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I hate WindowsXP Activation
ArcSyn
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So my wife's computer crashed pretty badly yesterday, and so I took my computer (which had been having some problems) and made a hybrid between the two of them to get something that would work.
My wife's hard drive wouldn't boot into Windows at all, but mine would, however, because I've re-tooled my hardware so many times, I had to call MS support. Whatever, I suck it up and do it.
First off, you can't just get a person, you have to listen to the computer recommend you use the internet (I can't 'cause I can't even get my network drivers till you let me in!) and then you have to attempt to have the computer activate windows for you, which it won't because I've gone through my 3 activations. Then I have to speak to someone in INDIA a freakin' long number code just so they can give me a slightly shorter number code in response.
No problem, I do it. Whatever, it's a one-time thing I won't have to do again for a while.
I start installing drivers for my motherboard, and it comes up again! Now I've got 3 days left on an activation I JUST ACTIVATED!
I tried calling MS, went through the whole computer BS again, and then after it tells me it's connecting me to a human, has the nerve to tell me they can't take my call right now, please try back later.
LATER? When later? After my 3 days are up and I'm stuck without a computer?!
Now, I understand you have to protect your media MS, I understand you want to put us through BS because we actually paid you money. I understand that NORMAL people wouldn't have to deal with this, but SERIOUSLY. You wonder why people crack your software programs and its because they don't feel like learning a foreign language just to get Windows re-activated every time they upgrade their computer!
I'm not condoning piracy, but this is just freakin' ridiculous. Vista had better have better support and learning profiles so it can tell what you actually are doing and not make me reactivate it every time I swap out a secondary hard drive or install my RAID drivers.
I'd buy a Mac in a second if I could afford it. MS is cheap, but they screw you in support. Macs are expensive, so they just screw you in your wallet.
My wife's hard drive wouldn't boot into Windows at all, but mine would, however, because I've re-tooled my hardware so many times, I had to call MS support. Whatever, I suck it up and do it.
First off, you can't just get a person, you have to listen to the computer recommend you use the internet (I can't 'cause I can't even get my network drivers till you let me in!) and then you have to attempt to have the computer activate windows for you, which it won't because I've gone through my 3 activations. Then I have to speak to someone in INDIA a freakin' long number code just so they can give me a slightly shorter number code in response.
No problem, I do it. Whatever, it's a one-time thing I won't have to do again for a while.
I start installing drivers for my motherboard, and it comes up again! Now I've got 3 days left on an activation I JUST ACTIVATED!
I tried calling MS, went through the whole computer BS again, and then after it tells me it's connecting me to a human, has the nerve to tell me they can't take my call right now, please try back later.
LATER? When later? After my 3 days are up and I'm stuck without a computer?!
Now, I understand you have to protect your media MS, I understand you want to put us through BS because we actually paid you money. I understand that NORMAL people wouldn't have to deal with this, but SERIOUSLY. You wonder why people crack your software programs and its because they don't feel like learning a foreign language just to get Windows re-activated every time they upgrade their computer!
I'm not condoning piracy, but this is just freakin' ridiculous. Vista had better have better support and learning profiles so it can tell what you actually are doing and not make me reactivate it every time I swap out a secondary hard drive or install my RAID drivers.
I'd buy a Mac in a second if I could afford it. MS is cheap, but they screw you in support. Macs are expensive, so they just screw you in your wallet.
ArcSyn on
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You don't understand though. I JUST called them. Activated Windows.
I install some drivers for my motherboard (No hardware was changed) and it asks for activation again.
I didn't even get a wait time, or queue. It just said call back later, and hung up on me. If I have to call to activate Windows, they had better make it available 24/7/365.
That's what upsets me. Windows should know I just activated it, it should know that I installed drivers then rebooted, and not get all hissy about a new active RAID controller. I shouldn't have to call MS just to ok using my own computer.
If I was put in a queue, at least then I could stick it on speaker and wait and I wouldn't have a problem with it, but now I have to read off the install ID again to the computer which is just more time than I feel like dealing with doing right now.
All I want is a computer I can work on. Sorry if it seems like overreacting, but MS just pisses me off at times.
When you don't do it that way and the activation fails and asks for a new key or to phone in, put your key in again (and fail it once more) or it will give you a faulty activation number. I'm not sure why this is, but after 2 hours on support with them, I tried re-entering my key before retrying the over the phone activation wizard and it worked.
When they say later, they don't mean wait a day. Their activation server goes down from time to time and usually you can call back in an hour and be activated. They cannot say no to activating your copy, provided it is legit. Just tell them hardware failure or virus and that it is only installed on one machine. I have done this dozens of times and never been refused.
If you want to save the hassle of activation, get a free (or buy) cloning utility and make a dvd image of your freshly updated and activated install. If you ever run into trouble again, just use your mirror image and you won't have to activate again, provided it is the same hardware.
Yeah. They've seemed pretty nice to me. It's only taken me about ten minutes max and they always give me a new ID. I've never been refused.
This is why I avoid OEM licenses like the plague.
Man, can't even install DirectX until I activate this thing.. Ugh, calling in.
You have to go through the same computer voice bullshit every time you call... it takes a few minutes just to get to the part where you tell it you want to speak to a representative. And then to be told that you have to call back, and deal with the computer again... damn, it's annoying. I'm just lucky that the XP that came with my laptop doesn't have to be activated... ever.
Nothing's forgotten, nothing is ever forgotten
Considering I've had a computer since Apple II through 286 and DOS, to 386, 486, 686, Pentium, up to now, and owned every generation of Windows (minus NT, 2k, and 2k3) I think I've been using Windows long enough to realize that MS is big enough and has enough money to realize that they need to keep their s* supported considering their user-base.
Trust me, I would jump ship immediately if I could afford it.
UPDATE: Activated. Now to see if it does it again later. oi. Now to get my EVE on.
By the way, if you must call MS today: "We are experiencing a high call volume right now" so expect to wait about 15min before someone picks up.
I... I can't believe I hadn't done this before.
Thank you, oh computer god
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
Yes, it's a real time-saver. I would be using it but I'm creating a hybrid computer between my wife's parts and mine to create a super-machine!
Alternatively, backup/restore your activation status. I have mine saved on a USB key I carry everywhere.