Re: Upgrading BIOS, Windows XP Re-Activation

From: Carey Frisch [MVP] (cnfrisch_at_nospamgmail.com)
Date: 01/03/05 

Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 09:41:34 -0600

eMachine Live Technical Assistance
http://www.emachines.com/support/tech_support.html 

-- 
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart!  Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"JohnnyG" wrote:
| I'm helping a friend who is using Win XP Home Edition, an OEM edition that 
| was loaded at the factory.  No CD was shipped with the unit, and we don't 
| have access to the XP KEY.  This is an eMachines W2260. We went to Control 
| Panel/System and wrote down the registration number, but that's all we have.
| 
| We recently attempted to install an ATI graphics card and found out that we 
| needed to upgrade the BIOS first.  The BIOS upgrade went fine, but when we 
| try to boot Windows and get to the login screen, click "JOE" (my friend) who 
| is the only user on this PC, we get a message saying that we must activate 
| this copy of windows, Y/N.  When we click YES, a message comes back saying 
| the copy is already activated and proceeds to log JOE off.  When you try it 
| again, the same thing happens. We were told that upgrading the BIOS might 
| require us to enter the XP KEY when prompted for activation, but we have not 
| found that to be the case.  We reverted back to the old BIOS and we're back 
| to where we started without the new graphics card.
| 
| I'm having trouble understanding why something as common as a BIOS upgrade 
| would create this problem.  I know MS wants to curb piracy, but this is 
| little ridiculous IMHO. 
| 
| Do you have any suggestions or references that you can point us to that 
| would help resolve this without having to purchase another license?
| 
| Thanks in advance.

Relevant Pages

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