Microsoft is killing me

[flawedreality5]

Ok. I recently read in a post that if you have a network card at the PCI slot right below the graphics card, it could conflict and cause errors? I have been getting errors related to the network card ever since i put it in so i decided to move the network card all the way to the bottom. I was also cleaning out the case too and forgot that both DVD drives were unplugged when I turned the computer on. I sign on to my name and Microsoft says that I need to reactivate because of a drastic hardware change. I attempted to do so online and it says that the number of times it can be activated has been exceeded and that I need a new key. This has happened before and I've just called the automated authorization number and they usually give me that number to get it back working. This time the automated number says "It could not validate my code and that I need to talk to a microsoft rep". What does this mean? I'm not going to have to buy another copy of XP am I? I've only used it for my custom build. Is the MS people going to give me a hard time?

I forgot to add that I'm getting another gig of memory probably next week. Is this going to affect the stupid authorization again and ruin next week for me too?

[bailey]

it just means that you need to call and talk to a person, no big deal, just takes a few min.

[liquidblue69mce]

I had a similar problem with reinstalling WIN XP. Upon trying to activate/register it online, I got a message that my key has already been activated and I need another one… At first I was “what the heck”!! I paid this money for a legitimate OS and they are doing this to me… And then I thought to myself, I got a non-hacked version of XP and the real deal key code and then I stopped worrying about it. This might happen every time your reload windows, but I don’t know if that’s for sure.

[flawedreality5]

I reinstall Windows every 3 months or so just to keep the system optimized and for peace of mind that there's no garbage on there. I don't mind the reinstall, I barely have any programs installed so it takes no more than an hour. I've never had a problem with the number that the automated telephone service gave but this time it conflicted for some reason. I guess because I moved the hardware around and it didn't think it was the same computer? I don't know. I guess I'll have to have a little chat with a rep when I wake up.

[bailey]

every 3 months your reinstalling XP for no reason at all ?
LOL
your joking right ?

[flawedreality5]

No no, I try out a lot of software. Do a lot of uninstalling and reinstalling and usually screw up something in Windows. I have 3 partitions with all my files on the other 2 so I don't lose anything. It's no big deal for me. I don't need to back anything up.

[Marke522]

A while back I had a friend with 98SE that used to install almost monthly. I thought that was insane. He told me his hardware was so old that his system bacame unstable very quickly. I think maybe he was looking at questionable material and getting viruses all the time.

I have had to call M$ a few times when reinstalling, or when changing a harddrive with a fresh install. Nothing to worry about, I did have to talk to a real person once because I have an OEM, not a retail. They wanted to make sure the OS was not on any other working computer, and that this one was the only pc using that key. Of course it was. I know the rules are different for OEM and Retail, but I have no clue what they are. I currently have 3 computers with XP, and 3 legal keys, so I don't have to worry what the rules are. 2 are OEM, and one is an HP prebuild.

[flawedreality5]

Thanks for the info! The reason I reinstall so much is because up until a year ago, I never really had my own computer. I had been using my parents Dell the whole time. 4 people live in my house and the computer is in such demand for homework, email, everything. I never tried new programs, never fooled around with Windows settings or did anything on there because it wasn't mine, I really didn't have much time to play on there, and I would most likely have gotten kicked off for good if I did screw it up. It took me months to get my Dad to let me upgrade the graphics card and ram. I'm just trying to make up for years of programs and games I missed out on. Experience is the best teacher and screwing up Windows is what I do best.

[liquidblue69mce]

I wonder how long it will take me to get a real person on the phone?? Don't forget those friendly automated services that take forever to get a real person on the phone. Thank goodness for speakerphone!

[flawedreality5]

Don't say that!

[Statica]

The wait time with Microsoft has been amazingly low (never had to wait for more than 2 minutes on average).
Instead of running an install every 3 months, perhaps you should consider options like Virtual PC. I cant imagine how much productivity you get out of your machine if you start from scratch every 3 months.

[flawedreality5]

Virtual PC is a little out of my price range, although it does looks like great software. Starting from scratch doesn't bother me because I only have a few programs to install.

[rave]

instead of always reinstalling.buy a copy of ghost and a small HDD. do one clean install, with prgrams and everything and leave it alone.

whenever you want to have a clean Windows, just keep ghosting the prefabricated drive.

[flawedreality5]

I actually have an old 8gb drive laying around that I could use. Is Symantec Norton Ghost what you're referring to? Can I just restore the C:\ partition and leave my other 2 alone? I wouldn't have to authorize Windows everytime I do this either would I?

[rave]

yes..you can use your 8GB drive, if it is big enough( i mean, i think XP takes up to 6 or 7 GB already) so there might not be enough space for Programs

yes..you can also jus restore your C:\ Partition...considering you have no programs or games on the other drives..because these might cause some linking issues*


*can someone back me up on this?

[flawedreality5]

Currently, my C partition is only taking up 5gb of space with all the programs I need installed. My D partition usually has 1 or 2 games on it. So if I back up that partition at the same time, it shouldn't cause linking issues right? I might have to buy this program.