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Thread: Re-activating XP?
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10-02-2005, 05:14 PM #1Web Hosting Master
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Re-activating XP?
I bought an emachines pc with preinstalled xp and such. Now I bought a new motherboard that supports 8x AGP cause the last one only supported 4x AGP. So now it asks me to re-activate windows. Do I have to buy a new windows, or can I use emachines restore cd, plus emachines came with a valid XP serial number too. Is it really necessary to spend $300 or so just to install a new mobo?
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10-02-2005, 05:16 PM #2Resident Liverpool FC Fan
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You should be able to phone up Microsoft Windows Activation help line and explain the changes to them. They will then be able to re-activate it for you.
I am not sure if you can do it via the online activation process, but it may be worth a try, however it would be better to phone up in my opinion.
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10-02-2005, 05:22 PM #3Web Hosting Master
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How does it work though? Do they just give me some number to insert and that's it or do i need cds? Cause emachines tech said emachines restore Cd's only work with the default motherboard which is pretty stupid imo.
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10-02-2005, 05:22 PM #4Web Hosting Evangelist
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yep
you have to make phone call
online process will not work
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10-02-2005, 05:23 PM #5Resident Liverpool FC Fan
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Originally posted by WHTer
How does it work though? Do they just give me some number to insert and that's it or do i need cds? Cause emachines tech said emachines restore Cd's only work with the default motherboard which is pretty stupid imo.
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10-02-2005, 05:26 PM #6Web Hosting Master
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Cause emachines tech said emachines restore Cd's only work with the default motherboard which is pretty stupid imo.
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10-02-2005, 05:37 PM #7Disabled
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Originally posted by stephenM
It's not stupid at all. They do this to stop the CD being copied an then distributed illegally.
Exactly. It's a piracy prevention measure.
Dell does it as I'm sure most of the big providers do.
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10-02-2005, 06:17 PM #8ex-Aussie
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Originally posted by samdax
online process will not work
If for some reason it won't allow you to do it, then just make the call.
I've never seen the reason why people have such an issue with this thing.Former Webhost... now, just a guy.
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10-02-2005, 06:46 PM #9Web Hosting Master
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Originally posted by stephenM
It's not stupid at all. They do this to stop the CD being copied an then distributed illegally.
I tried calling their little robot phone thing, it didn't work it said invalid installation code. I couldn't talk to a real human to explain the situation.
Online doesn't work because I have to install ethernet, USB, etc. when I installed a new mobo. So my dsl can't connect online without installing those things first.
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10-02-2005, 06:58 PM #10Web Hosting Master
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Online doesn't work because I have to install ethernet, USB, etc. when I installed a new mobo. So my dsl can't connect online without installing those things first.
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10-02-2005, 07:00 PM #11Resident Liverpool FC Fan
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Originally posted by stephenM
Mainboards always come with a CD to install all the necessary drivers; have you used this?
I may be wrong, but I thought they allowed you 30 days to re-activate it before completely shutting off access? As I say, I maybe wrong though.
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10-02-2005, 07:06 PM #12Web Hosting Master
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I think he means he cant install them because he cannot get into Windows to do this.
I may be wrong, but I thought they allowed you 30 days to re-activate it before completely shutting off access?
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10-02-2005, 07:41 PM #13Web Hosting Master
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Nope, I can't get into windows at all. And if I could get into it, I could install all the drivers needed. So everything's kinda messed up here. lol
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10-02-2005, 08:41 PM #14Web Hosting Master
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Windows should still launch - it'll just refuse to use that hardware - or that's what it did with me when I added new hardware until I reactivated Windows.
Regardless, just phone up the Microsoft Activation line and explain the problem - see what they say.
Chris
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10-02-2005, 08:58 PM #15Web Hosting Master
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You'll need a copy of the version of XP you have installed (Home or Pro) not the emachines restore disk. Boot from this disk, and choose to install Windows, not "Use recovery Console" Windows will search and find your installation, and ask if you want to repair it, say yes. Windows will install over the top, keeping your settings and files, but installing all the new drivers you have, usually....it doesn't have some of the latest drivers, but it will install usb drivers that you can use in safe mode. After install, on first full reboot, Windows will say you need to activate before using. You can call the number provided, and there is an option to speak with a tech to activate it. You can also boot into safe mode without activating it, however, you can't boot into safe mode with networking support without activating it.
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