windows xp user and I dont belive it even does what it sets out todo - which is stop people from crack, hacking or installing xp on a different pc. And the bad news is they wont be getting rid of it for vista ethier :(. I activated mine over ther net tho and it did it all automatically.
I've reinstalled/activated my copy of Windows so much it tells me I've reached my limit. So I just got a crack, and I've never been happier!
;p - same here, can't find one for SP2 tho.
I've tried a few but the activation thingy ends up rearing its ugly head a few weeks after. Even though it says 'Windows is already Activated',
yer - its even more annyone when it tells you that you must reactivate becuase your hardware has changed to much.
- on a side note, i even tried This and it still doesnt work :(
- on a side note, i even tried This and it still doesnt work :(
Yeah that sucks pretty bad. I tried that also, didnt work :(
Um, dude... you're four years late.
So this crap has been in place for four frickin' years? Goddam, I really wish I didn't need Windows.
I left it for 30 days one time (just to see what would happen) and every time I tried to login I, it just came up with the activation dialog and it would't let me in, so I went into safe mode and log in as admin and that worked fine ;p As long as you dont have to do anything remotely productive ;p
@jhocking its been in place from the day windowsXP was released publicaly
@jhocking its been in place from the day windowsXP was released publicaly
I dont like Service Pack 2 anyways, I use a RTM copy which the Activation Patch fixes perfectly. You could also use Service Pack 1 but I havn't got the time to download it.
Umm. Turn on Automatic Updates. Simple as :)
Even if their website complains, it still installs :) (did on mine anyway)
Phoning to register isnt all that hard. :)
I also never realised I needed to reactivate on every install. I only had to activate once, I even reformatted, and it never asked again. I always wondered how it knew i was already registered. :)
Even if their website complains, it still installs :) (did on mine anyway)
Phoning to register isnt all that hard. :)
I also never realised I needed to reactivate on every install. I only had to activate once, I even reformatted, and it never asked again. I always wondered how it knew i was already registered. :)
hahahahahahaaa... yessssss... verrrrry good suggestion Craig...
if the consumer isn't happy with the product, use another product that does the job better...
that's the only way the maker of said product will ever start realizing that he might have a customer satisfaction issue...
--Mike
if the consumer isn't happy with the product, use another product that does the job better...
that's the only way the maker of said product will ever start realizing that he might have a customer satisfaction issue...
--Mike
OK there are many XP activators out there, don't use any of them, a few of them work, most don't. Some will fail to work completely, Windows will know it's not activated, but the activation wizard will think it's activated, thus locking you out of the process entirely. Some will pretend to work but after 30 days you get locked out anyway.
My favourite two activators, aren't activators at all, but proper cracks. Search for a crack that actually patches either winlogin.exe or ... one of the other important files, can't remember the name. They both do wonders. They don't activate windows, but make it so windows never checks to make sure it is activated, bypassing the entire system altogether.
The absolute best and legit way to bypass activation, is to purchase XP Pro CORPERATE edition, not retail, not OEM. If you know any companies with a bulk license, see if you can get them to sell you one copy. I know a wholesaler who sells OEM's to the general public as a standalone purchase, so you just never know. The corperate edition contains no activation whatsoever.
Then of course, if you used nonlegit methods, you will need a patch for MS Update's Windows Genuine Advantage thing if you don't want to be confined to using Automatic Updates only. This will patch the single dll that is used (legitcopy.dll or something like that) and bypass that as well.
I know too much, don't I...
My favourite two activators, aren't activators at all, but proper cracks. Search for a crack that actually patches either winlogin.exe or ... one of the other important files, can't remember the name. They both do wonders. They don't activate windows, but make it so windows never checks to make sure it is activated, bypassing the entire system altogether.
The absolute best and legit way to bypass activation, is to purchase XP Pro CORPERATE edition, not retail, not OEM. If you know any companies with a bulk license, see if you can get them to sell you one copy. I know a wholesaler who sells OEM's to the general public as a standalone purchase, so you just never know. The corperate edition contains no activation whatsoever.
Then of course, if you used nonlegit methods, you will need a patch for MS Update's Windows Genuine Advantage thing if you don't want to be confined to using Automatic Updates only. This will patch the single dll that is used (legitcopy.dll or something like that) and bypass that as well.
I know too much, don't I...
@Craig, Eurgh Linux. I remember the days of CLI technology, bad bad days.
In regards Windows authentication, i'm one who changes my hardware too much - apparently. I can no longer download automatic updates manually because i'm not activated, but I can download them automatically and that works fine. /shrug - I ignore it. I dont get any requestors asking me to validate. Maybe that's because I was once validated?
In regards Windows authentication, i'm one who changes my hardware too much - apparently. I can no longer download automatic updates manually because i'm not activated, but I can download them automatically and that works fine. /shrug - I ignore it. I dont get any requestors asking me to validate. Maybe that's because I was once validated?
No that's different to Windows Activation. Windows Activation locks you out after 30 days of non registration. Your problem is Windows Genuine Advantage. That just stops you from using MSUpdate manually. Autoupdates still grab critical patches.
Just how much hardware do you have to change before WinXP 'doesn't like it'?
Your mouse.
3 pieces of equipment I think. Possibly USB devices qualify (I still use PS2 for my mouse though)... but I'm pretty sure it's limited to PCI/AGP cards and memory. Possibly harddrives and such...
Oh God, USB devices better not count. If they do, I'll be past the limit within a day. USB memory sticks alone are 3 pieces of hardware I plug/unplug regularly.
Surely USB devices don't count?! That would be insane and completely obviate the point of such divices.
I'm pretty sure USB devices do not count, but your USB bus probably does.
@Craig, Eurgh Linux. I remember the days of CLI technology, bad bad days.
CLI? You mean command line interface? Have you ever used Linux at all? You do realise it'd be pretty hard to find a distro even from several years ago that doesn't by default log you into a pretty GUI.
You don't need to patch anything to have Windows Genuine Advantage not cause you a problem.
Just go into IE, Tools->Manage Add-ons... and deactivate the Genuine Advantage ActiveX control.
Just go into IE, Tools->Manage Add-ons... and deactivate the Genuine Advantage ActiveX control.
Surely USB devices don't count?!
I don't think so. I was just thrown by what turned out to be dry wit. =]
Just go into IE, Tools->Manage Add-ons... and deactivate the Genuine Advantage ActiveX control.
Then any site that requires that control will ask you to install it (more specifically, MS will redirect you to a page explaining how the IE XPSP2 info bar works)
Nick, sorry dude but you're only partly right (as far as I can tell).
Sure, if you go to Windows Update, a little balloon popup appears telling you "this site wants to use an ActiveX control which is disabled" (or words similar) appears. Doesn't actually prevent you using the site though.
I thought perhaps it might have limited your access only to critical security updates, but that is not the case either. You are given the chance to install any and all optional updates also. No discernable difference from having WGA turned on and a fully activated XP.
Office Update site also works fine.
Sure, if you go to Windows Update, a little balloon popup appears telling you "this site wants to use an ActiveX control which is disabled" (or words similar) appears. Doesn't actually prevent you using the site though.
I thought perhaps it might have limited your access only to critical security updates, but that is not the case either. You are given the chance to install any and all optional updates also. No discernable difference from having WGA turned on and a fully activated XP.
Office Update site also works fine.
Interesting. I fiddled for a bit but didn't find any noticeable way of bypassing it. Care to share tips?
I know Office Update still works fine... I also tried ye olde Windows Update and it seemed to work, but it's catelogue appears to be almost emptied.
I know Office Update still works fine... I also tried ye olde Windows Update and it seemed to work, but it's catelogue appears to be almost emptied.