unactivated windows (follow up on Computer help - PSU thread)

[Tedacious]

What are the disadvantages of running on a unactivated copy of windows?

Today I finally decided to call microsoft and activate windows (since there is only 4 days left for me to do it).

I choose "activate windows by phone".
First there was an automatic activater, where I enter the installation-ID on the phone. But according to that one it was a faulty/pirated copy.

So I called customer service instead.

Unluckily the guy was from norway, and my norwegian isn't what it should be. But I could understand him still.

Anyway, I told him the code and he checked it up.
Apparently he got the same result, that it is a pirated software. I explained my situation to him and he said that apparently my copy of windows was programmed to fit the old motherboard.
Now, with the help i got from you and from google, I already knew that and thought that they would give me an new activation code.

This guy however, said that there was nothing he could do about it, nothing I could do about it either.

Now i'd like som input, was this guy just wrong? does he have a point?

[NTH]

Call them again. That guy is talking nonsense.

I know it says Vista in the link, but the rules stay the same:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Activating-Windows-frequently-asked-questions


    " Will I ever need to activate my current copy of Windows again?

Maybe. You might have to activate Windows again if:

    *

      You uninstall Windows on one computer and install it on another. During installation, enter the product key that came with your copy of Windows. If automatic activation fails, follow the instructions that walk you through activating Windows by phone. You will have 30 days to activate your copy of Windows.
    *

      You make a significant hardware change to your computer, such as upgrading the hard disk and memory at the same time. If a major hardware change requires activating Windows again, you will be notified and will have three days to activate your copy of Windows.
    *

      You reformat your hard disk. Reformatting erases your activation status. In this case, you’ll have 30 days to activate Windows again.
    *

      A virus infects your computer and deletes your activation status.

If you have to activate Windows again, you don't need to buy a new product key.

To activate Windows on this computer, do the following:

Open Windows Activation by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Computer, clicking Properties, and then clicking Click here to activate Windows now.‌ Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation."
 

[Dnarag1M]

First of all a few things I need to know.

1) What windows are we talking about ? XP? Vista? Windows 7 ?

2) Where did you buy this windows (Store, online, study)

3) If you did not buy it, was the key bundled with your computer ? (this one or previous?)

4) If it is a downloaded version with keygen most likely wont work.

5) If it's XP I have a legal key for you lying here, spare, never used. XP 32, English

[Stefan]

he probably used an OEM windows ( not retail ) which are cheap cause they are locked to the mainboard as the microsoft customer guy said.

What windows do you use? can always use a crack/loader like the rest of the world does that doesnt wanna spend 200 bucks on a windows :p but cause of forum rules i can of course not link to any.

[Josh094]

Very interesting that this should come up.. I have 18 days left to activate. We too were told that it is an unauthorized copy of windows xp which is a load of bollocks..

[NTH]

he probably used an OEM windows ( not retail ) which are cheap cause they are locked to the mainboard as the microsoft customer guy said.

What windows do you use? can always use a crack/loader like the rest of the world does that doesnt wanna spend 200 bucks on a windows :p but cause of forum rules i can of course not link to any.

Good point. In that case he's screwed.

[Josh094]

Wouldn't a crack serial cause problems with automatic updates?

[Tedacious]

Yeah I'm using XP.

Ok NTH, i'll call them again. Hopefully I'll get a swede next time so I can talk unhindered

Is there any way to find out if I have and OEM windows? (if I have this one, i'm like NTH said, screwed right?)

Stefan, could you maybe link one to me in a private message? otherwise I'll just give you my email

Wouldn't a crack serial cause problems with automatic updates?

That's kinda what I'm guessing and why I want this to work. Maybe it's time to get windows 7.. I'll look it up and see where I can find it cheap.
But until then, I want this "fixed"...


When the time period expires (4 days left now), I can still activate right? or am I screwed then?

[Josh094]

From my understanding you can still activate it, just not use it until it is.

[Dnarag1M]

Just in case you dont activate in time ..this is how you can access your machine when it should be locked for activation :

http://www.gamerzneeds.net/forums/operating-systems-software/49278-tutorial-how-access-unactivated-windows-xp-machine.html

Right, if you dont mind running English XP I can give you a legal key, I dont use it and dont need it. Would solve all your problems...everyone I know uses english XP, you swedes arent going to be an exception right?

[Tedacious]

Haha thanks for the offer Dnarag! Actually, i'd like running in english (would make it easier to troubleshoot problems by googling the exact words). But it's not just my computer, it's the whole familys. If I don't fix this, I'll get in touch with you about it

[Dukat]

What the heck?

From what media did you install your Operating System? Is it a shiny genuin Windows CD? Did it come with your previous computer? Is there a key printed somewhere? Did you enter that key when promted during installation? Why did you not use online activation?

How the heck can it be pirated, when you got a genuin CD? I'm not familiar with your local laws, all I know is that it is illegal to bundle the software with hardware here in germany, thus I can install an OEM version on any hardware and microsoft got to accept that.  They cannot lock your key here, just because you are installing the OS from a previous Computer on new hardware. In wonder whether they can check at all, what country you are from when you use online activation.

Besides that, I cannot help you. There are 100 ways to deal the problem and most of them are illegal.

Edit:// I think getting a german proxy might already solve your problem. Because an OEM activated from germany would be considered a german version.

[NTH]

IIrc Ted had a Fujitsu PC. That would make it OEM. It's a shitty license deal, but there you go.
I'd say take Dnarag's offer. The man is giving you a license for free, take it!

[Eglaerinion]

There are different OEM keys. OEM SLP which are versions that activate automatically during installation if the hardware matches the ID that is on the disc/image (most of the computers with windows preinstalled use this method). OEM Act versions that still need to be activated and are not bound to any hardware until they are activated.

Personally I prefer retail keys because you can install them on any computer just as long as it's not two at the same time. If you ever have issues with a retail key you can ring up microsoft and they'll help you. I've worked for microsoft customer support when I was in university and the reason OEM's are cheap is because they can't be transfered to another computer and you don't get any support from Microsoft (well officially).

I find it funny that people muck about with illegal version of something you use everyday for school, work, fun etc.

[kummitus]

I find it funny that people muck about with illegal version of something you use everyday for school, work, fun etc.

maybe becouse I've never had a single problem with those, or never actually activated anything, dad got a some kinda company xp without need for activation and I've continued it with later versions of windows on my own