Re: Sick of XP Activation Failure!
- From: "Kerry Brown" <kerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx*a*m>
- Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 07:18:39 -0700
Then you are stuck using the Dell restore to factory option or phoning in
activation each time. Another alternative is for each new machine set it up
as you want it then create an image of the the hard drive with something
like Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost. Instead of rebuilding the machine
restore the image. There are network aware versions of both programs where
all the images would be stored on a server. You boot from a CD, pick the
image you want, and restore it.
--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca
benb wrote:
Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
We're only a small (ish) company, with 30 users, and all XP licenses
have been brought OEM from Dell. I looked into buying a VLM, and it
cost something like £75 per license to upgrade them from OEM (I
assume each license will require an upgrade if we were to eventually
use the VLM to re-install each laptop), which is money that we just
can't afford at the moment.
Ben
"Kerry Brown" <kerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx*a*m> wrote in message
news:OMsOxgy2GHA.3656@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Purchase a volume license or use the computers "restore to factory"
procedure and the problem will go away. Most large OEM keys require a
phone call to activate if Windows is installed by any procedure
other the the factory recovery one. The factory recovery option uses
a master key that doesn't need activation. If you use any procedure
that uses the key from the COA you will have to phone for activation
as Internet activation is disabled for those keys.
--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca
benb wrote:
Hi,
Over the past couple of months I have had to rebuild a number of
laptops, either due to BSODs, or staff leaving/joining. We usually
order Dell laptops, which come with XP Pro oem licenses. Every time
I rebuild I use the supplied installation CD, and enter the CD-key
from the OEM sticker on the laptop, and every time I try to activate
Windows I'm told that the CD-key has been entered incorrectly, and I
get the pop up window asking me to re-enter it or phone Microsoft.
I've double and triple checked the CD-Key is correct, but I still
get the error. I know I could phone up MS and activate the
software, but this is a pain in the rear end, first you have to go
through the automated system entering the 64 digit activation
number, (which never verifies correctly if it already failed trying
to do it online - so what's the point!?), then you have to talk to
a CSR, who can be difficult to understand, and give them the same
64 digit number, etc etc
I've tried asking the CSRs why the activation failed initially, but
they say they don't have any technical knowledge, and don't know. So
I'm suck having to phone every time I need to re-activate, and this
gets highly irritating when you have to do it every couple of weeks!
Especially when you've actually brought legal, licensed software!
Does anyone know why my activation keeps failing?
Cheers
Ben
.
- References:
- Sick of XP Activation Failure!
- From: benb
- Re: Sick of XP Activation Failure!
- From: Kerry Brown
- Re: Sick of XP Activation Failure!
- From: benb
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