Windows Activation Problem

[Fire Yoshi]

Alright, so it seems I need more computer help.

Whenever you download a new OS package onto your computer, it asks that you activate your new product, and that you have so many days to do it.  Well, it's telling me to, and i can't.  Every time I click the bubble, nothing happens.  I have three days left to "activate Windows," but will anything bad happen if i don't?  It just refuses to let me activate.

Here's another thing;

I actually had already activated windows when I used my friend's Dell XP  Service Pack 2 install disc, but then I had to send windows back in time a few days because of that dll file I had problems with.  Since it sent me back before the time I had activated my product, it thinks I need to activate it again.  The fact that I had already activated this product with my computer's serial/product number...is that the reason perhaps? 

Please let me know what to do.

[Matrilwood]

Key word "Windows"

Get a MAC, they actually work.

[DZComposer]

If online activation won't work, try activation by phone. It's an automated system, so you shouldn't be put on hold until Christmas. Punch-in your CD key, and the system will give you an activation code that you can enter into the Activation Wizard.

More info here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

Yeah, it's a PITA, but sometimes this happens.

Key word "Windows"

Get a MAC, they actually work.

Way to NOT be helpful. Don't be a fanboy. Especially on the subject of DRM. Apple has their own DRM issues like they can delete apps from iPhones and iPads without your knowledge or permission. And they have DRM in OSX that prevents it from running on non-Apple hardware.

I've also seen plenty of Macs crash in my days, so, no, they don't "just work" any more than Windows or Linux machines do.

[FoxMcCloud]

Kernel Panics always seem to be a funny sight when people have outrageous reactions to them.

Our school had a mac media lab till all the kids complained and signed a petition. Mac lab removed, then they bought very nice computers.

[Sabre]

The 'activate' thing will only work on one set of hardware. If you activated it on a friends computer, chances are it could be tied to that.

Most likely though, a roughter or anti virus issue.

[Fire Yoshi]

The 'activate' thing will only work on one set of hardware. If you activated it on a friends computer, chances are it could be tied to that.

Most likely though, a roughter or anti virus issue.

I never activated on a friend's computer.  I used a friend's cd to activate mine.

What happens when the countdown reaches zero?  Does my computer lock or or something?  I'm pretty sure it's not letting me activate because I did already. 

[DZComposer]

Did you try the phone method yet?

When activation runs out, you will no longer be able to login to the machine.

EDIT: If you used someone else's CD, you may be hosed right now. Unless you can convince someone at Microsoft's customer service that this is an error.

[Sabre]

and if you can't, but it was something you paid for, go to pirates. It's what they were made for.

[Fire Yoshi]

Well, I think I'm screwed.

Like I mentioned before, it won't even let me activate.  Why?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

This says a windows activation wizard pops up.  And again, when I click on the bubble to activate, NOTHING happens.  No windows activation wizard pops up.  My cursor shows the working in background for about 3 seconds, then stops.  No activation wizard, nothing.  So that means I can't get a phone number, since that wizard supposedly gives you one when you want it.   

Is there anything else I can do?

Don't forget what I mentioned earlier;

I had already activated windows successfully before with that Dell XP Service pack 2 cd, but because I had that dll file problem, I had to send my computer back in time before the activation process started (about a day before it happened.)  Now it's saying I never activated the product, even though I did.

[DZComposer]

Hmm... You're not failing activation because the activation wizard isn't running. You're not even getting far enough for it to check.

Try this: Start > Run ; clear the blank if something is in there and type oobe/msoobe /a into the blank. Click run. This should manually start the activation wizard.

If that fails, A little research points to IE a possible cause for that. What version of IE is on that machine?

[Fire Yoshi]

I did have 8, but it got removed after I talked with Microsoft tech support (I was able to find a number).  So now IE doesn't work...and for some reason, system restore won't work.

Will I have to just do a windows repair again or something?  Or perhaps reinstall windows again...

[Sabre]

I would suggest a wipe followed by DZs manual activation advice.

[Icy]

The same code/Windows disc can be used on more than one computer, it's just...illegal.

I don't know what your problem may have been caused by, but try DZ's suggestion.

Maybe something in the registry is preventing it from...running?

Try a registry cleaner, just a simple suggestion.

[Fire Yoshi]

Great news, I solved the activation problem! 

The windows activation wizard wasn't running because it was trying to verify my computer through the internet, using windows internet explorer.  However, the wizard was only familiar with windows explorer 7 and older.  Since I had 8, it couldn't recognize the fact that I even had an internet connection.  So what I did was uninstall 8, reinstall 7 through a backtrack update, then clicked on the activation bubble...and viola!  Product verified and activated!

But now I have another problem....well, more so an annoyance.  Ever since I got my product activated, this window keeps popping up every time I log onto my PC (see attachment below).

Anybody know how to get rid of this?  I think it might be something that's set to "auto play" when my computer boots, I'm not sure... 

Edit:  Ah crap, I uploaded the wrong image.  Give me a sec while I fix this...

Edit: Okay, this picture shows the pop-up window.

[Sabre]

It will do that if the disc is in the drive. Take it out should solve it. It's a strange thing to pop up on boot though. Also, if you have a fancy keyboard woth built in shotcuts, could be that.

[Fire Yoshi]

It will do that if the disc is in the drive. Take it out should solve it. It's a strange thing to pop up on boot though. Also, if you have a fancy keyboard woth built in shotcuts, could be that.

It's neither of those reasons...

My keyboard isn't "fancy" at all, and I never had a disc in either drive for the past few weeks. :/

[Sabre]

Just making sure to cover the common, but often overlooked mistakes.

2 programs worth looking into. CCleaner (easy to use and recommended for any machine) and the more advanced AutoRuns (Though I haven't used it in years)

CCleaner has a startup loader thing that allows you to see and turn off or delete none windows startup programs.

Autoruns is the same but you can see all the windows stuff, and turn off things like idervidual services and the like. However, if you are not knowlageable about computers it's best not to mess as it can break your windows if you turn off something like graphics drivers or the UI.