Laptop Windows Activation Issue

Daemos

Anyone recommend a place that does good repairs on laptops for a reasonable price?

Sully

Whats the problem? I do laptop repairs in the South East, but it depends on the problem.

Daemos

i think it needs the os removed. it originally had windows 2000 on it, but the guy i bought it off installed xp on it. it timed out, so now i can turn the laptop on, but cant access my user account. theres nothing on it i want to keep, so if wiping the hard drive or whatever would fix it, id be fine with it.

pm me if you think you can help out.

oh, and i dont have any of the discs for it, and neither does the guy i bought it off.

toe_knee

Hi DaPoolRulz, first things first. Class name. Now onto the issue in hand. I live just outside Kilkenny in Paulstown and would be happy to have a look at the laptop for you. If you. Give me a shout if you want. I will do a free diagnosis for you and we can work out a price after that.

Daemos

Hi Tony (yes, im good at figuring out user names as well ;-) ). that would be great. i might have a few free hours this friday if youre around. send me a pm to set up a meet

Sully

What do you mean it "timed out"? If you cant login, there are ways around that without sending it in for repair.. I would also be careful if you bring it to a shop to get a new OS on it and don't pay for the license key. Iv seen a fair few cases of this where the laptop wont fully work as the license key is considered invalid.

Daemos

by timed out, i mean that it was working fine for a month, and then stopped working. what would you advise to make sure what i think is wrong is actually the problem? im seeing toe knee above this friday, unless youd be free before that?

Sully

Okay but how has it stopped working? Whats the exact problem? There is no point in any of us looking at your laptop if you can get it done for free online So ill consider moving this to the Tech forum once we have a description of the problem. If its not an easy repair, sure myself or toe_knee can take a look but lets cross that bridge later!

Daemos

OK. Basically, it was working fine, until about a month after I got it. After that it says something to the effect of "Windows must be activated". When I choose to activate it, it says that it is already active. When I then try to go into my account, it says I have to activate Windows again. And it goes on inn that circle. That's about the best way to explain it.

toe_knee

Looks like it was never activated and the installation is a dogy one. I have seen many cases where people try and fix it themselves and get a dogy copy of Windows XP and crack it. This works but is illegal. The problem arises when you do a windows update. Microsoft are constatnly lcamping down on this stuff and have patchs that are downloaded through the windows update to prevent this.

Sully

Ill move this to the Comp & Tech forum for now.

Daemos

Thanks toe knee. How can I get the update, though, if I can't access anything through the laptop, and does it cost much?

Sully

DaPoolRulz wrote: »

Thanks toe knee. How can I get the update, though, if I can't access anything through the laptop, and does it cost much?

If your key is invalid, you need to pay for a new one.

If its valid, there is no cost to validating but it seems unusual that it says its "validated" and then its "not validated".

Are you able to login to your account okay?

TheElf

Sounds like it was installed with a dodgy key, and Microsoft only black listed the key lately, meaning it would only deactivate itself now. Is there an XP sticker on the bottom of the laptop?, if the install of XP was legit, there should be a license key sticker on it somewhere. If it is you can get a new activation code from Microsoft with this, if not you'll have to buy a new key like Sully said.

But if you ring Microsoft and grovel, they sometimes will give you a new key if you convince them you hold a legit copy.

Daemos

Sully wrote: »

If your key is invalid, you need to pay for a new one.

If its valid, there is no cost to validating but it seems unusual that it says its "validated" and then its "not validated".

Are you able to login to your account okay?

no, thats the problem. whenever i try to login, it tells me to activate windows, which it already said is active.

Daemos

TheElf wrote: »

Sounds like it was installed with a dodgy key, and Microsoft only black listed the key lately, meaning it would only deactivate itself now. Is there an XP sticker on the bottom of the laptop?, itfthe install of XP was legit, there should be a license key sticker on it somewhere. If it is you can get a new activation code from Microsoft with this, if not you'll have to buy a new key like Sully said.

no, it originally had 2000 on it. the guy i bought it off put xp on himself, and doesnt have the disc anymore.

Sully

DaPoolRulz wrote: »

no, thats the problem. whenever i try to login, it tells me to activate windows, which it already said is active.

Forgive me, but activation happens after your logged in (unless its changed?). Meaning you should be able to login to your account but will then be asked to activate it. If you cant get past this area (even if it says activated - which could be just playing up), it means the key has been blacklisted. Sometimes if you ring Microsoft and explain, they might sort you out. Its what some IT Stores do - shove the same key on all repairs and hope for the best.

Best thing is to get a new license key.

toe_knee

I agree with Sully. Sounds like you need a new license key alright.

Daemos

OK, thanks. I'll ring Microsoft tomorrow, let you know what I find out.