Activation message all the time

[Shark_Attacks]

Hey,

Whenever I turn on or restart my computer I have to keep activating windows. The message comes up...

"Windows Product Activation"
'This copy of windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log on. Do you want to activate windows now?'

So I follow the steps and enter the product key and all is well, that is until the next time I turn on the computer.
How can I get rid of this activation message once and for all?

Many thanks

[tubago]

if your windows is legal just activate it by internet, if it is not, sorry man but we dont help crackers

[Zero Tolerance]

I dont think that is the case unless you are withing the 30 day window.

Is this a new install within the last 30 days?

Windows Activation will lock you out of the PC on the 31st day without activation. Thats why I ask.

[Shark_Attacks]

No it's not a new install, it is a legit version and it randomly came up with the activation message one day and has remained ever since. It went away on it's own before and then came back again. Ill try doing it over the internet but that doesn't seem to load :(

[Zero Tolerance]

Well if that is the case...sounds to me like you have some major corruption in your registry.

Depending on how much data you have stored on the PC....I would suggest to format and reinstall the OS. Then reactivate it. You may even have to call MS to do this...just depends on when the last time you activated it online and the last time you changed any of the hardware and how much of it.

I know that most "techies" save a reformat/reinstall of the OS as a last resort. But I am starting to make it my first resort....of course if you dont have alot of data that you dont mind losing. If you look at all of the time that is spent in trying to figure out why something isnt working right....in less than that time spent a drive can be reformatted and reloaded.

Goodluck!

PS...if you want you could always try doing s System Restore in Safe Mode to a date that you knew for a fact this wasnt happening.

Or you could buy a registry tool to scan and fix your registry.

Those are 2 options you may wanna consider before a format/install.

[Shark_Attacks]

Thanks for your advice. I think Ill try doing system restore because I dont really want to loose any data. How do I access safe mode? And will I lose work I did after the date I choose to restore to?
Many thanks!

[Zero Tolerance]

You access safe mode by depressing the F8 key upon POST (rebooting at the black screen)

You may lose applications installed since the restore...but word documents and files should be ok. Nothing is 100%....so be prepared to not be too upset if you do lose a thing or two.

goodluck