XP activation – 3555 days old

[poqal]

All I've read about XP activation didn't prepare me for the surprise I just ran into.

I have my latest computer - MSI/AMD built 12/02 w/XP Home. I have not taken anything out of this computer, but had previously added two additional sticks of ram and a second hard drive.

I decided I wanted to install the internal zip I recently purchased into the tower, but prior to doing that I had to add a PCI 133 board with two IDE slots on it. I put the board in, it loaded smoothly, and on the last reboot up comes this window saying that my machine has changed significantly since the original activaction and that I had to reactivate.

I was very surprised, but as MS only gave me three days to accomplish this I wasn't really thinking of much else, so I attempted to activate over the internet. It wasn't being accepted so of course I had to resort to the phone.

The whole thing only took a minute or two and I was back in business.

The interesting thing is that I was told I would probably have to reactivate again after I finished installing the zip and replacing the 10 gig slave HD for an 80 HD and MS didn't bother me with those things. I guess it's starting to count over again. Go figure.

One more thing - you might remember a week or so ago I loaded XP Home in my husband's computer. (XP Home upgrade retail). He didn't like the way his programs reacted even though I thought things were ok so I reformatted and reinstalled 98SE.

While on the phone with MS I asked them about installing this XP into another machine. He said no problem - just call them and tell them the circumstances and they would reactivate it. I hope it works as smoothly as that!


edit spelling

[Dramen]

Poqal thanks for the info, just got that same message on my xp pro pc after changing a driver for on board ide controller!! but didn't feel like activating so I restored a recent image.

I did re-activate xp home pc after a mobo change and the online activation worked. not sure why they sometimes require a phone in and sometimes not.

anyway, I'm thinking of switching around xp pro to xp home pc and then vice versa, I'll let you know what happens. btw, it does irk me to call in just cause I want to switch installations around, I never have to do this with linux

poqal, this may or may not interest you
http://www.bitbenderforums.com/vb22/...threadid=46009