Main Topics
Browse All TopicsI replaced a motherboard in a Dell computer and reactivated after everything was finished. After a few days when it boots up, windows says I have x days to reactivate windows and asks if I want to activate it now, I select yes and when it connects to microsoft, it says it's already activated, but when it's rebooted the same message comes up. What can I do to fix this before I run out of time.
This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.
Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.
If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.
Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.
Access the answers to your technology questions today.
30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.
Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Try it out and discover for yourself.
30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.
Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.
and/or this: http://support.microsoft.c
Hi
Try this article
http://articles.techrepubl
If you want to bypass that annoying activation heres what you do. Go on to windows cd that you used to install it. Go to folder I386 and then look for the file unattend.txt. At the bottom of this file it will say "Product Key" use that number instead of the product key on the box or whatever and it will bypass the activation screen.
P.s. Make sure you get the key from right off the disc. Not the one copied to your computer during installation.
Microsoft uses windows activation according to the hardware in computers. When you activated it with your old pc it recognized the registration number with certain hardware components. Since the upgrade, and the original XP cd, you can install it and attempt to activate it, but microsoft still sees your old components. You will need to contact Microsoft and explain that you have upgraded a motherboard.
Business Accounts
Answer for Membership
by: neutron7Posted on 2006-10-09 at 17:14:02ID: 17694805
If you call them they can probably sort it out. this type of thing occasionally happens. or go to their non wonderful online help thing. i have used it on occasion and they do answer.