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Thread ID: 129264	2013-02-13 20:50:00	Windows re-activation	linw (53)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1327946	2013-02-13 20:50:00	What the hell has happened to the re-activation 'service'?? Because I have changed my mobo, cpu and RAM I need to re-activate W8 with Media Centre but I have been through three calls to different numbers with zero results. The first call was to the first no. on the re-activate screen (0800 676 334) and after asking for details etc he told me to ring 0800 800 004. Did this and the guy who answered asked several times what I was trying to do as if it was the first time he had heard of re-activation. Took my name ph no. email address and then put me on hold for a couple of minutes. Then he told me to search for Media Centre and run it and it would ask for a key! Then he asked about the Media Centre disk so I told him I downloaded it. With the mention of 'download' he sounded relieved saying he had no records of downloads so he told me to ring the MS Store on 0508149421 after 9am Auckland time. It being 0920 I rang. None of the options to press numbers was appropriate but I pressed one anyway. Then the canned voice said it was outside offices hours - "Goodbye". Anyone know what the hell to do? My last experience a few years ago was no problem at all. Sorry to be in rant mode but I just don't know where to go.	linw (53)
1327947	2013-02-13 20:55:00	Did you say the cpu / ram and mobo had been changed as well?? Should have told the guy it downloads MC after you put the product in then it reboots. If they dont this, they shouldnt be there working for MS!	Speedy Gonzales (78)
1327948	2013-02-13 21:25:00	Because I have changed my mobo, cpu and RAM This alone requires you to buy A NEW WINDOWS license on some versions of Win, OEM for example. What version of Win8 did you buy ?? Retail or OEM ? from memory, there were some using the Win8 Media Center Pack as a way to install Win8 for free , ie using that for piracy. So perhaps MS are being extra cautious with this ?	1101 (13337)
1327949	2013-02-13 21:28:00	Is it a retail version of windows or an OEM one? if it's OEM and tied to the hardware you can't transfer it to a new Motherboard technically. Although in practice if you convince microsoft the PC needed repairing they will often allow it. I've almost never found the windows activation service by phone to work well, having had a 5-10 min wait in a phone que end in a disconnection on one occasion and several long painfully frustrating battles with the menu system taking me around in circles as well. On the other hand one time dreading the conversation I rang the number, got an automated query asking if it was only installed on 1 PC, and done in less than 30 seconds. I've had a problem with the free offer of media centre on one of my PCs, it installs and accepts the free key but then de-activates windows and tells me the key has been used too many times. After a few attempts before the free offer expired I gave up and just re-installed without media centre - the original key still activates just fine. I'm thinking I might just pay for the media centre, it's only $20 and I got my copy of windows for that price as well so all up still pretty cheap (and I got the free media centre working on my other PC using a different E-mail & a different key so not a total failure)	dugimodo (138)
1327950	2013-02-13 21:36:00	In fact you can usually re-activate a few times, no questions asked. Ive only had an issue when an Office product key could not be re-activated as it had been used too many times. I dont try & argue with customers about licencing & activation any more, some people dont want pay for more licences when they have a single copy of Win/Office & they decide that can be installed on more PC's. MS have made this all a murky mess, no wonder joe public dont understand it all. how many times have I had this arguement ah no , that version of Office CANNOT be installed on 3 PC's, the guy at Noel Lemmings didnt know what he was	1101 (13337)
1327951	2013-02-13 21:54:00	if it's OEM and tied to the hardware you can't transfer it to a new Motherboard technically . Although in practice if you convince microsoft the PC needed repairing they will often allow it . . I've struck this with Office . Seems they changed the activation rules . Used to be you'd get the Have you removed from old PC (illogical) question and it would accept that but now, if it's new hardware, it's a new PC and therefore OEM is to be thrown in the bin and a new one purchased . I'd just say you had to do a re-install, not mention new motherboards - and see if the human will allow it .	pctek (84)
1327952	2013-02-13 22:24:00	As its been mentioned, Legally the Original Key is tied to the original hardware, mainly the motherboard. When you installed the Free Media Center it changes the actual Product key. This Free offer was ONLY available till 31st January 2013. Had the same thing happen yesterday, I have 4 free media keys, and as soon as one was installed it deactivated the previously working key. Meaning you HAD to activate the media key BEFORE 1st February, after that date it became invalid to install. Even if it were previously installed and working. Re the office comment: that version of Office CANNOT be installed on 3 PC's, the guy at Noel Lemmings didnt know what he was Thats true for most versions, except office 2010 Home and Student Boxed retail - thats 3 user. Now office 2013 is out, Home and Student is single user - if you want Multi user off the one licence you have to have office 365 which is five PCs and Macs, BUT its a subscription based that you have to renew, if the subscription runs out it goes into read only mode.	wainuitech (129)
1327953	2013-02-13 22:48:00	If you had a media key and activated it before 31/1 will it activate again. If you do a reinstall of Win8 / MC?	Speedy Gonzales (78)
1327954	2013-02-13 22:58:00	The one I had the original W8 key worked fine. I couldn't remember which media key I used before, so I used one that I hadn't used, while it said it was OK and installed media center, after a reboot it then said it wasn't OK. I'll have to locate the original Media Key that was previously activated to see what happens.	wainuitech (129)
1327955	2013-02-13 23:30:00	MS have made this all a murky mess, no wonder joe public dont understand it all. how many times have I had this arguement ah no , that version of Office CANNOT be installed on 3 PC's, the guy at Noel Lemmings didnt know what he was < Insert comments about OpenOffice \ LibreOffice and its lack of activation issues here > I'm happy with it anyway. ;)	Agent_24 (57)
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