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windows activation

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by krimsalt_

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this computer i set up for a friend has passed the 30 day activation time and now probably locked up. how do i fix this and activate it? i cannot reformat as there are important documents on the pc...

12 replies

by zlitocook

Call Microsoft and they will walk you through the activation process. Good luck.

by rob miners

If you are going to Recover them yourself you are better off removing the Drive from the PC and connecting it to another PC as a Slave or in a USB Caddy.

by tech

First off, after the 30 Days, you have a few options to activate windows. One, you can call into the automatic system read them a code that the computer generated, and once you do that, they will read you a number to enter.

Another option is to active via the internet. You sit there, set up the connection, then within a few minutes, your computer is activated and ready to go.

I recommend that you try to use the internet method. But I like to use the phone system because you dont have to deal with crap, like setting up a network connection.

-Lucas

by rob miners

it locked me out and there was no way to get Internet access. There was also no way that I was going to sit on a phone for a week either. ;)

by older mycroft

You've got 2 Days left.

Chalk works best because, unlike felt-tip pens, it can be washed off after use! :D

by computercookie

4 vertical + 1 horizontal followed by 2 verticals!

Forgive me if this is some ancient Scottish way, at least 'us' convicts can tally correctly!

by older mycroft

If you had stood up, dialed the number and spoken into it, it would've been a helluva lot quicker! :^0

by rob miners

that way I don't have to pretend that I know what the person from over there somewhere is saying. ;)

I had a problem and needed to call M$ once. They kept insisting that I needed a certain department, unfortunately it wasn't the department that I knew that I needed. I ended up blasting my supplier and threw the ball back into his court to get it sorted out for me. M$ had supplied the wrong CAl's from Taiwan. ;)

by thechas

The PC should be booting up to the activation screen unless Microsoft had an issue with the product key.

Normally, the activation screen gives you 2 options after the 30 day period has expired.
There should be a toll free number to call to activate and a long sequence of numbers to read off.
Or, there should be an option to activate online.

Now, if you do not get the activation screen, I would contact the vendor you got your copy of XP from. It might have been a bootleg copy and you will not be able to activate it unless you buy a new license.

Chas

by oh smeg

Doesn't matter if it's some form of XP or Vista the only option you should have available is to activate the Product. It it is a Bootleg Copy of Windows and you are seeing the WGA Screen telling you that you have Pirate Software and you are certain that it's Legit you can contact M$ and they will tell you what is required to fix the situation but this is generally a Repair Install with M$ Branded Install Disc's well for XP at least I'm not sure what is involved with Vista as I'm not in that area of the business.

But if you set up this unit you should have activated it before returning it to the end user.

As for the Important Documents these can be recovered from the Backup or you an fit this HDD to a USB Caddy and save the Data there before attempting the Repair Install of Windows. It is important that you do this as sometimes Repair Installs can fail and then you loose access to the Data on the Drive.

Col

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