Suddenly it wants me to activate!

[Der Gothmann]

I have recently built myself a new pc.

It has a p5q motherboard and a quad core processor (I don't know if this is relevant) and I have just booted it up for the first time.

 

I am using a hard drive from my previous pc (so I don't need to do everything again) and it has XP professional on it.

 

For the first time ever, as soon as it starts booting up windows, It tells me that I must activate it to log in.

 

I have several problems with this:

 

1. I do not have any serial numbers or information about my copy of XP (But it IS a legitemate copy)

 

2. The person who built it does not have them either as he constructed my old pc out of second-hand parts and the hard drive already had XP on it.

 

3. Even if I could get hold of the information, the pc does not recognise my keyboard or mouse outside of DOS or BIOS and I must be able to log in to use them.

 

4. I can't log in to use them without activating windows.

 

5. No internet software is present on my pc presently and neither is the software for the dongle I intended to use. Either way, I cannot connect to the internet or install the software without logging on and connecting.

 

6. I can't log in without activating windows

 

7. I can't activate windows without the mouse or keyboard

 

8. I can't activate the mouse or keyboard without logging on and registering

 

9. I can't log in without activating windows...

 

As you can probably guess, I seem to be in quite an infuriating circular dilemma as ANY one essential requirement needs the other two to already be working.

 

 

I have never before been connected to the internet via this pc nor been asked to register windows before.

Do you think this is an addition to some pre-installed software in the chip or the motherboard?

 

Or is it merely a ruse to force me to buy a new hard drive, buy windows vista, install vista and register that? (this would obviously cost a great deal more money than I had in my budget to begin with and would not arrive until monday - not an option.)

 

I am in a considerable rush so any help would be immensely appreciated.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hello Goth

 

Welcome to FPCH

 

Would you like to start again with your post as obviously half of it just does not ring true.

 

You can't install a hard drive containing XP to a newly built unit.

Microsoft will think you are pirating.

 

You do not need to register with Microsoft to enable your mouse and keyboard.

 

What are the problems when activating windows, is Microsoft saying your os is dodgy?

 

More please.

[mike]

If you don't have an serial numbers for your copy of Windows then it isn't legitimate - in theory - I even think this is true if you have lost it?

 

Secondly, try using PS2 Keyboard and Mouse if your motherboard supports them. I'm guessing your using USB ones at the moment (wireless?)

 

Thirdly, I wouldn't recommend using your old hard drive on with your new PC. You will find that drivers will be completely wrong and may cause you some serious problems. Instead, back up all your data and format and re-install windows. (However, I know it isn't that simple as you have stated in your post).

 

How long has it been working before this activation wizard came up? You might find if you installed XP you have 30 days to activate before it locks you out and forces you to activate. Is this about the right time scale?

[Dalo Harkin]

Right - when you install an OS - and boot up for the first time - you load all you MOBO drivers and chipset drivers etc. And then if you change a piece of hardware like a CPU or GPU then thats fine - you do not need to reinstall the OS as these are detected by windows - WHAT you cannot change is the MOBO and not reinstall the OS!

 

So things you can change without reinstalling:-

CPU

GPU

RAM

 

Things you cannot change without reinstalling:-

MOBO

HDD (containing an OS)

 

If you are using Vista then it ties all your hardware to the HDD and when you change something major - it asks you to call MS

[Tootech]

Hard Drive In New PC - Trouble!!!

 

You can sometimes get away with swapping boards and CPU's and booting into Safe Mode with your new board - I have done just what you describe many times.

 

If you do not have the serial number, use a keyfinder to retrieve it before starting all this - you will need it later on.

 

Microsoft will reactivate for you, although I am not 100% sure it is legal. I'm not advocating piracy, but if you have a legal copy and it's not OEM you should be entitled to reactivate on new hardware.

 

It is advisable - read that as neccessary to run the drive/ XP installation in the old PC first and uninstall all drivers, motherboard/video/modem/LAN etc, and then switch off. Rebuild your drive and your new PC, boot in to Safe Mode and let the Windows find all of your devices/ PCI bridges etc, then reboot into Safe Mode again. Install all of your new mainboard drivers inc LAN.

 

If you can get that far and do not get a blue screen of death then you should be able to finish the install/activation.

 

As Mike says, use a PS2 keyboard/mouse or standard USB, but not wireless - c'mon you can't have everything!

 

When you attempt logon and Windows asks if you want to activate - click Yes, if you have Internet access now, then Windows will probably tell you invalid key, please enter key - enter your previously retrieved key - it may activate it may not. if not, use the telephone number and you will be able to generate a new Installation ID, enter the info and job done.

 

 

Hope that helps make sense of it all.

 

Tootech.

[Seth]

- it may activate it may not. if not, use the telephone number and you will be able to generate a new Installation ID, enter the info and job done.

 

Agreed.

 

If that doesn't work, choose the option that you changed the hardware and you're good to go.

[Jack Hackett]

1. I do not have any serial numbers or information about my copy of XP (But it IS a legitemate copy)

It is only legitimate if you have a valid and legit COA sticker.

 

If you do not have a valid COA then you are effectively up the creek without a paddle

Edited October 19, 2008 by Jack Hackett

[Plastic Nev]

The other answer is a windows repair, however you do need a windows disk, not a manufacturers recovery disk. This of course means buying a new OS disk, so you might as well install a new OS from it considering the machine hasn't yet run. If however there are files and data on the original hard drive you wish to keep, there are again a few work rounds, but that will mean another computer being available where you can temporarily install your old drive as a slave, just to recover all that you need.

[Guest Saxon]

Not this old chestnut, If the key you are using is from a older computer with a OEM key you legaly need a new key, if it was a retail key you are allowed to use it on 3 systems one after the other you can not run the same key on more than one machine legaly.

 

Also mike is right, your current set up of windows has the drivers for your old computer this can cause issues like failure to boot or if your lucky and you get it to boot it will have very iffy performance. You will have to do a complete whipe an reinstallation of the OS and the associated drivers for it to run correctly.