PC fixed ... with a moral dilemma

  • Thread starter Thread starter noisedude
  • Start date Start date
noisedude

noisedude

New member
Ok so y'know we did all that trying to make my PC work ... well I dunno what the problem was but I know now that it is fixable. I installed XP on a fresh hard drive and put on the newest drivers and all that stuff and - hey presto - no problems at all!

The only problem is that Microsoft, in their wisdom, would rather I didn't have two copies of Windows in the same machine. It wouldn't let me activate, and when I emailed a technical person they advised me that my copy was only good for one installation at a time, and even if it's in the same box I can't have two instances of it.

I have a legal copy of 98SE, but I'm not sure how well Tracktion and all my other software/plugs will work in that. It's a large drive too, so should be in NTFS which 98 can't read.

What do I do? I would never have advocated cracking Windows until now ... I'm very pissed off.
 
I'm with you on this - MS's activation methodology pisses me off as well.

In your case, though, I really don't think that you have much of a moral dilemma, really, you are just working to migrate your installation, no? If that is the case, then you should be able to use the new install unactivated until you have migrated to the new install, and then blow away the old install and activate the new install.

Of course, I'm assuming I understood your situation :)
 
No - I want two hard drives in my PC, a music one and a general work, uni and games one. I have third drive for the music files themselves. So I want two instances of Windows ... same PC, same box, just two boots that I can choose between in the BIOS.
 
Ah, yes, that's a different beast. It's funny, I would not do this, but I understand why people would want to do it. I am not sure how this ought to be viewed in terms of activision.

I guess if it is not possible to use these concurrently, then you should be able to have as many copies installed as you wish. In fact, I thought that the activation problems only arose when you changed hardware significantly. How is MS to know that you aren't just re-installing? It cannot be as simple as just changing the partition, becauseI have reinstalled on numersous occasions onto new disks/partitions with nary a squeak.

Don't you love love MS?
 
The install is fine ... when I come to activate it tells me this CD-Key has already reached its maximum activation quota ... I'm like, yes, I know that, it's right here in front of me!!!!!

I'm really considering cracking it because this is ridiculous. I bought a piece of software to run on my computer and they won't let me because the software is guarded against dishonest thieves. WTF???
 
noisedude said:
The install is fine ... when I come to activate it tells me this CD-Key has already reached its maximum activation quota ... I'm like, yes, I know that, it's right here in front of me!!!!!

I'm really considering cracking it because this is ridiculous. I bought a piece of software to run on my computer and they won't let me because the software is guarded against dishonest thieves. WTF???
Click to expand...

Well that sucks... I would like to see where in the license agreement it says you can only run one install at a time...!!! Sounds like the MS employee you spoke to said that just to get you off the line....!!! I have activated windows at least 3 times using the same serial here at work using the online method...so unless you have done it like 5 times you should be able to do it again no problem...Windows doesn't know your running a Dual-Boot.... I would call them Back and ask to speak with their supervisor and tell them to point out to you where in the License Agreement it says you can only install it once??

Failing that, you should be able to get the Activation Crack off the web using any old Peer to Peer software it simply re-keys windows with a corporate CD Key that doesn't require activation...but you wouldn't do that now would ya *wink*
 
Make it very clear to the Microsofties that you lost your harddrive, that this is a clean install with a new drive using your licensed software.

Don't mention the second drive in any way shape or form. Don't take no for an answer. Demand to speak to a supervisor. Be a bastard.

It works.
 
Kid Downunder said:
I have activated windows at least 3 times using the same serial here at work using the online method...so unless you have done it like 5 times you should be able to do it again no problem
Click to expand...
No. Once. Once! It's an OEM copy that I bought with a new hard drive specifically to go legal on my OS. This experience has reminded me why I had previously refused to pay for Windows, and makes me want to smash my legal full version of Office 2003 into little pieces on the floor.

I have an old XP Pro upgrade CD (corporate edition) around somewhere ... it's not what MS would like me to do but I reckon if I install Win 98SE and everything does not run smoothly ... I'll just run the upgrade, never connect it to the net, and to hell with these slimey gits stealing my money.

I'm not very good at being a bastard on the phone ... I've worked call centres and feel too much empathy. :)
 
Oh, it's the fact tht it's an oem version that is causing you the problem. Those are designed to only be activatable on the SAME machine, and it generally can only be activated ONCE.

Just call in and tell them that your disk blew up. What Wheelma said.
 
Upgrade CD ???

It may be a longer process just intall 98 first...Then insert your upgrade CD and blow the old 98 away during the upgrade and Format it NTFS!!!

I would try doin' a Fresh install first...if its a Corporate CD it wouldn't be restricted to upgrade installs...!!!

Note: Re-OS on 2nd Harddrive...

Your gonna be better off installing the 2nd OS on the 2nd Partition of your 1st HDD...Why? well you really wanna have your Music HDD on its own Cable running as the Primary HDD...as this will mean its not sharing the Cable with the OS which will impact performance if you ever get around to runing 20 Audio tracks streamed in your Sequencer..!!

My set up is this:

HDD 1 (Primary on IDE channel 1)
Partition 1 (10gig) --- XP Music OS
Partition 2 (10gig)---- XP Web\Dev Box
Partition 3 (10gig)---- Windows 2000 Server
Partition 4 (6gig) ----- Fat32 Ghost Partition for OS backup
Partition 5 (24gig) ---- Downloads, MP3's, Software Drive (compressed)

HDD2 Primary Channel on IDE 2
Partition 1 (8gig) ---- Song Project Folder
Partition 2 (52gig) ---- Sample Folder, Mixdowns & Audio Project Archive
 
Is there anything in the way of free partition managers available nowadays? I might split that first drive like you said.

I don't know if my upgrade CD is a corporate one ... it certainly doesn't require activation like my legit copy does, but you can't fresh install with it.

I'll have a think about what to do, plan it properly.
 
M$....

I quit at 2000, I will not play their activation crap. And yes, in the EULA since 95 it states you can only run 1 copy at a time, on 1 machine at a time, and if you want to sell it you have to supply the hardware with it. You just paid $300 to rent, not own a piece of software. I dual boot with Linux for this reason. as soon as the audio end gets done enough to be EASY to use M$ can kiss off!

Sorry..........rant off.....
 
noisedude said:
Is there anything in the way of free partition managers available nowadays? I might split that first drive like you said.

I don't know if my upgrade CD is a corporate one ... it certainly doesn't require activation like my legit copy does, but you can't fresh install with it.

I'll have a think about what to do, plan it properly.
Click to expand...

Im sure you might be able to find something on ZDNET or something...But from what I saw even the Shareware ones are around $40usd...

On ebay you can get full versions of Partition Magic and Ghost $28USD.. The first thing I got when building my PC was Partition Magic, and Symantec Ghost for Backup & Recovery. It was a good investement!!!

Once again certain P2P programs might be able to help!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top