Activated too many times.

[bilzmale]

I installed Win 7 OEM a few months ago but have had a lot of stability problems with my PC. I have done 3 or 4 fresh installs and about 4 or 5 upgrade installs.

On the latest fresh install it is returning an error message Code 0xC004C008 which translates that I have used all my install attempts.

I have checked the registry entries HL_Loc_Mach/Software/MS/Win/currentversion/setup/OOBE/MediaBootInstall and it is set to zero.

I have tried the automated phone activation and it also tells me 'too many times'. I got connected to an operator (with a dreadful accent) but that was then disconnected.

Before I contact Microsoft again does anyone have advice? Are MS likely to reset my Activation count or will they expect me to pay for a new Product Key?

PS PC is now stable thanks to advice from this forum.

 

[Bill2]

Call MS. Thats the only option.

 

[Barman58]

As Bill2 has said - Contact Microsoft and take time to explain the full story - you should be OK.

I would also add that anyone with ongoing issues such as yourself should consider not registering the key and activating the product on each install straight away - Use the rearm procedure to get 120 days of use for testing the changes fully, only activating when you are sure that things have settled.

 

[smarteyeball]

I got connected to an operator (with a dreadful accent) but that was then disconnected.

Unfortunately, like others have mentioned, contacting MS again is your only recourse.

With any luck, you may actually get to speak to somebody that is easy to understand/ talk to and be able to explain your situation fully.

 

[logicearth]

I personally never activate Windows. I run in that 120 day period. Every 30 days I normally reinstall Windows on my computers. I do this to clean up the mess I usually make on my computers, so for me it is to my advantage to never activate. I do own licenses for each copy I only withhold inputting the serial keys. As far as I recall, it is legal to run Windows this way.

I never have to worry about activation limits or upgrading Hardware issues.

 

[bilzmale]

Thanks for the advice - will contact MS and plead my case. Can someone clarify the re-arm procedure of 120 days?

Bill

 

[Jonathan_King]

Sure, open an elevated command prompt and enter slmgr -rearm.

See this tutorial if you need more: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/875-activation-trial-period-extend-up-120-days.html

 

[Tews]

The ultimate solution (IMHO) is to create a backup image of your system as soon as you have it setup... you can restore the image as many times as you want without having to worry about activation.. Good luck!

 

[steve-pressman]

Tews is spot on with that advice, first thing I do when I have my rig running the way I want is a full image


Steve

 

[Kari]

I personally never activate Windows. I run in that 120 day period. Every 30 days I normally reinstall Windows on my computers. I do this to clean up the mess I usually make on my computers, so for me it is to my advantage to never activate. I do own licenses for each copy I only withhold inputting the serial keys. As far as I recall, it is legal to run Windows this way.

I never have to worry about activation limits or upgrading Hardware issues.

I know quite a many users who are doing it in your way. Regular re-installs keep the computer clean, that's true.

If the user has a valid license, it's IMO up to that user how and when to activate. However, EULA makes it quite clear that bypassing activation by re-installing or any other way is not allowed:

4. MANDATORY ACTIVATION.

Activation associates the use of the software with a specific computer. During activation, the software will send information about the software and the computer to Microsoft. This information includes the version, language and product key of the software, the Internet protocol address of the computer, and information derived from the hardware configuration of the computer. For more information, see go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=104609.

By using the software, you consent to the transmission of this information. If properly licensed, you have the right to use the version of the software installed during the installation process up to the time permitted for activation. Unless the software is activated, you have no right to use the software after the time permitted for activation.

This is to prevent its unlicensed use. You are not permitted to bypass or circumvent activation. If the computer is connected to the Internet, the software may automatically connect to Microsoft for activation. You can also activate the software manually by Internet or telephone. If you do so, Internet and telephone service charges may apply. Some changes to your computer components or the software may require you to reactivate the software. The software will remind you to activate it until you do.

Of course, in reality Microsoft has no way to control this. But, as I said above, it is very clearly against the EULA.

Kari

 

[Bill2]

I personally never activate Windows. I run in that 120 day period. Every 30 days I normally reinstall Windows on my computers. I do this to clean up the mess I usually make on my computers, so for me it is to my advantage to never activate. I do own licenses for each copy I only withhold inputting the serial keys. As far as I recall, it is legal to run Windows this way.

I never have to worry about activation limits or upgrading Hardware issues.

I know quite a many users who are doing it in your way. Regular re-installs keep the computer clean, that's true.

If the user has a valid license, it's IMO up to that user how and when to activate. However, EULA makes it quite clear that bypassing activation by re-installing or any other way is not allowed:

4. MANDATORY ACTIVATION.

Activation associates the use of the software with a specific computer. During activation, the software will send information about the software and the computer to Microsoft. This information includes the version, language and product key of the software, the Internet protocol address of the computer, and information derived from the hardware configuration of the computer. For more information, see go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=104609.

By using the software, you consent to the transmission of this information. If properly licensed, you have the right to use the version of the software installed during the installation process up to the time permitted for activation. Unless the software is activated, you have no right to use the software after the time permitted for activation.

This is to prevent its unlicensed use. You are not permitted to bypass or circumvent activation. If the computer is connected to the Internet, the software may automatically connect to Microsoft for activation. You can also activate the software manually by Internet or telephone. If you do so, Internet and telephone service charges may apply. Some changes to your computer components or the software may require you to reactivate the software. The software will remind you to activate it until you do.

Of course, in reality Microsoft has no way to control this. But, as I said above, it is very clearly against the EULA.

Kari

I dont see how it is against the EULA, unless 30 days is mentioned somewhere in the body of the EULA (I confess I havent read the whole thing). All the EULA says is that the software can be used upto the time permitted for activation. In case of Win7, 120 days are allowed before activation becomes manadatory.

Microsoft confirmed that "-rearm" can be used as many as three times by Windows 7 users to avoid activation. "This means [that] a total of 120 days total time is available as a grace period to customers that take advantage of -rearm," said a company spokeswoman.
Nor is extending the grace period a violation of the Windows 7 End User License Agreement (EULA), the spokeswoman said.

Source:

Windows 7 will run 120 days for free, Microsoft confirms - Computerworld

 

[bilzmale]

Thanks again folks. Have emailed MS including my earlier posts about bsods. Let's see if they have a heart. Have read the OEM uela and can't find a reference to limiting the number of activations.

Will give them 48 hrs and then try a phone contact.

Bill

 

[Kari]

I dont see how it is against the EULA, unless 30 days is mentioned somewhere in the body of the EULA (I confess I havent read the whole thing). All the EULA says is that the software can be used upto the time permitted for activation. In case of Win7, 120 days are allowed before activation becomes manadatory.

Microsoft confirmed that "-rearm" can be used as many as three times by Windows 7 users to avoid activation. "This means [that] a total of 120 days total time is available as a grace period to customers that take advantage of -rearm," said a company spokeswoman.
Nor is extending the grace period a violation of the Windows 7 End User License Agreement (EULA), the spokeswoman said.

Source:

Windows 7 will run 120 days for free, Microsoft confirms - Computerworld

It's quite clearly against EULA. Nobody is talking about 30 days, as you said MS allows you to rearm it a couple of times.

But after that, paragraph 4 of EULA is quite clear, stating that you have no right to use the software after the time permitted for activation, which with re-arms is 120 days. The next sentence clarifies that: You are not permitted to bypass or circumvent activation.

In my opinion it could not be said more clearly.

Kari

 

[Barman58]

Thanks again folks. Have emailed MS including my earlier posts about bsods. Let's see if they have a heart. Have read the OEM uela and can't find a reference to limiting the number of activations.

Will give them 48 hrs and then try a phone contact.

Bill

(Hghlight Mine )

Just one point here if this is a copy of windows supplied by the PC manufacturer the first contact point would be the manufacturer as the activation methods are different for the OEM versions

 

[Bill2]

I dont see how it is against the EULA, unless 30 days is mentioned somewhere in the body of the EULA (I confess I havent read the whole thing). All the EULA says is that the software can be used upto the time permitted for activation. In case of Win7, 120 days are allowed before activation becomes manadatory.

Microsoft confirmed that "-rearm" can be used as many as three times by Windows 7 users to avoid activation. "This means [that] a total of 120 days total time is available as a grace period to customers that take advantage of -rearm," said a company spokeswoman.
Nor is extending the grace period a violation of the Windows 7 End User License Agreement (EULA), the spokeswoman said.

Source:

Windows 7 will run 120 days for free, Microsoft confirms - Computerworld

It's quite clearly against EULA. Nobody is talking about 30 days, as you said MS allows you to rearm it a couple of times.

But after that, paragraph 4 of EULA is quite clear, stating that you have no right to use the software after the time permitted for activation, which with re-arms is 120 days. The next sentence clarifies that: You are not permitted to bypass or circumvent activation.

In my opinion it could not be said more clearly.

Kari

OK, I thought you meant rearming is a violation of EULA.

 

[bilzmale]

PROBLEM SOLVED: I rang MS and spoke to someone who connected me direct to phone activation support person. I read my 54 digit activation ID and they gave me a new 54 digit code to activate. Apparently will have to do this if any hardware upgrades in the future ask for reactivation (I plan a new MB and HDD).

I panicked a bit because the first on-screen option given when the activation did not work was to buy a new code. Phone support was their last option. Will know next time.