Desperate.... Please help!

[sanitystealer]

Ok.... This is a really long, really ugly story. I'm going to try my best to keep it short.

I had, a few months ago, upgraded my PC case, and along with it I upgraded from XP to vista. When I changed cases, I removed the floppy drive.

I just recently got a 2407, and I wanted to squeeze as much performance out of my 7800gtx so I decided to downgrade back to XP.

This is where the problems start. Windows will not recognize my SATA raid(nf4) so I used a slipstreamed CD, and it installed great. Until I went to upgrade my video diver. At which point, I find that my OS drive has been assigned to F, instead of C. No biggie, I'll reinstall (I'm a perfectionist). And I did. Ok.

Got it reinstalled. Everything is normal... Cool. I install WoW, all the patches, Burning Crusade, and activate windows. Then I reboot.

At which point I am greeted with "You must activate your version of windows to log in"

... um

huh?

So I attempt to activate over the internet... says it cannot. Ok, I've seen weirder... So I call to activate it. Things go (relatively) smoothly on the phone, and it says "Thank you for registering!" Then puts me at the login screen. I eagerly click my name to log in aaaand....

"You must activate your version of windows to log in"

AAAAAAAH What?

So, after an ass ton of messing around (including numerous reinstalls that I won't further bother you with) I am here. Afraid to reboot. I have no idea what to do from here.

please help me

pleasepleaseplease

All together, I figure I've been working on this for about 10 hours straight. I am going insane... :(

please help!!

[Finn]

Call the activation number and request for a person.

[sanitystealer]

I've done this - and activated windows over the phone. However, even after activation, it asks me to activate. When I try to activate it *again* over the phone, I click "ok" in the "You must activate to login" box, and it immediately says that it is already activated and puts me back to the login screen (where I started, and where it asks me to activate again).

[Cassinator]

Have you spoken to a person at Microsoft or just the automated crap?

[Flyboat]

You can try this

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312295

[sanitystealer]

Tried it :P :(

I don't have any script interference.

[sanitystealer]

anyone else have any ideas?

[Flyboat]

I have a similar problem with office XP activation. I solved the problem by clearing the CMOS.

Another thing you can try is to add floppy drive back and see what happen.:)

[sanitystealer]

I have not tried clearing CMOS - so wish me luck!

I have confirmed that this is not an issue with my product key, because I have bought a new key(doh) and i still get the same problem.

I have also reinstalled a floppy drive - and I still get the same problem.

I really hope the CMOS clear will help (I have a good feeling about it).

EDIT: I have also tried talking to mcrosoft, but they will not f[provide me free tech support. If I want their help I gotta pay 60 bucks. ARG

[sanitystealer]

CMOS clear doesn't seem to have helped.

When you cleared CMOS, did you do a new install? What exactly was the problem you were having, and what exactly did you do to solve it?

I'm so incredibly frustrated.... please help

[sanitystealer]

OK - update - mostly for future reference if anyone else ever has this problem...

I think the problem is the dell OEM disk I am using to install from. I was using a Dell OEM cd, and then entering my legit authorization key afterwards. Apparently(hopefully), there is a key embedded into the dell cd that was causing a conflict. Unfortunately, the slipstreamed xp cd was also created from the dell cd, so it had the same problem.

I'll give you an update when I try the install from a new CD.

[Flyboat]

I did reinstall of Office XP after I clear the CMOS

[RadRob]

The XP disc and the XP key have to match.

Meaning that if you are using a XP retail disc you need an XP retail Key, if you are using a XP OEM disc you need an XP OEM Key, furthermore, the options expand exponentially, you have to take into account weather it is Home or Professional/retail or OEM edition.

But I will also re-iterate what other have questioned, and that is when you call the activation number, do not just go through the automated process, talk with someone (from the call center) and get the activation code that way.
I have had to do this before as well, and I have gotten attitude from the call center tech. because the activation code is telling them that my copy is not legitimate or has been activated too many times when I know that is legitimate (just purchased).