Invalid CoA = No Windows XP activation! This is absurd!

[Chocolate Pi]

So, I reformatted my hard drive, right? Speed things up a bit?

Big mistake. Now Windows XP Pro refuses to activate! My CoA is invalid? But it worked last time! This is ridiculous, this is maddening, this is calling for even more words to describe the situation!

So, I call the phone number, right? Figure I might be able to talk to a person to set things straight. But no, it's an automated voice. Toll number? Same thing. People keep talking about arguing with the person on the other end, explaining hardware changes: are you calling a different number, or are you arguing with Ms. Product Activation Center?

I've triple checked my CoA, and then triple checked it again. Obviously it worked for installing Windows! It satisfies the Installation CD, but not Redmond! Now I know to save my activation files, but that knowledge is only 20/20 hindsight! What can I possibly do to properly activate my product, how could I talk to anyone who isn't pre-recorded, so that they might set me straight?

Product Activation is like outlawing guns: Punishing the law-abiders.

I'm so furious right now...

 

[stash]

Let me guess,..OEM copy? You need to use the SLP'ed CD that should come from the OEM to reinstall. The COAs on the cases of computers will not work, since they were a giant piracy hole.

 

[Chocolate Pi]

Wait, what?

I built this PC, my copy is an OEM copy from Newegg. SLP'ed CD?

 

[Malak]

If it says it's invalid, call the number. Go through the automated process. At the end she will say it was invalid and direct you to a real person. They will ask you for the first set of digits and where you got it, then they will give you activation code. Done deal.

 

[Chocolate Pi]

No, at the end, Ms. Automated Activation Center tells me a website I can go to to deal with spyware problems, and tells me to have a nice day... :/

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Chocolate Pi
No, at the end, Ms. Automated Activation Center tells me a website I can go to to deal with spyware problems, and tells me to have a nice day... :/

You are calling the wrong number then. There should be a phone number at the activation screen(after you select your location) where you call to activate(instead of internet activation). If your code is invalid, then it should send you to a real person. That's how I dealt with this.

 

[Chocolate Pi]

Nope, that's the number:

1-888-571-2048

 

[lxskllr]

when the computer asks you to say something, don't. It'll try to get info from you but if you don't speak you'll be sent to a real person.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
when the computer asks you to say something, don't. It'll try to get info from you but if you don't speak you'll be sent to a real person.

:thumbsup:

 

[gfngfgf]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
when the computer asks you to say something, don't. It'll try to get info from you but if you don't speak you'll be sent to a real person.

Yup. I did that on accident because I had closed the activation window and couldn't get it back in time. Went straight to a live person, activated with no problems.

 

[Chocolate Pi]

No luck. The person on the other end refused to do anything with my OEM copy!

 

[lxskllr]

I'd try again. Unless there's something you're leaving out of the story you should be able to get activated. I replaced every componant on my old Dell and had to call in, but they still let me activate it. I thought that was pretty generous tbh, they didn't have to, since the only original part was a harddrive.

 

[ivwshane]

This is probably the only time I would recomend a pirated copy of XP.

In situations like this all microsoft is doing is punishing users who actually pay for their products.



<----Wahoo!!! golden member status!!! It's about freaken time

 

[bendixG15]

Originally posted by: Chocolate Pi
No luck. The person on the other end refused to do anything with my OEM copy!

Hey..Get pissed.
Call again and try another body.
If that doesn't work, call Microsoft and bitch.

Don't give them another hundred bucks....
If you do, then they won...

 

[fabidovalle]

Nothing like competition!! And MS even bought Apple. Heck, is about time Linux should be available to us.
$86,00 for an unstable pos!
Yeah man, call again!!

BTW, so, i am building this new PC. Then after i sell the parts of it and build a new one, will i have to buy another software from Microsh*t??

 

[Turkey22]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I'd try again. Unless there's something you're leaving out of the story you should be able to get activated. I replaced every componant on my old Dell and had to call in, but they still let me activate it. I thought that was pretty generous tbh, they didn't have to, since the only original part was a harddrive.

Yeah pretty generous that they let you reactivate a copy of windows that you own already. Wow just because you get a new pc you dont lose rights to your copy of windows (I guess that's assuming you didnt leave it on the old one).

Activation really does just hurt honest people and waste their time.

 

[acole1]

Originally posted by: Chocolate Pi
No luck. The person on the other end refused to do anything with my OEM copy!

they refused to give you an activation code when you called the #? you sure you understood their butchered English? the thing with MS is they decided that the OS is tied to the mobo. as long as you tell them you reformatted or installed a new hard drive and still have the orig. mobo they should be ok with it. just call back and try again.. not like they really care that much.

 

[smack Down]

Thats what you get for paying for windows.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Turkey22
Yeah pretty generous that they let you reactivate a copy of windows that you own already. Wow just because you get a new pc you dont lose rights to your copy of windows (I guess that's assuming you didnt leave it on the old one).

And didn't buy an OEM copy of Windows...

Activation really does just hurt honest people and waste their time.

Then switch to consumer friendly software makers.

 

[PoisonCandyGram]

I had the same problem, I don't know why they won't let you activate, they did it on the first try for me. If it's because you built your own computer, tell them its a Dell or something.

 

[czech09]

I don't see the problem, they've activated Windows XP for me that was previously installed on a different computer and it was OEM as well...Did exactly what others suggested...

 

[nfamous]

Originally posted by: ivwshane
This is probably the only time I would recomend a pirated copy of XP.

In situations like this all microsoft is doing is punishing users who actually pay for their products.



<----Wahoo!!! golden member status!!! It's about freaken time

I've never had good success with OEM copies... The way I see it, if you have a coa that magically doesn't work anymore, and they won't fix it, i find no ethical problems with using a pirated copy on that one machine.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: nfamous
I've never had good success with OEM copies... The way I see it, if you have a coa that magically doesn't work anymore, and they won't fix it, i find no ethical problems with using a pirated copy on that one machine.

The way I see it, if you've violated the EULA or appear to be clueless about the proper way to answer the MS activation question(s) to receive an activation code, you should probably have a more qualified individual do it for you.

Piracy is never the answer.

 

[Oxides]

I just bought OEM XP Home from newegg. The hardware it was bundled with was a power splitter cable It shows up as no charge on the invoice too.

 

[ivwshane]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: nfamous
I've never had good success with OEM copies... The way I see it, if you have a coa that magically doesn't work anymore, and they won't fix it, i find no ethical problems with using a pirated copy on that one machine.

The way I see it, if you've violated the EULA or appear to be clueless about the proper way to answer the MS activation question(s) to receive an activation code, you should probably have a more qualified individual do it for you.

Piracy is never the answer.

So if you haven't violated the terms and are not clueless and they still wont activate then piracy is ok? Since that appears to be what happened to the OP I'm glad we agree.

<end sarcasm