Windows XP Home - ACTIVATE within 30 days, but no means of doing so!

[mgb41238]

Having installed Windows XP Home and re-started it, a dialogue window appears stating that the new installatiion must be ACTIVATED, and this within 30 days. Only trouble was that one has no means of doing so - rather not allowed to do so, as the number of activations has been has been reached.

 

Firstly, I'm annoyed that this is even demanded: the Windows XP Home has been purchased and is not MS's property.

 

Secondly, each new day brings the same window - but with one day less. Presumably, one day will see the PC no longer starting....?

 

How can one get round this high-nuisance dialogue?

[BeeCeeBee]

Best call your local Microsoft office. The will take your product number and give you an activation key.

[DirtyPolo]

Only trouble was that one has no means of doing so - rather not allowed to do so, as the number of activations has been has been reached.

 

What do you mean by this?

 

There is a limit to the amount of times it can be activated, generally it is 1. Once you have used up this activation, you must buy a new copy to install it on another machine. This is to stop pirating of Operating Systems.

 

Therefore, if this has been activated before and has now reached the limit, your only choice is to purchase a new copy from a store or contact Microsoft to purchase additional licenses.

 

I would also like to point out:

 

Firstly, I'm annoyed that this is even demanded: the Windows XP Home has been purchased and is not MS's property.

 

Shown in the Windows XP SP2 Home License Terms: (Which can be found here)

 

3. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS AND OWNERSHIP. Microsoft reserves all rights not

expressly granted to you in this EULA. The Software is protected by copyright and other

intellectual property laws and treaties. Microsoft or its suppliers own the title, copyright, and

other intellectual property rights in the Software. The Software is licensed, not sold.

Therefore it IS owned by Microsoft, users just purchase a license to use it. Edited January 23, 2009 by DirtyPolo

[Dalo Harkin]

If you are using a genuine windows disk then this is not normally asked for as it is activated via the internet.

[Goku]

Hello Mgb. If you have purchased the disc, then you must have the unique serial key too which is required for activation. In that case, the activation process will not be painful at all.

 

How to activate Windows XP

 

If you started receiving this error suddenly then please let us know and we will try our best to help you out. :)

 

-- Goku

[Guest Wolfeymole]

This is the key.

Only trouble was that one has no means of doing so - rather not allowed to do so, as the number of activations has been has been reached.

 

One can install XP any amount of times to the same pc and activate it without problem.

 

To my mind your disk was part of a Volume Licensing Agreement where for example a user pays for 5 licenses.

 

All licenses have now been used and therefore you cannot activate it.

[mgb41238]

Thank you for your rapid replies.

 

MS think they rule the roost - and still do so. As you point out, MS owns the title, copyright, and other intellectual property rights in the Software. The Software is licensed, not sold.

 

I vaguely recall that there was an upsurge against this situation - at the EU parliament (where they are again rolling out the guns against its IE) also want to ensure that the person with the Wuindows SW is ALSO the owner.

 

Many a person wants to sell his used SW when he purchases a newer version. This should be his right.

[BeeCeeBee]

mgb if you think you have an honest beef with Microsoft you are going to have to call them and explain. If they accept your explanation and get you activated that is between you and them.

 

All the signposts point to a futile battle but only you know how the software was acquired. If you come to us looking for cracks (and I am not suggesting your are at all) I'm afraid we neither can nor will help.

[Tootech]

As I see it you choose to install Microsoft Windows on your computer.

 

Therefore by doing so, you must abide by their rules.

 

You may see them as unacceptable, and you obviously see Product Activation as unacceptable.

 

If you have a genuine licence, product activation is no big deal. If you have problems with activation, let us know what is happening and how you have used your license.

 

What do you mean by this statement

 

Only trouble was that one has no means of doing so - rather not allowed to do so, as the number of activations has been has been reached