How to beat activation

[Guest Jim]

OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

 

The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set number

of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of ringing tech

support and giving them my code number then they read me one back etc etc.

 

Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

 

I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do) then

this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing on

it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of xp

about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just bare

partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

 

The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting up

windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install was a

different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome any

feedback from anyone.

 

I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see this

elsewhere.

 

Jim

[Guest p]

Re: How to beat activation

 

Jim wrote:

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>

> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set number

> of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of ringing tech

> support and giving them my code number then they read me one back etc etc.

>

> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>

> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do) then

> this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing on

> it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of xp

> about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just bare

> partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>

> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting up

> windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install was a

> different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome any

> feedback from anyone.

>

> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see this

> elsewhere.

>

> Jim

>

>

 

Microsoft nuked that work around.

 

P

[Guest Jim]

Re: How to beat activation

 

 

"p" <p@nospam.cn> wrote in message news:g4gbmv$241$1@aioe.org...

>

> Microsoft nuked that work around.

>

> P

Oh great, ok is there any other legal way of doing what i want to do?

[Guest Bob I]

Re: How to beat activation

 

Call in, activate, then Image the install.

 

Jim wrote:

> "p" <p@nospam.cn> wrote in message news:g4gbmv$241$1@aioe.org...

>

>>Microsoft nuked that work around.

>>

>>P

>

> Oh great, ok is there any other legal way of doing what i want to do?

>

>

[Guest John Q. Smith]

Re: How to beat activation

 

 

"Jim" <luckyjim2000_2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:7v6dnZaOyfikLfbVnZ2dnUVZ8radnZ2d@giganews.com...

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>

> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set

> number of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of

> ringing tech support and giving them my code number then they read me one

> back etc etc.

>

> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>

> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do)

> then this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing

> on it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of

> xp about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just

> bare partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>

> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting

> up windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install

> was a different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome

> any feedback from anyone.

>

> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see

> this elsewhere.

>

> Jim

>

 

 

 

 

Usually, you can re-install without problem if it has been more than 120

days since the last install.

[Guest dloflin@gsu.edu]

Re: How to beat activation

 

On Jul 2, 1:38 pm, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Call in, activate, then Image the install.

>

>

>

> Jim wrote:

> > "p" <p...@nospam.cn> wrote in messagenews:g4gbmv$241$1@aioe.org...

>

> >>Microsoft nuked that work around.

>

> >>P

>

> > Oh great, ok is there any other legal way of doing what i want to do?- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

If you can not activate online call the number and use the key pad to

enter the blocks of numbers and the automated voice will give you the

activation code or let you speak to a representative. Tell them that

you changed the hard drive (or what ever your hardware change was)and

they will activate it.

[Guest Anteaus]

RE: How to beat activation

 

Some useful info:

 

http://windowsitpro.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=20621&cpage=8

 

I've met this more times than I could count in respect of OEM computers

which are supplied 'filled with junk' and thus need to be wiped straight out

the box.. only to find they won't activate online. When you have to 'speak

to a representative' five, ten or twenty-five times over, that is no trivial

amount of wasted time.

 

IF Microsoft are going to require activation, THEN it should be an OEM

requirement that NO other software (besides device drivers) is preinstalled.

 

--------------------------

"This is a wonderful computer. It''s 20yrs old and absolutely reliable.

And, in all that time it''s only had four mobos, six processors, two cases,

seven OS''s ...."

 

 

"Jim" wrote:

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>

> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set number

> of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of ringing tech

> support and giving them my code number then they read me one back etc etc.

>

> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>

> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do) then

> this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing on

> it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of xp

> about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just bare

> partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>

> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting up

> windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install was a

> different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome any

> feedback from anyone.

>

> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see this

> elsewhere.

>

> Jim

>

>

>

[Guest Ghostrider]

Re: How to beat activation

 

 

Jim wrote:

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>

> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set number

> of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of ringing tech

> support and giving them my code number then they read me one back etc etc.

>

> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>

> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do) then

> this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing on

> it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of xp

> about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just bare

> partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>

> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting up

> windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install was a

> different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome any

> feedback from anyone.

>

> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see this

> elsewhere.

>

> Jim

>

>

 

It's Microsoft's WPA scheme and it's Microsoft's phone bill. Call

them up as often as you want. They are the ones footing the bill.

If WPA fails, then wait for the massive class action lawsuit that

will certainly follow.

[Guest John Barnett MVP]

Re: How to beat activation

 

The wpa.bak and wpa.dbl option has never worked for me. I use Windows XP on

a virtual machine (that's my normal machine but with virtual machine

software installed - VMWare Workstation to be precise. The VM software is

installed and then I create a separate partition on my hard drive and point

the VM to install it's files for XP on that partition). One installed

Windows XP is activated (after installing all updates and checking that

everything is working okay, of course.) One I activated XP I then 'imaged'

the VM drive using Acronis True Image. When any problems arise, I simply

start up Acronis, slip in the DVD containing my image of XP and then install

I back to the same partition - and yes the partition has, in many cases,

been reformatted prior to re-imaging back. Ever image has been successful

and I haven't had to re-activate XP in the last 3 years ( and it's been

re-installed using this scenario 7 or 8 times in this period.)

 

Although I am using VM software the same should apply to a normal re-image;

I shouldn't need re-activating, the activation details will have been stored

on the image, assuming you activated XP 'prior' to imaging the

drive/partition.

 

I mentioned VM software because that is how I have set up XP and Vista

(rather than having a dual boot system) this doesn't mean that you have to

start thinking about using VM software to achieve the same result, you can

do the same thing by installing XP to a separate partition.

 

--

 

--

John Barnett MVP

Associate Expert

Windows Desktop Experience

 

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

 

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for

any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the

use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

mail/post..

 

 

 

"Jim" <luckyjim2000_2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:7v6dnZaOyfikLfbVnZ2dnUVZ8radnZ2d@giganews.com...

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>

> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set

> number of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of

> ringing tech support and giving them my code number then they read me one

> back etc etc.

>

> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>

> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do)

> then this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing

> on it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of

> xp about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just

> bare partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>

> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting

> up windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install

> was a different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome

> any feedback from anyone.

>

> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see

> this elsewhere.

>

> Jim

>

[Guest Patrick Keenan]

Re: How to beat activation

 

"Jim" <luckyjim2000_2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:7v6dnZaOyfikLfbVnZ2dnUVZ8radnZ2d@giganews.com...

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>

> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set

> number of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of

> ringing tech support and giving them my code number then they read me one

> back etc etc.

>

> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>

> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do)

> then this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing

> on it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of

> xp about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just

> bare partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>

> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting

> up windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install

> was a different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome

> any feedback from anyone.

>

> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see

> this elsewhere.

>

> Jim

 

I don't see the point or benefit. Activation by phone is toll-free and

takes between five and ten minutes. How long is it going to take you to

play around with these files? How much time are you going to waste on

loopholes that were closed some time ago - when you could be done in 5 and

move on with your life?

 

And if you haven't activated in a few months, you will likely find that

there is no problem with online activation.

 

HTH

-pk

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: How to beat activation

 

Why are you reinstalling so many times?

 

Jim wrote:

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>

> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set

> number

> of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of ringing tech

> support and giving them my code number then they read me one back etc etc.

>

> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"

> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for

> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the

> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here

> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>

> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do)

> then

> this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing

> on

> it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of xp

> about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just bare

> partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>

> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting

> up

> windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install was

> a

> different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome any

> feedback from anyone.

>

> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have

> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see

> this

> elsewhere.

>

> Jim

[Guest KDE]

Re: How to beat activation

 

class action lawsuit ? HA who held a gun to your head and made you buy

windows. Activation has been around since the onset of XP. It's not new

and it's not going away.

 

 

"Ghostrider" <-00-@fitron.142> wrote in message

news:uebESQH3IHA.3544@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

> Jim wrote:

>

>> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

>>

>> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have

>> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set

>> number of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of

>> ringing tech support and giving them my code number then they read me one

>> back etc etc.

>>

>> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and

>> "wpa.dbl" then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when

>> asked for activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back

>> into the windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as

>> described here http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

>>

>> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do)

>> then this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and

>> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing

>> on it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of

>> xp about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just

>> bare partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as

>> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something

>> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

>>

>> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting

>> up windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install

>> was a different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but

>> welcome any feedback from anyone.

>>

>> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do

>> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I

>> have posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you

>> see this elsewhere.

>>

>> Jim

>

> It's Microsoft's WPA scheme and it's Microsoft's phone bill. Call

> them up as often as you want. They are the ones footing the bill.

> If WPA fails, then wait for the massive class action lawsuit that

> will certainly follow.

>

[Guest Lil' Dave]

Re: How to beat activation

 

Works good, that is, until you change to another and much different

motherboard for instance.

 

Works good if keeping the same platform, just want to start fresh without

the minor hassle.

 

--

Dave

 

New drilling sites for oil offshore and other

sensitive places. Question is, will that oil

go here in the U.S., or someplace else for sale?

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:Oa9X5pG3IHA.4272@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Call in, activate, then Image the install.

>

> Jim wrote:

>> "p" <p@nospam.cn> wrote in message news:g4gbmv$241$1@aioe.org...

>>

>>>Microsoft nuked that work around.

>>>

>>>P

>>

>> Oh great, ok is there any other legal way of doing what i want to do?

>