Cyber Phunk

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Here's my problem. I have had to reinstall WinXP a few times, due to either massive hd failure or serious problems with the installation of service pack 2. The most recent reinstall, I got to the point to activate my copy of WinXP and I get a message telling me:
"According to our records, the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded. Please enter a different product key, and then click retry."
It then tells me where to find the damn key that I put in in the first place, sitting right here in front of me, on the little sticker on my case. It then says that if I think I have received this message in error, to contact their customer support to, in essence, buy another product key!
HELP!
I can't afford to pay for another product key, and think that I SHOULDN'T have to, I own the damn thing already! I have the original cd, have the book and certificate of authenticity that came with it. Anyone out there have any ideas, info that can help me out here?

drktitan56

All I had to do is call the number that they provide and over the phone they give you a new activation key. If that doesn't work let me know.

skept

Yep drktitan56 is absolutely correct, ring microsoft and they will issue you a new key. Just for curiosity sakes, how many times have you exactly reinstalled XP? i've done it quite a few times with my home comps (>10) and i have had no problems...

HIJACKER

Call them. Thats all you have to do.

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Doonz

Rumor also has it that the records are kept for 120 days... I read it on the internet so it must be true... jk.... I have done multiple installs 4 month apart to test it and it has worked... but ring up M$ there very, very rarely denie you ... that would rather give into one person trying to set up two machines ...then have someone legitimate get denied and that person end up shouting the horrors of product activation... its not ment to stop piracy its ment to curb it

APOCALYPSE

yea. just call and explain the situation, and they will give you a new key. i have a 5 user liscense for mine and have installed it like 10 times with no probs.

wolf68k

There is a small way around this. Using what's called an unattened XP CD.
Now I'm not 100% sure it'll work with XP Home with it's activation key, but it might.
Here is the page that covers the activation part: http://unattended.msfn.org/intermediate/activate.htm
But of course to start with the Beginner's sections to get you started.

Your only other choice that I can think of it so use Ghost.
However with Ghost you're creating an exact backup of what is on the drive currently, the good and the bad.
By creating an unattended XP CD, you can create this CD using your XP CD and your current installed OS (partly). So even if your current OS is riddled with spyware and other troublesome thing, not including some viruses, you can still create a clean XP install CD.
You can also use DVDRs if need be.

davemo2us

Building on what wolf68k says. Instead of using a fresh install everytime buy norton ghost and after your first install with everthing on it and no tweaking, clone the drive and park it some where safe. Trust me I have 4 pc's between myself and the family and it is well worth the money.

Gansey

I thought if you had XP Pro you could just install it as many times as you want?

Doonz

Nope... 1 pc or laptop for XP pro.... Activation makes sure of that... M$ should follow in Apple foot steps and sell the family edition which does allow you to install the OS on multiple PCs... And by the look of the newest release ..well next year -Longhorn activation is alive and well http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_view...po=1&i=1,00.asp

BradLT1

When you install XP pro. it takes a picture of your computer. if you did a major upgrade I.E. CPU, Hard drive, Mother board...Memory.. Etc etc..and reinstall XP Pro and get that msg; "According to our records, the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded. Please enter a different product key, and then click retry."
its prolly why.. Just my 2¢