What happened to the Activation Server ?? Where is it ??

My old hard disk crashed, so I had to re-install XP all over again.

In the installation process, there's a step called "activation".

Since I am using a genuine Microsoft XP, I want to activate my XP. The
only problem is, for the past 3 days, whenever I click on the
"Activate Windows" button, I end up at the error message:

"Unable to establish a connection with the activation server"

I mean, I _AM_ONLINE_ here ! I'm posting this message via
google_groups, for crying out loud !

If I'm not online, I won't be able to post ANYTHING !

I'm located OUTSIDE the U.S. of A. so there's no "toll-free telephone
number" that I can call, so the only option for me to activate this XP
is thru the Net.

Can anyone here please tell me where that "activation server" is
located? I mean, its IP address? Maybe I'll just go straight to that
server and do the activation.

I've tried, for the past 3 days, to do activation, and for the past 3
days, I kept getting that silly "unable to establish a connection with
the activation server" error.

I just can't help but wonder if Microsoft did forget to pay their ISP ?

On Feb 5, 6:00 pm, pg <pen...@catholic.org> wrote:
> My old hard disk crashed, so I had to re-install XP all over again.
>
> In the installation process, there's a step called "activation".
>
> Since I am using a genuine Microsoft XP, I want to activate my XP. The
> only problem is, for the past 3 days, whenever I click on the
> "Activate Windows" button, I end up at the error message:
>
> "Unable to establish a connection with the activation server"
>
> I mean, I _AM_ONLINE_ here ! I'm posting this message via
> google_groups, for crying out loud !
>
> If I'm not online, I won't be able to post ANYTHING !
>
> I'm located OUTSIDE the U.S. of A. so there's no "toll-free telephone
> number" that I can call, so the only option for me to activate this XP
> is thru the Net.
>
> Can anyone here please tell me where that "activation server" is
> located? I mean, its IP address? Maybe I'll just go straight to that
> server and do the activation.
>
> I've tried, for the past 3 days, to do activation, and for the past 3
> days, I kept getting that silly "unable to establish a connection with
> the activation server" error.
>
> I just can't help but wonder if Microsoft did forget to pay their ISP ?

Just a followup ...

Regarding that "unable to establish a connection with the activation
server" error, I did a search, and Microsoft have a page ( at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816897 ) describing the problem. They
offer 3 workarounds to solve the problem.

I read the thing, and I had to tell you that I don't know what Method
#1 really mean. It's written in English but it really read like Greek
to me.

Method #2 is out, for I'm not in U. S. of A. No Toll-Free telephone
call for me.

So I took Method #3.

Did everything that page told me, unclick both the "Check for
publisher's certificate revocation" and the "Check for server
certificate revocation (requires restart)" settings. Clicked "Apply".
Then Reboot.

After reboot, power up the IE again, and then try to activate the XP.

Same error message ! Again, they are telling me that that stupid
activation server can't be reached.

Man, what am I supposed to do??

Can anyone explain the Method #1 to me, please ?

I really don't know what they mean by "Method 1: Do Not Use Basic
Authentication"

Please help ! Thanks !!

Hi pg,

Error Message: Unable to Establish a Connection with the Activation Server.
Please Check Your Network...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=306153



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

"pg" <> wrote in message
news:509a764c-7b91-4ae0-bbe9-...
> My old hard disk crashed, so I had to re-install XP all over again.
>
> In the installation process, there's a step called "activation".
>
> Since I am using a genuine Microsoft XP, I want to activate my XP. The
> only problem is, for the past 3 days, whenever I click on the
> "Activate Windows" button, I end up at the error message:
>
> "Unable to establish a connection with the activation server"
>
> I mean, I _AM_ONLINE_ here ! I'm posting this message via
> google_groups, for crying out loud !
>
> If I'm not online, I won't be able to post ANYTHING !
>
> I'm located OUTSIDE the U.S. of A. so there's no "toll-free telephone
> number" that I can call, so the only option for me to activate this XP
> is thru the Net.
>
> Can anyone here please tell me where that "activation server" is
> located? I mean, its IP address? Maybe I'll just go straight to that
> server and do the activation.
>
> I've tried, for the past 3 days, to do activation, and for the past 3
> days, I kept getting that silly "unable to establish a connection with
> the activation server" error.
>
> I just can't help but wonder if Microsoft did forget to pay their ISP ?

On Feb 5, 6:19 pm, "Patti MacLeod" <pam...@nospamshaw.ca> wrote:
> Hi pg,
>
> Error Message: Unable to Establish a Connection with the Activation Server.
> Please Check Your Network...http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=306153
>
> Regards,
>
> --
> Patti MacLeod
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User


Thanks for the link !

Apparently it was the date that trip up the activation process ...
when I was changing HD, for some reason that battery got loose, and
the date reverted back to 1-1-2000. Now that I change the date, the
activation page stopped giving me that "unable to connect" thing
already.

However, another problem crops up.

Perhaps just now when I got that "unable to connect" error message, I
hit the "Retry" button too many times. Now I got this error message -

"According to our records, the number of times you can activate
windows with this product key has been exceeded ..."

Well...

I got thie copy of Genuine Microsoft Issued XP with my PC purchase,
back in 2003 or so. This is my own PC, nobody else uses it.

I reformatted the old HD and re-install XP a couple of times, due to
various virus/malware infection. Then the old HD dies. I got a new HD,
re-install the XP, and now I got this "exceed the number of times of
activation" error.

What exactly does Microsoft wants me to do ??

Does that mean, although I got a Genuine Microsoft Product, I am not
allow to use my own XP anymore ??

I understand Microsoft's need to prevent piracy, but this thing ... it
is just TOO MUCH !

pg <> crashed Echelon writing
news:5a7e34df-afb6-46c9-85ca-:

> "According to our records, the number of times you can activate
> windows with this product key has been exceeded ..."
>
> Well...
>
> I got thie copy of Genuine Microsoft Issued XP with my PC purchase,
> back in 2003 or so. This is my own PC, nobody else uses it.
>
> I reformatted the old HD and re-install XP a couple of times, due to
> various virus/malware infection. Then the old HD dies. I got a new HD,
> re-install the XP, and now I got this "exceed the number of times of
> activation" error.
>
> What exactly does Microsoft wants me to do ??

It means according to Microsoft you may have activated your product too
many times and can only activate through Telephone.
And do bear in mind, MS does have toll free numbers outside USA (the world
is bigger than 1 Country)

> Does that mean, although I got a Genuine Microsoft Product, I am not
> allow to use my own XP anymore ??

No

> I understand Microsoft's need to prevent piracy, but this thing ... it
> is just TOO MUCH !

Why? It is a system made to protect Microsoft and your license of their
software.

--
Bjarke Andersen

On Feb 5, 6:53 pm, pg <pen...@catholic.org> wrote:
> On Feb 5, 6:19 pm, "Patti MacLeod" <pam...@nospamshaw.ca> wrote:
>
> > Hi pg,
>
> > Error Message: Unable to Establish a Connection with the Activation Server.
> > Please Check Your Network...http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=306153
>
> > Regards,
>
> > --
> > Patti MacLeod
> > Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User
>
> Thanks for the link !
>
> Apparently it was the date that trip up the activation process ...
> when I was changing HD, for some reason that battery got loose, and
> the date reverted back to 1-1-2000. Now that I change the date, the
> activation page stopped giving me that "unable to connect" thing
> already.
>
> However, another problem crops up.
>
> Perhaps just now when I got that "unable to connect" error message, I
> hit the "Retry" button too many times. Now I got this error message -
>
> "According to our records, the number of times you can activate
> windows with this product key has been exceeded ..."
>
> Well...
>
> I got thie copy of Genuine Microsoft Issued XP with my PC purchase,
> back in 2003 or so. This is my own PC, nobody else uses it.
>
> I reformatted the old HD and re-install XP a couple of times, due to
> various virus/malware infection. Then the old HD dies. I got a new HD,
> re-install the XP, and now I got this "exceed the number of times of
> activation" error.
>
> What exactly does Microsoft wants me to do ??
>
> Does that mean, although I got a Genuine Microsoft Product, I am not
> allow to use my own XP anymore ??
>
> I understand Microsoft's need to prevent piracy, but this thing ... it
> is just TOO MUCH !


A further follow-up !

Intrigue by what has happened to me, I went to google and did a
search. This is what I found:

www.tomshardware.com/forum/21363-45-activation

The guy stayed in Malta. No Microsoft office there. The nearest
Microsoft representative is stationed in Lebanon, so he had to call
Lebanon to get things rolling.

The thing about Microsoft is that they do not care about the
customers. Maybe the customers who live inside the U.S. of A had it
easy ... all you need to do is to place a toll-free call. Not so for
the rest of us.

There's an adage "Customer is always right" .. apparently Microsoft
never think that way.

If I had known that Microsoft placed a limit on HOW MANY TIMES I CAN
RE-INSTALL THE XP, I would have bought a Mac.

Really !

I mean, if I buy a car, and if the manufacturer put a limit on how
many miles I can drive that car, I wouldn't have bought it.

It is TOTALLY RIDICULOUS for Microsoft to treat customers that way.
The way Microsoft sees their customers is that we are all criminals -
Guilty under proven innocent.

If there weren't so many viruses, malware, spyware and whatever wares
out there that infect Windows so easily, I wouldn't have to re-format
my HD and re-install the XP.

Do you think it's easy to re-install XP ?? The re-installation takes
about 30 minutes or so. Then the online activation and update. That'll
take another 5 hours or so, assuming everything goes well. If
something screws up, then it'll take longer, or like my case, I can't
even activate my own copy of XP.

Shooooot ! I think I'll go buy that Mac. To hell with Microsoft !

On Feb 5, 7:09 pm, Bjarke Andersen <bjarke.ander...@gmail.com> wrote:
> pg <pen...@catholic.org> crashed Echelon writingnews:5a7e34df-afb6-46c9-85ca-:
>
> > "According to our records, the number of times you can activate
> > windows with this product key has been exceeded ..."
>
> > Well...
>
> > I got thie copy of Genuine Microsoft Issued XP with my PC purchase,
> > back in 2003 or so. This is my own PC, nobody else uses it.
>
> > I reformatted the old HD and re-install XP a couple of times, due to
> > various virus/malware infection. Then the old HD dies. I got a new HD,
> > re-install the XP, and now I got this "exceed the number of times of
> > activation" error.
>
> > What exactly does Microsoft wants me to do ??
>
> It means according to Microsoft you may have activated your product too
> many times and can only activate through Telephone.
> And do bear in mind, MS does have toll free numbers outside USA (the world
> is bigger than 1 Country)

Just a question ... how often do you live OUTSIDE of the U.S. of A. ??

Do you know in how many countries in THIS world - assuming you still
live in one - Microsoft don't offer toll-free telephone number ? Do
you know that in many countries in this world, yeah, the SAME world,
Microsoft don't even have any office there ?

Talk about ignorance, and talk about arrogance !

pg <> crashed Echelon writing news:5c7337cc-62d4-4bae-
a063-:

> Do you know in how many countries in THIS world - assuming you still
> live in one - Microsoft don't offer toll-free telephone number ? Do
> you know that in many countries in this world, yeah, the SAME world,
> Microsoft don't even have any office there ?
>
> Talk about ignorance, and talk about arrogance !

Are you talking about your own ignorance.

A little Googling and Visit to Microsoft gave 3 number for Malaysia (your
posting host is in Malaysia, so my guess is you are located there)

65-6324-8098 Toll Number
00-800-2468-1668 Toll free
1-800-88-6295 MS Licensing in Malaysia

Now call these numbers and ask them, instead of your trolling.

--
Bjarke Andersen

You crossposted to Windows Update newsgroup. How does this pertain to
Windows Update?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

pg wrote:
> My old hard disk crashed, so I had to re-install XP all over again.
>
> In the installation process, there's a step called "activation".
>
> Since I am using a genuine Microsoft XP, I want to activate my XP. The
> only problem is, for the past 3 days, whenever I click on the
> "Activate Windows" button, I end up at the error message:
>
> "Unable to establish a connection with the activation server"
>
> I mean, I _AM_ONLINE_ here ! I'm posting this message via
> google_groups, for crying out loud !
>
> If I'm not online, I won't be able to post ANYTHING !
>
> I'm located OUTSIDE the U.S. of A. so there's no "toll-free telephone
> number" that I can call, so the only option for me to activate this XP
> is thru the Net.
>
> Can anyone here please tell me where that "activation server" is
> located? I mean, its IP address? Maybe I'll just go straight to that
> server and do the activation.
>
> I've tried, for the past 3 days, to do activation, and for the past 3
> days, I kept getting that silly "unable to establish a connection with
> the activation server" error.
>
> I just can't help but wonder if Microsoft did forget to pay their ISP ?

"pg" <> wrote in message
news:509a764c-7b91-4ae0-bbe9-...
> My old hard disk crashed, so I had to re-install XP all over again.
>
> In the installation process, there's a step called "activation".
>
> Since I am using a genuine Microsoft XP, I want to activate my XP. The
> only problem is, for the past 3 days, whenever I click on the
> "Activate Windows" button, I end up at the error message:
>
> "Unable to establish a connection with the activation server"
>
> I mean, I _AM_ONLINE_ here ! I'm posting this message via
> google_groups, for crying out loud !
>
> If I'm not online, I won't be able to post ANYTHING !
>
> I'm located OUTSIDE the U.S. of A. so there's no "toll-free telephone
> number" that I can call, so the only option for me to activate this XP
> is thru the Net.
>
> Can anyone here please tell me where that "activation server" is
> located? I mean, its IP address? Maybe I'll just go straight to that
> server and do the activation.
>
> I've tried, for the past 3 days, to do activation, and for the past 3
> days, I kept getting that silly "unable to establish a connection with
> the activation server" error.
>
> I just can't help but wonder if Microsoft did forget to pay their ISP ?

Do you have a firewall? If so check that it is not blocking the connection.