windows activation?

Question

Why is it that it says I have exceeded the amount of windows activations and that I need to get a new key.I never heard of that before.Is there also a limit to how many time you can activate by telephone?

Answer 1

Yes, I have had this problem once or twice. What happens is Windows XP(might be 2000 too) can only be installed a certain amount of times in a given time period(I believe it is 4 times in 1 month?).

Anyways I just waited a little while and my key worked again. You can however call MS and wait like a million years on hold and get a new one.

Answer 2

I think you have encountered this problem with Windows Vista.

Windows Product Activation is an anti-software piracy measure that Microsoft has instituted to prevent casual copying of the Windows XP operating system. In simple terms, once you have installed XP using your original License key, you have a 30-day grace period in which to activate this license, after which XP will not be usable until it is activated. You may initially activate your copy of Windows through the Internet or over the phone.

Your License will remain activated until one of the following happens:

You re-install Windows XP on the same computer, erasing the hard-drive - In this case you will have to call Microsoft to re-activate the license, but as long as the configuration of your PC has not changed, you are allowed unlimited re-activations.

You install the same copy of XP on a different computer - The new installation will not be activated, and will have the 30-day grace period. At this point, you will have to telephone Microsoft, since Internet product activation will no longer work after the first activation. Installing XP on a new computer appears to be a violation of the Windows XP End-User License Agreement, however.

You change the hardware configuration of your PC beyond a certain amount - When you activate your XP license, you provide an installation ID, which is generated from a combination of the Product ID key from your license, and a numeric hash derived from certain system components.

The video card, IDE controller, network adaptor(s), RAM amount, processor type (and serial number), Hard-drive type (and serial number), and optical drive(s). It is unclear what the tolerated amount of change is, although it is cumulative. Once you have exceeded this amount, XP will require reactivation by phone. Unlike transferring XP to a new computer though, upgrading the original computer is not a violation of the EULA, and users are supposedly allowed up to 4 reactivations by phone per year.

When activating XP by phone, the operating system will provide you with a 50-digit installation ID, as detailed above, which needs to be provided to the Microsoft rep in exchange for an activation number which is entered into the OS.

Answer 3

The activation code is a 25-character sequence, and it often seems some thing like "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX" frequently, to blame computing device agencies will affix a decal on your hardware containing the activation code, in case you lose it. ultimate prepare? as quickly as you purchase a sparkling computing device, discover the code and write it down someplace secure. If the code isn't accessible as a decal on your container, according to risk you nevertheless have the CD's and manuals that got here which includes your computing device - often the activation code could be chanced on on your reinstallation media. regrettably, you won't be able to swap a no longer effortless force in to a sparkling container and nevertheless have the activation key artwork- abode windows retains song of all of the hardware on your computing device, and if some thing differences it calls which you will reactivate abode windows. in case you have no longer have been given the activation key from the unique computing device, you could attempt calling the producer of the unique computing device- yet you could ought to purchase yet another replica of abode windows. (sure, in elementary terms for the activation key, it is terrible, i be attentive to. )

Answer 4

You need to phone Microsoft to get a new key, this should be free just as long as you can tell them a good reason why you've installed your copy of windows so many times as to need it.

Answer 5

Is anyone else using your key? Did you share the program with someone else? If so, they may have passed it on too, and now you're screwed and probably will have to $100 to get a new key.

Answer 6

that is not right i have reset win xp over & over many times & re-activations. there is no limit at all.. call microsoft talk with them & give them ur product key . and they will fix this problem for you

Answer 7

If you have too much of a problem, and you really need a computer, you can always use a free operating system.
Linux

Answer 8

no but if you call and activate too many times they will brand it as a pirated copy