"Windows must be reinstalled to activate"

When I boot my computer, I'm getting a message that says "Windows must be
reinstalled to activate. Insert the Windows installation DVD or CD into your
computer to begin the reinstallation process."

I do not want to reinstall Windows because it is already installed and
configured the way I want it, and has been working just fine for months.
Prior to this error, I had been having memory problems, so I was alternately
removing my two memory modules to determine which one is the problem. Now
Windows won't boot with either of them installed, or both.

How do I fix this without reinstalling Windows?

You most likely will not be able to resolve this without reinstalling
Windows. Part of the product activation scheme introduced with Windows
XP was the creation of what has been termed a "hardware hash" of the
system configuration, akin to an MD5 checksum for downloaded files.

If your hardware changes significantly within a rolling 120-day period,
it can trigger a request to reactivate and/or reinstall Windows. It is
possible that with all of the RAM swapping you were doing to
troubleshoot your problem, you unintentionally triggered the WPA system
- especially if you had added or removed any hardware in the last 2-3
months.


The only other option would be to either reinstall from a backup image
if you have one available, or attempt to boot into Safe Mode, and then
try to perform a system restore from within the OS.


--
tntoak
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tntoak's Profile: http://winvistaclub.com/forum/member.php?userid=96
View this thread: http://winvistaclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18112

there is no work round im aware of ....

is this a recent prompt...? if so maybe you could try a system restore

is there no way you can re activate it over the phone ....?
if not i think a re install maybe the only option left..

sorry


--
skunksmash

E2180 @ 3.2ghz
arctic cooler pro 775
4GB gskill HZ @ 1050mhz
Asus P5K premium
160GB seagate 7200
coloursit 600w psu
PNY 8800GT 512mb

"drew" <drew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B9FD8B1E-C570-4C61-80FA-75F21828EBD2@microsoft.com...
> When I boot my computer, I'm getting a message that says "Windows must be
> reinstalled to activate. Insert the Windows installation DVD or CD into
> your
> computer to begin the reinstallation process."
>
> I do not want to reinstall Windows because it is already installed and
> configured the way I want it, and has been working just fine for months.
> Prior to this error, I had been having memory problems, so I was
> alternately
> removing my two memory modules to determine which one is the problem. Now
> Windows won't boot with either of them installed, or both.
>
> How do I fix this without reinstalling Windows?

If you Google the error message you will see a lot of info about it,
with potential fixes.

I did that first...and visited several of the results and none of the advice
I found was worth anything.

"Ian D" wrote:

>
> "drew" <drew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B9FD8B1E-C570-4C61-80FA-75F21828EBD2@microsoft.com...
> > When I boot my computer, I'm getting a message that says "Windows must be
> > reinstalled to activate. Insert the Windows installation DVD or CD into
> > your
> > computer to begin the reinstallation process."
> >
> > I do not want to reinstall Windows because it is already installed and
> > configured the way I want it, and has been working just fine for months.
> > Prior to this error, I had been having memory problems, so I was
> > alternately
> > removing my two memory modules to determine which one is the problem. Now
> > Windows won't boot with either of them installed, or both.
> >
> > How do I fix this without reinstalling Windows?
>
> If you Google the error message you will see a lot of info about it,
> with potential fixes.
>
>
>

If you computer does boot after posting the message - open system
properties - select the option to change the product key - type in the
original key and try activation.


"drew" <drew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B9FD8B1E-C570-4C61-80FA-75F21828EBD2@microsoft.com...
> When I boot my computer, I'm getting a message that says "Windows must be
> reinstalled to activate. Insert the Windows installation DVD or CD into
> your
> computer to begin the reinstallation process."
>
> I do not want to reinstall Windows because it is already installed and
> configured the way I want it, and has been working just fine for months.
> Prior to this error, I had been having memory problems, so I was
> alternately
> removing my two memory modules to determine which one is the problem. Now
> Windows won't boot with either of them installed, or both.
>
> How do I fix this without reinstalling Windows?

It does not allow me to access to Windows at all. The dialog with the
message just has a 'close' button, and the system logs off and the same
message reappears. It never goes to the desktop.

"AJR" wrote:

> If you computer does boot after posting the message - open system
> properties - select the option to change the product key - type in the
> original key and try activation.
>
>
> "drew" <drew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B9FD8B1E-C570-4C61-80FA-75F21828EBD2@microsoft.com...
> > When I boot my computer, I'm getting a message that says "Windows must be
> > reinstalled to activate. Insert the Windows installation DVD or CD into
> > your
> > computer to begin the reinstallation process."
> >
> > I do not want to reinstall Windows because it is already installed and
> > configured the way I want it, and has been working just fine for months.
> > Prior to this error, I had been having memory problems, so I was
> > alternately
> > removing my two memory modules to determine which one is the problem. Now
> > Windows won't boot with either of them installed, or both.
> >
> > How do I fix this without reinstalling Windows?
>
>
>