Just today after I restarted my PC - i get the message in the toolbar to activate my copy of windows - this is ive been using this computer for years and its only just came up now?? - I have a legit copy and has been registered back in the day so what could cause this message coming up now? I had been having issues setting up my wireless internet today - I downloaded a bit of software to test the internet speed - could something be hiding in this at all?? - i done virus scan, spybot - didnt find anything - done system restore and this didnt work. Think is after I downloaded this software - my Netgear smartwizard didnt open so I had to reinstall it again any help would be appreciated
Can you roll back to the last good restore point? If so, do that and save the "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak". They can be found in "C:\Windows\System32\". Save them in another folder or drive. As long as you don't change your system's configuration, you can reuse these files. Now, next time this happens, you can restart in Safe Mode and replace these files with the saved ones. You can even reload Windows. After reformatting and reinstalling, select NO when asked if you want to activate Windows now. Start in Safe Mode and replace the "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" back in the System32 folder. Of course as a last resort, you can give Microsoft a call and they will help you reactivate. I've done this numerous times.
If you're getting the reactivate message, either you have corrupted file(s)or you've changed your computer's configuration enough to cause a required reactivation. If you don't fully understand the activation process, go here http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php I strongly dislike Windows activation, but it's a fact of life. But if your computer has been running for as long as you say, your activation on the MS database is gone (past the 120 day data retention period) and you're back to three gratis activations. Why not just reactivate and move on? Like I said, it's a fact of life. Kind of like brushing your teeth...no fun but necessary. And if you ever do exceed the three gratis activations, which I have on several problematic systems, just make the phone call and get on with it. They'll ask a couple of questions and restore your three gratis activations. All this assumes you have genuine MS software. If you have pirated software, well.... you're on your own.
Well thanks for the advise - and yes my copy of windows is a proper copy - the activation messgae has now gone which is odd???
Then I'd just forget the whole thing unless it happens again and doesn't go away. It is Windows you know. Personally Ubuntu is looking mighty tempting.
