Windows XP Activation

[challenger]

What does it do and do I have to do it? I have XP Pro.

Thanks

[SPEEDO]

Take a look here (http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q302806) .

SPEEDO

[challenger]

So will I only be able to install this on one computer or something. On my product code it says 1-2cpu does that mean the license is for up to 2 computers?

I wish I didn't have to go through this activation ****. It's not like shareware or something. Next thing you know you'll have to have the Windows CD in the drive for it to operate. Then Microsoft will come with a new OS on 3 cd's and you'll have to keep them in there. You'll try to open IE and it will be like, "Please insert CD#2>" Then for Explorer you'll need CD#1 etc... Yep I forsee this happening!;)

Whew, I'm ok now

Anyways I was just a little curious about this activation thing.

Thank's SPEEDO for the link

[bushmaster]

Wait till Microsoft charges you a yearly fee as a home user to have their OS on your box. Then it will become a monthly charge. And then Microsoft becomes a utility company like the cable or electric company. It will be like your phone bill or your cell phone bill... Your OS bill. oooh those should be some fun final dissconnect notices... Gee I can't wait.

[Philip1952]

bushmaster
Don't say that to loud. M$ might be listening.
If M$ thought they could get by with it. No dought M$ would do it.

[Midknyte]

Microsoft has already been thinking about annual fees, so no one is letting any secrets out. I heard that straight from a MS rep. We're lucky that XP doesn't have an annual fee. it was supposed to , but they dropped that idea at the last minute. i think too many people complained. now it's just free registration, but it's required. Office XP was the first MS product to require registration. If you don't register by 50 uses, it gets disabled. geez. :(

[Jimstep]

Certain events can cause you to get another activation code; if you reformat your drive, replace too many components then xp will think you have a different computer or if you install it on a different computer.

It gets worse. I have read that you are only allowed up to 11 chances to get an activation code, after that, you have to pay for another license.

I know we don't like it, but for Microsoft to continue in the corporate world, they are falling in line with the other vendors, especially software vendors in the mainframe market. The vendor charges a one time fee and then you pay monthly "maintenance" charges. There are also optional "support" rates.

For a corporation, business is business. But the corporate version of XP does not require an activation code.

I'm not convinced the home users need this aggrevation.

[iowaboy]

as far as the activation, yes you will have to do it. It is real painless to do. If you have to reintall it because of crashes, change of minor hardware (such as sounds card, modem, etc) you may have to reactivate. but then again the same number will work over the internet or by phone call. When you install the software it takes a snapshot of certain parts of the computer. The problem is it changes so no one computer has the same snapshot. Such as it may use scoundcard, cpu, bios number on one but may use video, hard drive and modem on another. these arew just examples. There are many people who have had to call microsoft after 15-20 reinstalls in 6 months but all they had to do was say why the had to do so many and give them their old number and Microsoft gave them a new number. According to what I have read it was all real easy and painless. As far as your version I can't answer if you can only use it for just one or if you can install on a second computer also. Sorry for the long post, just wanted to try to answer some possible questions. I know when I got this computer I have now it came with the software and all the numbers. The manufactor didn't want to give me a new number so I could reinsatall xp. I called MS and they told me to just reinstall and use the numbers that came with the software. Everything zipped thru without a hitch :)

[challenger]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll do this activation thing.

[jmichna]

I've gone through the reactivation dance a few times... but never had a problem. Three times was due to a reformat of HD (intentional reformats... "spring cleaning")... but no hassle really. Once connected, M$ recognized PC as the "same" pc and reactivation proceeded without incident.

Since then, I've a had a few pleasant surprises regarding reactivation:

Replaced my TBird CPU with an XP2100+... no prompt for reactivation.

Replaced motherboard, ram and cpu, reformatted HD... once connected, reactivation proceeded without incident. Recognized me as legit and assigned activation code with no additonal questions.

My guess is if I had replaced my NIC (new MAC address), then I would have been prompted to call and explain what was going on.

I did have to call -- toll-free -- regarding (re)installation of Office... but that was settled in just a minute or two when I explained that I had replaced mobo and cpu, reformatted, blah, blah....

All in all, relatively painless.
jmichna

[wizard9171]

Hi all just wanted to let you know that if you had the Corp Edition that you do not have to activate or reg the Win XP pro or Office xp pro. But you must have the corp edition's of both these products. Just my 2 cents worth

[Nick CPU]

Challenger, 1-2 CPU means it can support up to two system processors.

[challenger]

Originally posted by Nick CPU
Challenger, 1-2 CPU means it can support up to two system processors.

That's what I was thinking. Thanks for clearing that up.

[vibe666]

I formatted my machine and downloaded XP Corp. off the net and used my XP Pro serial on it.

works a treat and M$ doesn't hassle me for anything. even the Windows update works OK.

Don't let M$ have control over you, find a nice fat pipe to the net and get the corp version. since you are using a valid serial no. and have the licence for your OEM OS you aren't using pirate software are you?

***viBe***
Why not put your PC's idle time to good use by downloading the seti@home client (ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/setiathome/setiathome_win_3_07.exe) and then joining the Sysopt.com Users 2002 (http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/cgi?cmd=team_lookup&name=Sysopt.com+Users+2002) Team.
UPDATE: To speed up your WU times try the Command Line Client (ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/setiathome/setiathome-3.03.i386-winnt-cmdline.exe) and SetiHide (http://www.scheit.de/seti/1543.zip). Its not nearly as pretty but its much faster than the Windows client. :D
Good SetiHide thread HERE (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=94507). Guide to setting up SetiHide on page 5 of thread.

[Paco103]

I think if we all just formatted our computers once a month, or once a week, and had to call, they'd give it up. They'd go broke paying that 800# bill, and the way I see it....I have the right to format my computer as much as I want. The activation doesn't stop anything, it just makes it more inconvenient for the legit users. The rest will find someway to bypass it anyway. Heck, I found step by step directions right after XP came out that I'm sure even a novice could probably follow on how to bypass activation. It's just a registry hack. I hate greed - they're making enough freakin' money. And isn't piracy defined as "using others' copyrighted works for personal profit?" If you're not making money. . . . :P

[magk9]

I have a LEGAL CD of XP-Pro, but rather than activate, I'm using a crack....seems to work fine,....I may activate some day, when H@LL freezes over! Don't bother jumping down my throat....I PAID for my XP...just like everybody else...even tho' I did NOT have to!

[Bizkitkid2001]

Originally posted by vibe666
I formatted my machine and downloaded XP Corp. off the net and used my XP Pro serial on it.

works a treat and M$ doesn't hassle me for anything. even the Windows update works OK.

Don't let M$ have control over you, find a nice fat pipe to the net and get the corp version. since you are using a valid serial no. and have the licence for your OEM OS you aren't using pirate software are you?

***viBe***
Why not put your PC's idle time to good use by downloading the seti@home client (ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/setiathome/setiathome_win_3_07.exe) and then joining the Sysopt.com Users 2002 (http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/cgi?cmd=team_lookup&name=Sysopt.com+Users+2002) Team.
UPDATE: To speed up your WU times try the Command Line Client (ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/setiathome/setiathome-3.03.i386-winnt-cmdline.exe) and SetiHide (http://www.scheit.de/seti/1543.zip). Its not nearly as pretty but its much faster than the Windows client. :D
Good SetiHide thread HERE (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=94507). Guide to setting up SetiHide on page 5 of thread.

Vibe if you have XP pro corp you shouldn't have to activate it.

[Jimstep]

Originally posted by Bizkitkid2001


Vibe if you have XP pro corp you shouldn't have to activate it.

The serial code is used at installation time. The activation code must be entered within X number of days after installation.

With XP Corp, you don't need an activation code, but you still need to use the serial code.

[Duffman213]

I agree with magk9 - why pay for windows - when you can CRACK IT and save yourself a good hard earned $299 (aus)

I really dont see the point, think of how much money micro$oft has - do you think that they will REALLY care whether or not you pay for your copy?? - they have truckloads of money
;)

[MiguelAl]

Duffman I'm sure, like me, magk9 paid for his copy of XP.

I paid for XP but I don’t want to call them up every time I change hardware or reformat the thing! So I do what magk9 does… I crack MY purchased copy of XP.

[tking]

Originally posted by Midknyte
We're lucky that XP doesn't have an annual fee. it was supposed to , but they dropped that idea at the last minute.

Has anyone heard about how successful XP has been in penetrating the market? It seems like 95 was a big success, 98 did very well, ME fell down, W2K started a recovery and XP hit an oversaturated market full of people sick of M$'s attitude. I should think treating all of your customers like potential thieves wouldn't help matters at all.

T

[jad1097]

vibe you don't need to download the corp version. YOu just need to remove some files.

[jad1097]

Posted by BBA http://www.techimo.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=2561&highlight=corporate

Bypassing WPA all together

Some one sent me this piece of information that is quite remarkable. I have not tested it but it's from a reliable source. I quote:

"Did you know that by replacing 11 files on a retail Windows XP CD for an existing corporate edition CD, you can turn it into an unactivated corporate version? This has been tested and it does successfully work! It is important to note that this does NOT hack Windows XP in any way, it merely bypasses WPA. You do, however, need a valid 25-character PLK. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft fixes this loophole in the first service pack release. I have not monitored my traffic logs through our checkpoint firewall to see what was communicated yet... I really am surprised Microsoft would leave such an obvious and easily exploitable method to get around WPA. The files you need to replace are:

i386\dpcdll.dl_
i386\eula.txt *** cosmetic only
i386\nt5inf.ca_
i386\oembios.bi_
i386\oembios.ca_
i386\oembios.da_
i386\oembios.si_
i386\pidgen.dll
i386\setupp.ini
i386\setupreg.hiv
i386\win9xupg\win95upg.inf

[magk9]

The corporate files needed, were surprisingly easy to find! I HAD to see if it worked, and it does....like a charm! It still says XP Pro, but activation wasn't required....cool!

[jad1097]

:)

[Duffman213]

MiguelAl - i guess i didnt put enough info in my post but I DID by my copy of xp, i just choose not to activate, i cracked it instead
:)