I got that big Star from Microsoft

[Stuart Legg]

My PC took a lightning hit.
I salvaged the Hard drive and put it into a PC I put together with spare parts.
I registered my legal WindowsXP that was on the hard drive over the net.
Everything worked fine for about a week and then I was informed that my WindowsXP was not legal and of course nothing to do with Bill Gates will work on my computer.
They charge $59 plus tax for tech for even email for WindowsXP.
Without going through tech their only solution is to buy Vista.
Can this be fixed or should I just buy another computer and use this hard drive as a back up?

[Stuart Legg]

I should explain the big Star. It's the big blue star icon that appears on your desk top that informs you that your going to have to bend over for Bill Gates again.

[Jack Stoner]

I'm surprised they charge just to validate or reactivate Windows XP, never heard of that before. But, you have to call a special phone number, not the regular "tech support" for reactivations.

There is usually a phone number with the activation notice that you are to call.

[Wiz Feinberg]

I'm surprised they charge just to validate or reactivate Windows XP, never heard of that before.

There is usually a phone number with the activation notice that you are to call.

That is my experience as well. I have never read anywhere that a person holding a legitimate license for Windows XP would have to pay to reinstall and re-activate that product key. Somebody has misled our O.P.

[Stuart Legg]

Thanks for your replies Wiz and Jack.
This is my first experience with this problem. I clicked on the star and followed their instructions and They ask me to download two plugins and then it reverts right back to the desktop star all over again. I click on the star and try something different and go right to support and I answer all the questions and I wind up in the Pay $59 for help section. Every thing else I try I wind up in a place where you can buy a legal version of vista. The DVD player was working fine before I got the notice but after the notice the PC would not recognize that drive and my "run" would not work so I couldn't repair, reload or register my legal software. Thankfully I have a program that will delete those delete resistant files. And I went in and got rid of the windows files that were giving me this crap star and the crap that came with it and now My PC works fine. I'm going to reregister my legal WindowsXP. I'm sure I'll get the same crap again next week.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Stuart asked for help reactivating his legally purchased copy of XP, not for alternative operating system recommendations, thus, I deleted two off-topic replies.

[Jack Stoner]

HERE is a Microsoft KB article on activating Windows. It may help with the problem.

[Jeff Hyman]

Stuart,

I am not a skilled Windoze user and find this type of problem typical in the MS world. I have a few questions.

1. What was the special program you used to delete those hard-to-delete files?

2. What were the file names you deleted? ... and how did you determine what the correct file names were?

3. Doesn't MS have some type of license certificate where you can replug in the numbers and its relicensed?

Again... I'm not skilled at MS and only use it when absolutely mandatory.

[Stuart Legg]

Wiz, I think you should submit whatever you feel like replying at the time and if it's off topic so be it.

Jack, thank you for that referal. I was in there when my PC crashed but thank you for reminding me.

Jeff, I sent you an email regarding questions 1 & 2.
As for question no.3. Yes I did get the 2 plugins that would fix windows if it were in the same PC that I purchase the windowsXP. Since it was not in same PC it was originally installed in the plugins just confirmed for them that my XP was not legal.

It appears that my PC might have crashed during the process of re registering my XP and that has cause the registration process to be incomplete. I believe that they caused the crash. Of course this is just my opinion and not a proven fact.

It is strange that my DVD player would not work I could not open "run" and most of my programs would not work properly.
I deleted 2 files out of windows and my computer worked fine.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Wiz, I think you should submit whatever you feel like replying at the time and if it's off topic so be it.

Those replies were recommending that you change your entire operating system and applications to Linux. This doesn't help you reinstall and reactivate Windows, which is what you are trying to do.

If you want to investigate other operating systems you can start a new topic and we'll discuss those options.

[Walter Killam]

Hi Stuart,

You will want to take a look at your Windows Registration number (Hold down your Start key with your left hand & tap your Pause/Break Key with your right) if you have an OEM anywhere in the registration number:

xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx

call up MS and explain that you have an OEM copy of windows and they will gladly help you activate your system after transferring you 5 or 6 times. That is all that they will do for free, but they will help with activation.

If on the other hand you have a reg number that looks like this:

xxxxx-640-xxxxxxx-xxxxx

They will not help, but will recommend purchasing a new OS.

the 3 characters in question show the distribution channel for windows and will determine the support you are entitled to.

Let me know if this helps or hinders!

[Stuart Legg]

Walter, I took it back out of the box and hooked her up and held down the start and Pause Break keys and it shows I have an -OEM-.
Right now Bo and I have to much stuff in our music workshop to setup another PC, so this ones going out to the country Studio and I'll have to work on the registration later.
I will let you know as soon as I get it registered. Thank you and the rest of you guys for your help.
I think I have enough Info and Beer now to get er done.
It's so crowded I have to put my laptop on the break table and Bo hates it when he don't have a place to sit down and have his coffee and donuts.