Exceeded the number of Windows Activations

[BullUrine]

I frequently reinstall Windows every 6 months or so to keep it fresh and fast.

However, tonight i reinstalled Windows and it told me that i had exceeded the number of times you can activate windows with this product key.

Its an OEM copy of Windows XP Home Edition i got 3 years ago when i built my PC.
I only ever use this copy of Windows with this one activation key.

I was under the impression that my copy lasted forever as long as the major components didn't change and kept it on the same PC essentially.

Is there any way to bypass this or contact Microsoft to get a new activation key for FREE?
Is this even possible?
I stress FREE, because i have no money to get a new copy - poor college student.
If so what would the contact number be?

Thanks

[Panama Red]

Just call the activation phone number and tell MS support. They should give you a new key.

[shadowpr]

How to activate Windows XP by phone To contact a Microsoft customer service representative to activate Windows by phone, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Activate Windows. Or, click the Windows Activation icon in the notification area. 2. Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to active Windows now. 3. Click Read the Windows Product Activation Privacy Statement, click Back, and then click Next. 4. Follow the steps in the Activate Windows by phone dialog box, and then click Next. Note The number appears now and differs based on the location that you select. 5. When activation is completed and you receive the following message, click OK. You have successfully activated your copy of Windows.

From here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890/en-us

[BullUrine]

well that was simple.

he didn't even mention that the activation was exceeded.

I have reason to suspect his real name isn't Brian. That was a thick accent!

thanks panama

[XenaWP]

Originally Posted by BullUrine well that was simple. he didn't even mention that the activation was exceeded. I have reason to suspect his real name isn't Brian. That was a thick accent! thanks panama

I watched a "30 Days" episode where a guy went to work for a call center in India. It is the practice to choose an American sounding name. Presumably to fool the clueless.

[BullUrine]

i heard that a customer refused to hang up the phone until the person admitted that it wasnt their real name.

it took him forever but he eventually caved

oh well. real name or not he helped me out

[357mag]

When you buy XP you are only allowed a certain number of times that you can activate it over the internet. When you have exceeded that number, that is when you see the message saying that you have exceeded...

You have to then call the Microsoft Product Activation Center and they give you a long number that you type in the boxes. When you're done typing the number, you click Next and you're activated.

I think this is the only way. It would be nice if a person could get a new serial number from Microsoft or something so he could continue to activate XP over the internet, but I don't think that's possible.

[acuariano]

bull...you just need to activate the key once,,,
...when gret to the page "activate now,,just select not"...and hit next..
...i reinstalled one pc like 7 times already,,after wiping the hasr drive,,and never had a problem with it..

[shadowpr]

I'm sure that the last time I checked, that Windows needed to be activated in order to update.

[juppy]

Originally Posted by shadowpr I'm sure that the last time I checked, that Windows needed to be activated in order to update.

That's what I've always been told too, that it will install and be "usable" for like 30 days, then, if you don't activate it, you won't be able to get any updates. Basically, you don't activate and they sorta disown you.

I haven't seen it mentioned yet so I guess I'll be the one to ask, what's the purpose of reinstalling XP so often? It really doesn't need it. As long as you use various programs like CCleaner to clean out the registry every now and then, and other programs like defraggers and such, there's no real "need" to reinstall the OS all the time. I mean, case in point, my machine I'm using right now was built in 2001 and that's the only time I've installed XP on it. And it's still working fine *knock on wood*.

As for those call center people, yeah, his name likely wasn't Brian. There was a story on one of those shows like Dateline quite a few years ago that looked into how many customer service lines were being outsourced to countries like India. In that report, they showed one place in India that was trying to teach their "future support personnel" to talk like Texans. Now, imagine if you will, the outcome of an Indian speaking man trying to answer the phone, and in a VERY BAD Texas drawl say "Hello, you have reached tech support, my name is Hank, how may I help you?". It was more like "Ello, you av reeshed tic sooport, my nem ees Hah-aynk, ow may I elp you?"

[357mag]

Every time you reformat your drive and re-install XP it must be activated. If you don't activate within 30 days, the operating system will not function or not function fully. You don't want that of course.