activation

[coffeestain]

I recently restored me on an old computer. It has an error msg, "windows
product activation must be activated with microsoft". My cd is legit, came
with my compac, what do I do?

[Mike M]

One small point. I'm not clear why you posted a problem with activation
on a system probably running XP to a newsgroup supporting those having
display problems on systems running the Win Me operating system.

Turning to your activation problem. Since your PC isn't connected to the
internet you need to ring Microsoft. You will see this as an option when
you attempt to activate and you will also be told the phone number to use.
You will have to read out the long code that is displayed and then you
will be given a code to enter which then activates your system.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows

Post by coffeestain
I recently restored me on an old computer. It has an error msg,
"windows product activation must be activated with microsoft". My cd
is legit, came with my compac, what do I do?

[coffeestain]

thank you Mike I will try that. I am using ME on this one and not XP. I had
bought an upgrade to XP but it slowed it down so much I reformated it and
just put the ME back on.

Post by Mike M
One small point. I'm not clear why you posted a problem with activation
on a system probably running XP to a newsgroup supporting those having
display problems on systems running the Win Me operating system.
Turning to your activation problem. Since your PC isn't connected to the
internet you need to ring Microsoft. You will see this as an option when
you attempt to activate and you will also be told the phone number to use.
You will have to read out the long code that is displayed and then you
will be given a code to enter which then activates your system.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows

Post by coffeestain
I recently restored me on an old computer. It has an error msg,
"windows product activation must be activated with microsoft". My cd
is legit, came with my compac, what do I do?

[Mike M]

Something is very wrong if you are saying that you are running Win Me and
it asked you to activate. Win Me does not employ Windows Product
Application so if you are being asked to activate your system then I'm
guessing that you haven't fully removed XP. I'm not quite sure how that
can be the case since you mentioned formatting the disk before
reinstalling Win Me. What exactly was the message when you booted into
Win Me?

The once case that I am aware of where you might be asked to activate a
Microsoft product on Win Me is if you are using a version of Microsoft
Office that includes activation such as Office 2002 which was sold in some
markets (Australia and NZ for two) incorporating WPA.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows

Post by coffeestain
thank you Mike I will try that. I am using ME on this one and not
XP. I had bought an upgrade to XP but it slowed it down so much I
reformated it and just put the ME back on.

[coffeestain]

Well when I said reformatting, all I did was boot up from the disk and
reinstalled ME. I thought that cleaned the hard drive off by reloading a
new operating system. The exact msg. is "windows product activation must be
activated with microsoft". What should I do to ensure the hard drive is
completely wiped clean before I reinstall?

Post by Mike M
Something is very wrong if you are saying that you are running Win Me and
it asked you to activate. Win Me does not employ Windows Product
Application so if you are being asked to activate your system then I'm
guessing that you haven't fully removed XP. I'm not quite sure how that
can be the case since you mentioned formatting the disk before
reinstalling Win Me. What exactly was the message when you booted into
Win Me?
The once case that I am aware of where you might be asked to activate a
Microsoft product on Win Me is if you are using a version of Microsoft
Office that includes activation such as Office 2002 which was sold in some
markets (Australia and NZ for two) incorporating WPA.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows

Post by coffeestain
thank you Mike I will try that. I am using ME on this one and not
XP. I had bought an upgrade to XP but it slowed it down so much I
reformated it and just put the ME back on.

[Mike M]

You need to format the hard disk to rid yourself of the previous operating
system. At the moment you have an amalgam of the two and XP is in charge
and that is why it is requiring you to activate.

Have a look at the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 255867 - "How to Use
the
Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=255867) as well as the file
CLEANHD.TXT
which is in the Win 9x folder on the Win Me CD. This should help you get
started.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows

Post by coffeestain
Well when I said reformatting, all I did was boot up from the disk and
reinstalled ME. I thought that cleaned the hard drive off by
reloading a new operating system. The exact msg. is "windows product
activation must be activated with microsoft". What should I do to
ensure the hard drive is completely wiped clean before I reinstall?

[coffeestain]

Thanks again Mike, I will tackle this tomorrow. First time, wish me luck! :)

Post by Mike M
You need to format the hard disk to rid yourself of the previous operating
system. At the moment you have an amalgam of the two and XP is in charge
and that is why it is requiring you to activate.
Have a look at the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 255867 - "How to Use
the
Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=255867) as well as the file
CLEANHD.TXT
which is in the Win 9x folder on the Win Me CD. This should help you get
started.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows

Post by coffeestain
Well when I said reformatting, all I did was boot up from the disk and
reinstalled ME. I thought that cleaned the hard drive off by
reloading a new operating system. The exact msg. is "windows product
activation must be activated with microsoft". What should I do to
ensure the hard drive is completely wiped clean before I reinstall?

[Mike M]

I'm sure you won't need luck but the very best nevertheless. Remember
though that formatting the disk wipes it clean so if there is anything you
want to save you need to so first, perhaps by copying files to a floppy
after booting to DOS.

[coffeestain]

Mike I should have checked for that cleanhd.txt last night. It's not on the
cd. I did a search. I have a quick restore cd so maybe that's why. The cd
that came with my computer new would not work so they sent me a quick restore.

Post by Mike M
I'm sure you won't need luck but the very best nevertheless. Remember
though that formatting the disk wipes it clean so if there is anything you
want to save you need to so first, perhaps by copying files to a floppy
after booting to DOS.
--
Mike Maltby

Post by coffeestain
Thanks again Mike, I will tackle this tomorrow. First time, wish me luck! :)

[Mart]

"Windows Millennium Edition Cleanhd.txt File Contents"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;271673

Mart

Post by coffeestain
Mike I should have checked for that cleanhd.txt last night. It's not on the
cd. I did a search. I have a quick restore cd so maybe that's why. The cd
that came with my computer new would not work so they sent me a quick restore.

Post by Mike M
I'm sure you won't need luck but the very best nevertheless. Remember
though that formatting the disk wipes it clean so if there is anything you
want to save you need to so first, perhaps by copying files to a floppy
after booting to DOS.
--
Mike Maltby

Post by coffeestain
Thanks again Mike, I will tackle this tomorrow. First time, wish me luck! :)

[Mike M]

Thanks Mart,

I thought I had included the url in my earlier post so thanks for making
good that mistake. :-)

[Mart]

You're welcome Mike and I must admit that I was a little surprised and had
to take a double look up the thread <g> Not so much a 'mistake', more a
'senior moment' perhaps?

Mart

Post by Mike M
Thanks Mart,
I thought I had included the url in my earlier post so thanks for making
good that mistake. :-)
--
Mike

[BJ Honeycut]

Post by Mart
You're welcome Mike and I must admit that I was a little surprised and
had to take a double look up the thread <g> Not so much a 'mistake',
more a 'senior moment' perhaps?
Mart

Post by Mike M
Thanks Mart,
I thought I had included the url in my earlier post so thanks for
making good that mistake. :-)
--
Mike

wE'RE ALL GETTING THOSE, i FEAR. EG., the caps locck was just on, and I
didn't notice :)

[coffeestain]

well thanks to both the "seniors and juniors".... for your help. With a
little more from Dell I have a great working computer now. Can't believe all
what I did but couldn't of without you. Thanks so much!

Post by BJ Honeycut

Post by Mart
You're welcome Mike and I must admit that I was a little surprised and
had to take a double look up the thread <g> Not so much a 'mistake',
more a 'senior moment' perhaps?
Mart

Post by Mike M
Thanks Mart,
I thought I had included the url in my earlier post so thanks for
making good that mistake. :-)
--
Mike

wE'RE ALL GETTING THOSE, i FEAR. EG., the caps locck was just on, and I
didn't notice :)
--
"Time will bring to light whatever is hidden;
it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor."
Horace (65 - 8 BC); Roman poet.
Mike

[BJ Honeycut]

On Tue 26 Sep 2006 09:43:01p, =?Utf-8?B?Y29mZmVlc3RhaW4=?=

Post by coffeestain
well thanks to both the "seniors and juniors".... for your help. With
a little more from Dell I have a great working computer now. Can't
believe all what I did but couldn't of without you. Thanks so much!

Post by BJ Honeycut

Post by Mart
You're welcome Mike and I must admit that I was a little surprised
and had to take a double look up the thread <g> Not so much a
'mistake', more a 'senior moment' perhaps?
Mart

Post by Mike M
Thanks Mart,
I thought I had included the url in my earlier post so thanks for
making good that mistake. :-)
--
Mike

wE'RE ALL GETTING THOSE, i FEAR. EG., the caps locck was just on, and
I didn't notice :)
--
"Time will bring to light whatever is hidden;
it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor."
Horace (65 - 8 BC); Roman poet.
Thaks for thrfeedbak. that makess it aall worthwhile: you llearn frrom

us, we learn from you. Hand!