Will Microsoft rip me off again?

[+Warwagon MVC]

I would prefer not to need the extra hardware.   I already have 3 drives and all 3 are used for other OS's.  They're also different sizes.

 

Also and I feel I keep repeating this....

 

Forget the formating... I do have another computer that I almost never format. 

 

But you did say on page one "Often... I do format often."

 

As for my suggestion above and Nick H's comment as well,  regardless if it does not fix your issue at hand  it will save you time on which ever machine is getting formatted that frequently.

[TAZMINATOR]

Do you really think there is no activation limit? I could activate 2 times every hour for years and not have any issues?

 

every hour?  what the hell are you doing? you format every hour? On same computer?

 

If so, you must be visiting bad sites or porn sites.

[GOD666]

Why do you keep saying forget formatting? That is THE ISSUE here. Nothing else. Every time you format, you start the activation process again. Having as many activations as you have, MS might flag it.

You have to think, even if they do use a hardware ID, people can probably hack it.

So no. We won't just forget about the formatting. That is the root cause.

Adobe had a system where you could only activate a few times a month or year.

Other software does this too.

It is not the root cause because the other computers are not formated like my test system.  So removing my test system and focusing on my other computers that are never formated.... Your argument becomes invalid.

 

That is why we should move away from the idea of to many formats, because it does not apply to all my computers.

every hour?  what the hell are you doing? you format every hour? On same computer?

 

If so, you must be visiting bad sites or porn sites.

Someone else said that... I did not.

But you did say on page one "Often... I do format often."

 

As for my suggestion above and Nick H's comment as well,  regardless if it does not fix your issue at hand  it will save you time on which ever machine is getting formatted that frequently.

Again, let's move away from the formating...

 

Yes, 1 of my computers is formated often.

No, not all of them

 

So this issue is beyond the formating.

[xWhiplash]

every hour? what the hell are you doing? you format every hour? On same computer?

If so, you must be visiting bad sites or porn sites.

Take a look at my post again. I DO NOT do that. It was a hypothetical situation showing that MS MIGHT have activation limits.

[Ambroos]

I'm pretty sure Microsoft starts complaining after over 10 reinstalls with the same key a year. I think I read something about that on TechNet Plus back in the Vista days. Giving them a ring usually helps, unless you've far exceeded your limits.

 

But, there's one easy solution. If you're not sure your install is going to last, install with one of the keys matching your Windows edition from this page instead: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx

 

With those keys (yes, Microsoft provides them) I think you can run a month or at least two weeks without issues, and then you can still just activate with your regular Windows key afterwards. If you're 'just testing' an installation, don't bother activating. You've bought the license, who cares if you use the grace period instead?

[TAZMINATOR]

Take a look at my post again. I DO NOT do that. It was a hypothetical situation showing that MS MIGHT have activation limits.

 

Ah... I get it now. my bad.. I thought you were doing that.. 

 

And I have no idea what the limit for activation.. 

[TAZMINATOR]

Someone else said that... I did not.

 

I was not talking to you about that.

 

I thought he was doing that every hour but I get it now... he was wondering about the activation limit.

[GOD666]

I'm pretty sure Microsoft starts complaining after over 10 reinstalls with the same key a year. I think I read something about that on TechNet Plus back in the Vista days. Giving them a ring usually helps, unless you've far exceeded your limits.

 

But, there's one easy solution. If you're not sure your install is going to last, install with one of the keys matching your Windows edition from this page instead: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx

 

With those keys (yes, Microsoft provides them) I think you can run a month or at least two weeks without issues, and then you can still just activate with your regular Windows key afterwards. If you're 'just testing' an installation, don't bother activating. You've bought the license, who cares if you use the grace period instead?

I think this solution is best suited for my test system.  

 

I would however still need to figure out the issue with my other computer which isn't formated regularly. 

[winrez]

1) Is there a CFO on the outside of the case?

 

2) are you using an HP restore DVD or standard Windows DVD?

 

3) If there is no CFO on the outside how are you obtaining a key (like through jellybean keyfinder ext.)?

 

4) Are you using the original motherboard? OEM boards are usually tied to it, so if you use a key or HP restore DVD it will trip activation after the grace period.

 

5) are you clean installing by using just the upgrade DVD?

 

6) have you let anyone else work on the machine or taken it to a repair shop (I have seen keys lifted at both repair places and by employees of places like best buy)

 

Since you do own a copy of Windows along with an upgrade I would do the upgrade trick, clean install your upgraded copy of Windows by booting off the DVD or USB thumb drive you make, don't enter the cd key then run setup again from in Windows this time enter your upgrade key.

 

As all the other posters have recommended I would use an image

1) install windows

2) install all updates ( reboot after each update until it doesn't offer you any more)

3) then if any drivers are missing install them ( reboot check for any more updates)

4) download the Malicious Software Removal Tool manually and do a full scan located here   http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/malware-removal.aspx

5) Check and make sure Windows is activated if not manually tell it to

6) Create an image of your Windows installation (do this before adding any other software or OS's via multiboot) Note: either purchase one or use a open source one but make sure it is not a commercial one through anywhere but the company that makes it (no warez) also have the software verify it when it creates it (takes longer but who wants to do all that for a corrupted copy)

7) Install software you use.

 

Hope that helps

[Clirion]

Last but not least, have you run MGADiag?  If so, what do the logs tell you?

If not, run it and look at the logs.  It does a pretty decent job of telling you why it is not genuine.

[Dutchie64]

If you're reinstalling over 10 times a year, why bother with registration? You get some free time after the install, that would be more enough time to test things.

 

Now you're just making it hard on yourself it seems....

[Jim K Global Moderator]

It is not the root cause because the other computers are not formated like my test system.  So removing my test system and focusing on my other computers that are never formated.... Your argument becomes invalid.

 

That is why we should move away from the idea of to many formats, because it does not apply to all my computers.

Someone else said that... I did not.

Again, let's move away from the formating...

 

Yes, 1 of my computers is formated often.

No, not all of them

 

So this issue is beyond the formating.

 

I think you're suffering from PEBKAC (or maybe PEBCAK).  Now that I think about it ... it is fairly common.  Has windows spit out an Error 18?

[GOD666]

1) Is there a CFO on the outside of the case?

On the computer I bought from HP, yes.

On the one I built, no.

 

2) are you using an HP restore DVD or standard Windows DVD?

I stop using the HP Restore long ago when they labeled my copy invalid.

I've been using the standard Windows CD / DVD

 

3) If there is no CFO on the outside how are you obtaining a key (like through jellybean keyfinder ext.)?

Via the retail packaging

And

Via the key Microsoft themselves provided

 

4) Are you using the original motherboard? OEM boards are usually tied to it, so if you use a key or HP restore DVD it will trip activation after the grace period.

Yes on the HP

No, the other PC I built

 

5) are you clean installing by using just the upgrade DVD?

I've tried both.

 

6) have you let anyone else work on the machine or taken it to a repair shop (I have seen keys lifted at both repair places and by employees of places like best buy)

No.

 

Since you do own a copy of Windows along with an upgrade I would do the upgrade trick, clean install your upgraded copy of Windows by booting off the DVD or USB thumb drive you make, don't enter the cd key then run setup again from in Windows this time enter your upgrade key.

 

As all the other posters have recommended I would use an image

1) install windows

2) install all updates ( reboot after each update until it doesn't offer you any more)

3) then if any drivers are missing install them ( reboot check for any more updates)

4) download the Malicious Software Removal Tool manually and do a full scan located here   http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/malware-removal.aspx

5) Check and make sure Windows is activated if not manually tell it to

6) Create an image of your Windows installation (do this before adding any other software or OS's via multiboot) Note: either purchase one or use a open source one but make sure it is not a commercial one through anywhere but the company that makes it (no warez) also have the software verify it when it creates it (takes longer but who wants to do all that for a corrupted copy)

7) Install software you use.

 

Hope that helps

This will not currently work as none of them will currently validate... I guess I could try this if I bought another copy... again.

[Intersect]

On the computer I bought from HP, yes.

On the one I built, no.

 

I stop using the HP Restore long ago when they labeled my copy invalid.

I've been using the standard Windows CD / DVD

 

Via the retail packaging

And

Via the key Microsoft themselves provided

 

Yes on the HP

No, the other PC I built

 

I've tried both.

 

No.

 

This will not currently work as none of them will currently validate... I guess I could try this if I bought another copy... again.

you have full retail copys of windows 7 and 8 so contact microsoft and ask for help they will issue you with new keys if need be.

[TAZMINATOR]

you have full retail copys of windows 7 and 8 so contact microsoft and ask for help they will issue you with new keys if need be.

 

He said he was told/redirected to buy a copy... 

[link6155]

Er what thats not true at all.

I've clean installed Windows 8 a few times and my media center key works just fine. It's tied to your hardware ID, if you change too much of your hardware (I believe its CPU, GPU and HDD but I could be wrong) then it triggers a re-activation and you'll have to call MS to get it sorted.

I was referring to the free media center pack Microsoft offered when windows 8 was released. I redeemed the offer on all my pc and now only 2 of my pc has it as the rest I had to do a clean install.

[adrynalyne]

I was referring to the free media center pack Microsoft offered when windows 8 was released. I redeemed the offer on all my pc and now only 2 of my pc has it as the rest I had to do a clean install.

Problem solved. The keys are no longer valid for activation since the promo ended.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

I was referring to the free media center pack Microsoft offered when windows 8 was released. I redeemed the offer on all my pc and now only 2 of my pc has it as the rest I had to do a clean install.

 

You can re-activate the media center key again perfectly fine.

 

Install Windows 8 as normal and activate, then use the Media Center key. When activation fails simply call Microsoft and they will re activate it.

 

I have changed motherboard in that time and been able to re-activate both Windows 8 and the free media center add-on perfectly fine, all I had to do is call Microsoft and do the phone activation, never even had to speak to anyone.

[xendrome]

Wait wait,

Currently testing Windows 10 Technical Preview. It has become invalid.

How is this even possible? Everyone is using the same key.

Either A: You are doing something to cause this.

or B: You are just trolling the forums.

[TAZMINATOR]

Wait wait,

How is this even possible? Everyone is using the same key.

Either A: You are doing something to cause this.

or B: You are just trolling the forums.

 

I know right!   He must be trolling or he's using a piracy copy with Windows 10 on top of it which I think.

[#Michael]

By far...my favorite thread of the day to be reading through. 

[LightEco]

But I do like testing and debugging new toys.  It's people like me that help make it so people like yourself, can enjoy stable software (you're welcome), by finding bugs and pointing out issues others may have missed

 

I wouldn't want software that was beta tested by someone who doesn't following standard testing procedure of using temp VMs or making system image backups and restoring state, not installing on their production machine and just reformatting every week.

[tompkin]

As all the other posters have recommended I would use an image

1) install windows

2) install all updates ( reboot after each update until it doesn't offer you any more)

3) then if any drivers are missing install them ( reboot check for any more updates)

4) download the Malicious Software Removal Tool manually and do a full scan located here   http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/malware-removal.aspx

5) Check and make sure Windows is activated if not manually tell it to

6) Create an image of your Windows installation (do this before adding any other software or OS's via multiboot) Note: either purchase one or use a open source one but make sure it is not a commercial one through anywhere but the company that makes it (no warez) also have the software verify it when it creates it (takes longer but who wants to do all that for a corrupted copy)

7) Install software you use.

 

Hope that helps

This......

[GOD666]

Wait wait,

How is this even possible? Everyone is using the same key.

Either A: You are doing something to cause this.

or B: You are just trolling the forums.

C, neither.

 

The one with Windows 10 I used "as is".... No formatting or reinstalling.  I applied updated and surf the web, share phones... ie.. basic usage.   It became deactivated during reboot (power off for the night,  then turning it back on to discover it was deactivated)

I know right!   He must be trolling or he's using a piracy copy with Windows 10 on top of it which I think.

No, fresh install using the ISO provided on one.  Upgrade on the other.

[xendrome]

C, neither.

 

The one with Windows 10 I used "as is".... No formatting or reinstalling.  I applied updated and surf the web, share phones... ie.. basic usage.   It became deactivated during reboot (power off for the night,  then turning it back on to discover it was deactivated)

No, fresh install using the ISO provided on one.  Upgrade on the other.

 

That won't happen under normal usage, guys does anyone even know if the Windows 10 TP even needs activation?

 

You are definitely doing something wrong here, you claim it's happening on more then one system. The common denominator here is you.