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Windows Forum / Windows XP / Basics / January 2007Re-Activate Windows
I rebooted my PC this morning and got a message saying that I had to re-activate windows within 3 days. Anybody see this before I never downloaded anything & have had same XP Pro for 3 + years, & cannot remember the License number now. Any Ideas Bruce Reboot your computer into "Safe Mode". While in Safe Mode, rename the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files located in the \Windows\system32 folder. This will force activation on the following boot, but should remove the message that you are already activated message. Sometimes if these files get corrupted, they can cause this type of problem.  SignatureCarey Frisch Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User Microsoft Community Newsgroups news://msnews.microsoft.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | I rebooted my PC this morning and got a message saying that I had to | re-activate windows within 3 days. | Anybody see this before I never downloaded anything & have had same XP Pro | for 3 + years, & cannot remember the License number now. | Any Ideas | Bruce Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote: > Reboot your computer into "Safe Mode". > While in Safe Mode, rename the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files located in the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > but should remove the message that you are already activated message. > Sometimes if these files get corrupted, they can cause this type of problem. Translation: WPA is flawed and the only people made to suffer are paying customers while the crackers ROTFLTAO. Alias Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote: > Reboot your computer into "Safe Mode". > While in Safe Mode, rename the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files located [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > message. Sometimes if these files get corrupted, they can cause > this type of problem. > Translation: WPA is flawed and the only people made to suffer are > paying customers while the crackers ROTFLTAO. Actually - depending on how the "crackers" *fixed* their system.. Carey's solution may help them as well. *grin* SignatureShenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html What do the files get renamed to? Should I try and re-activate also? What is WPA? Thanks for your help so far B > Reboot your computer into "Safe Mode". > While in Safe Mode, rename the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files located in the [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > | Any Ideas > | Bruce WPA= Windows Product Activation see this info http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm You can rename the files Carey mentioned to anything you want. I'd suggest wpa1.old wpa2.old Yes reactive when prompted to do so. SignatureHarry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User] > What do the files get renamed to? > Should I try and re-activate also? [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> | Any Ideas >> | Bruce I renamed the file but I did not have a wpa.bak file nothing changed until I activated windows again, I still don't know what caused it to do that. Thanks for your help Bruce > WPA= Windows Product Activation see this info > http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >>> | Any Ideas >>> | Bruce >I renamed the file but I did not have a wpa.bak file nothing changed until I >activated windows again, I still don't know what caused it to do that. [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >>>> | Any Ideas >>>> | Bruce Why is anyone even worried about re-activating XP? As long as it's the same machine (i.e., the same motherboard) on which XP was orignally activated, there will be no problems. (This is for OEM media). OEM licenses allow one to reactivate the OS as MANY TIMES AS IS NECESSARY, as long as it is the ORIGINAL MACHINE it was first activated on. Even then, if one waits the full 120 days before reactivating the software via the net, there should be no questions asked, even with a NEW motherboard. I have NEVER had to call the Activation Center to activate an OEM, nor have I EVER been denied an activation via the Net. With Full Retail media, you can reactivate your license on ANY machine, since the license is transferable between machines (but only one at a time, of course). Howeve, if you have XP already already activated on a DIFFERENT MACHINE, be preapared for a load of problems when you go to attempt to activate the OS on a different machine. Donald L McDaniel Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread, so that the conversation may continue undisturbed. ========================================================= >> I renamed the file but I did not have a wpa.bak file nothing changed until I >> activated windows again, I still don't know what caused it to do that. [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > orignally activated, there will be no problems. (This is for OEM > media). I just changed/upgraded the motherboards on two of my machines, both running a generic OEM. Both activated on line no problem. Alias This is getting away from original post. Originally I said that all of a sudden when I rebooted a warning box came up stating I had 3[Three] Days to activate XP Pro. I have had the same program for 2+ years and only had to activate once and have never seen this message before. It doesn't have anything to do with installing xp or worrying about it I just wanted to know where it came from and if it would shut me down after 3 days, but I was too chicken to wait the 3 days Bruce >>I renamed the file but I did not have a wpa.bak file nothing changed until >>I [quoted text clipped - 60 lines] > so that the conversation may continue undisturbed. > ========================================================= > This is getting away from original post. > Originally I said that all of a sudden when I rebooted a warning box [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > from and if it would shut me down after 3 days, but I was too chicken > to wait the 3 days Had similar problem, twice, a couple of days ago. First time I activated via the internet, second time via the phone. Microsoft rep could offer no explanation but advised me to ring same number if it happened again for further reactivation. So, no wiser. Regards Joe Steele >This is getting away from original post. >Originally I said that all of a sudden when I rebooted a warning box came up [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] >> so that the conversation may continue undisturbed. >> ========================================================= I don't know why, but I've never had this problem at all. As I said, I've never had problems activating a Generic OEM via the Net, IF I waited the full 120 days before attempting to reactivate. But even then, I've ALWAYS been able to reactivate a single Generic copy on the same machine via the Net as often as I needed to. However, I've never installed a single copy of the OS on two or more machines at the same time (not accusing you of doing that, so please don't get all bent out of shape.) Donald L McDaniel Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread, so that the conversation may continue undisturbed. ========================================================= I had the same thing last week. In my case, I added a new Vid Card, DVDRW and a SCSI card. MS told me that this is their way of preventing piracy. Evidently, XP (and 2K3) have algorythms that determine activation is necessary if there is a significant change in the hardware of the system. I suppose this helps to eliminate GHOSTing or CLONEing a system??? Okay, so like I says to MS, I've paid good money for this silly thing and you prevent honest people from upgrading or otherwise changing the system dynamics, to which they replied - "That's simply the way it is. We need to protect our intelectual and copywright material" - so okay!!! NOT. So the moral here is to NOT change the systemn too much (the exact changes are not known, but you will soon find out). BTW: when re-activating, do not try to do it on the phone (via the silly girl answering machine). Go to a real person otherwise you will spend an inordinant amount fo time trying to do this automaticall, then will have to wind up waiting about 25 minutes to get i t re-activated - Waiting and Wondering.... Quite Annoying >I rebooted my PC this morning and got a message saying that I had to >re-activate windows within 3 days. > Anybody see this before I never downloaded anything & have had same XP Pro > for 3 + years, & cannot remember the License number now. > Any Ideas > Bruce >I had the same thing last week. In my case, I added a new Vid Card, DVDRW >and a SCSI card. MS told me that this is their way of preventing piracy. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >dynamics, to which they replied - "That's simply the way it is. We need to >protect our intelectual and copywright material" - so okay!!! NOT. If people were honest then there would no need for activation and similar processes. And if pigs had wings they could fly. Flying pigs is the more likely scenario. >So the moral here is to NOT change the systemn too much (the exact changes >are not known, but you will soon find out). Actually the exact changes that will trigger a requirement to reactivate Windows are quite well known. See, for example, the article by the late Alex Nichol MVP at http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm >BTW: when re-activating, do not try to do it on the phone (via the silly >girl answering machine). Go to a real person otherwise you will spend an [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Quite Annoying At least 99 and 44/100 percent of the times that I have to do a reactivation on a client's computer it is done automatically via the Internet with minimal delay and no problems. Good luck Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada SignatureMicrosoft MVP (1997 - 2006) On-Line Help Computer Service http://onlinehelp.bc.ca "Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never been in bed with a mosquito." <snip> > Okay, so like I says to MS, I've paid good money for this silly thing and > you prevent honest people from upgrading or otherwise changing the system [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > So the moral here is to NOT change the systemn too much (the exact changes > are not known, but you will soon find out). <snip> Nothing is preventing the user from upgrading or changing system components. With enough changes the need to reactive is triggered - but that doesn't prevent you from making changes. SignatureRock MS MVP Windows - Shell/User > <snip> > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > components. With enough changes the need to reactive is triggered - but > that doesn't prevent you from making changes. I had this problem today.Yesterday I changed my old CD-rom with the new DVD-rom.And today it said that I have to re-active Windows within 3days.I filled the old SN but it's denied.I must fill the new one.You said that nothing is preventing user to upgrade.So can you show us how to change or upgrade without this kind of problem! >> <snip> >> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> components. With enough changes the need to reactive is triggered - but >> that doesn't prevent you from making changes. > I had this problem today.Yesterday I changed my old CD-rom with the new > DVD-rom.And today it said that I have to re-active Windows within 3days.I > filled the old SN but it's denied.I must fill the new one.You said that > nothing is preventing user to upgrade.So can you show us how to change or > upgrade without this kind of problem! I don't know what you mean by "I filled the old SN but it's denied". I must fill the new one." Just because the OS needs to be reactivated doesn't mean you can't upgrade. If you are saying it wouldn't activate over the net then call in the activation from the phone number provided. Here's some info on product activation. Windows Product Activation (WPA) on Windows XP http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm Are you the OP? If not you shouldn't post a new question as a reply to another thread. Post a new thread and if needed quote any other messages that you think apply. SignatureRock [MVP - User/Shell] |
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