Learned a useful trick
I had to repair Windoze on one of my machines because several things weren't working right.
I used a key finder to get the product key because I didn't want to pull the box out from its cubbyhole on the desk. But when all was said and done, I got a "windows needs to be activated" message.
I knew it probably wouldn't work, but I tried the online activation. No surprise, it didn't work (hasn't worked for many years, I forget how long). So I went to choice 2, calling the toll free number.
I had to read the 9 groups of 6-digit numbers to the automated system, and thankfully it was mostly ok with my voice. Then it told me my copy couldn't be activated.
So I shut things down, moved a bunch of stuff and pulled out the computer the read the product key sticker. Sure enough, it was different. Which meant that the number the key finder had given me was an OEM "volume" key which had likely been compromised at some time.
I wrote it down and put everything back. Then when I got back to the activation screen, I did something it said noty to do unless asked to do by a tech. I clicked on the "change product key" button. I figured it was worth trying rather than taking an hour or more to do another "repair" installation.
It gave me a different set of 9 6-digit numbers. I wasn't so lucky with the voice recognition this tiome. When it offered the "if you have a smart phone" option, I decided top try it even though I don't have one. I was hoping that the text message it would send me would let me reply with the string of numbers. No such luck. But it did give me a link to "click" on. since I *don't* have a smart phone, I couldn't click on it. But since I had another system that was working just fine. I carefully copied all those numbers, and switched to that system.
then I typed in the link. It got me a usable screen and I entered the numbers. It gave me an activation code, which I dutifully wrote down. Switching back to the system that needed activation, I entered them. They were accepted. *Yay*.
I hope this "trick" will be useful to other folks who have a phone that can get text messages and have a second computer near the one that needs to be activated
This entry was originally posted at http://kengr.dreamwidth.org/1050728.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
I used a key finder to get the product key because I didn't want to pull the box out from its cubbyhole on the desk. But when all was said and done, I got a "windows needs to be activated" message.
I knew it probably wouldn't work, but I tried the online activation. No surprise, it didn't work (hasn't worked for many years, I forget how long). So I went to choice 2, calling the toll free number.
I had to read the 9 groups of 6-digit numbers to the automated system, and thankfully it was mostly ok with my voice. Then it told me my copy couldn't be activated.
So I shut things down, moved a bunch of stuff and pulled out the computer the read the product key sticker. Sure enough, it was different. Which meant that the number the key finder had given me was an OEM "volume" key which had likely been compromised at some time.
I wrote it down and put everything back. Then when I got back to the activation screen, I did something it said noty to do unless asked to do by a tech. I clicked on the "change product key" button. I figured it was worth trying rather than taking an hour or more to do another "repair" installation.
It gave me a different set of 9 6-digit numbers. I wasn't so lucky with the voice recognition this tiome. When it offered the "if you have a smart phone" option, I decided top try it even though I don't have one. I was hoping that the text message it would send me would let me reply with the string of numbers. No such luck. But it did give me a link to "click" on. since I *don't* have a smart phone, I couldn't click on it. But since I had another system that was working just fine. I carefully copied all those numbers, and switched to that system.
then I typed in the link. It got me a usable screen and I entered the numbers. It gave me an activation code, which I dutifully wrote down. Switching back to the system that needed activation, I entered them. They were accepted. *Yay*.
I hope this "trick" will be useful to other folks who have a phone that can get text messages and have a second computer near the one that needs to be activated
This entry was originally posted at http://kengr.dreamwidth.org/1050728.html. Please comment there using OpenID.