PC suddenly asking for xp serial

aproctor

aproctor

aproctor

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Basically i gave my mrs my old pc, AMD 3000 64, 6800 gt 2 gb ram etc, nice little system and all she needed.

Now i was installing some rubbish wlan dongle and had to get drivers, found them and installed....all ok.
Then i rebooted and it started asking for activation, now this pc has not been formatted for about a year/18 months and it has 100% been activated, but as much as i tried it would not get past the activation screen.

Does anybody know,
1. the reason for this
2 a possible reason for this
3. a solution (apart from serial)


just for the record i do have the box and serial knocking around at my parents house but if i can sort it without a manhunt around the attic that would make my life much easier.

thanks. xxx
 
I had this recently just for updating the audio driver!! It told me i had changed a component and needed re-activating. No hassle for me though as it went through online with no problems.

To get the serial number for your version of XP, download and run Belarc Advisor. It will compile a list of everything on your pc and show you the keys/serial numbers down at the bottom.
 
if the computer is connected to the internet just press activate, as the serial is already in windows. As installing new drivers etc etc may of triggered the WGA

try the above post afterwards
 
i'm in a similar position to you due to having transferred the HDD from my main system to my backup system.

nevertheless, just phone microsoft and tell them what happened. they ought to activate it for ya.
 
yup just call MS, it happend to me as well about a year ago when i was without internet, just told them that i updated my mobo drivers and she gave me loooooooong "key" to re-activate
 
dr. sarf said:
If you've used a genuine OS, you'll still have the installation key, wont you?
Click to expand...

Not true. Having the original Key sometimes makes no difference. I just swapped out a MOBO with original software and Installation key. Still ended up having to call Microsoft for a new key.
 
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aproctor said:
please read op
Click to expand...

yeh ok


You should be able to call MS to sort this out. However it depends what rep you get. If its OEM software, hope you get a nice person who'll just activate it for you.

I rang up for someone who had even lost the cert of auth and after changing the mobo, MS just activated it anyway. Just depends who you get.
 
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embalse said:
Not true. Having the original Key sometimes makes no difference. I just swapped out a MOBO with original software and Installation key. Still ended up having to call Microsoft for a new key.
Click to expand...

they shoundt have activated you for that one i am afraid
 
Not true. If it's a replacement for a faulty item the licence can be transfered, afaik.
 
pastymuncher said:
I had this recently just for updating the audio driver!! It told me i had changed a component and needed re-activating. No hassle for me though as it went through online with no problems.
Click to expand...

Same for me last week when I updated my graphics driver. Could not understand why! Just reactivated and that was it.
 
Hxc said:
Not true. If it's a replacement for a faulty item the licence can be transfered, afaik.
Click to expand...

Officially it lives and dies with the board - faulty or otherwise, thats what MS told me on the phone and I think its what's written in the OEM EULA. But I guess its down to whether you get a thoughtful rep or not.
 
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