OK, I think I can maybe do this first…
Put this into oobetimer.reg (don’t include the # lines):
#—START—
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents]
“OOBETimer”=hex:ff,ff,ff,ff,ff,ff,ff
#—END—
Put it in c:\
EDIT: I think I stupidly looked in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft[b]Windows[/b]\Current Version\ instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft[b]WindowsNT[/b]\Current Version. Stupid me, I’ll check again tonight.
OK, well, I HAD looked in the wrong place in the registry. Got the right place yesterday and managed to get the Activation Wizard up and running. Changed the Serial Number, but no go, cos the serial number I have is for Home Edition, and the disk I have is Pro. Need to source a Home Edition CD. Never mind, I’ve just stuck Windows 2000 in, which I believe is perfectly legal if you have a licence to install XP (Correct me if I’m wrong).
Did not think there was any relationship between the two licence programs.
Did not think there was any relationship between the two licence programs.[/quote]
I believe if you want to specifically buy Windows 2000 for any reason, you pay for an XP licence and are allowed to use earlier versions. (Could be wrong though).
It’s certainly out here.
Anyone know how to get rid of the balloon that pops up constantly?
It’s certainly out here.
Anyone know how to get rid of the balloon that pops up constantly?[/quote]
Yeah, I know two:
I knew I was going to get both of those answers. 
It’s certainly out here.
Anyone know how to get rid of the balloon that pops up constantly?[/quote]
Yeah, I know two:
[/quote]buying a license does not help, you have to agree that your computer sends out a lot of info to M$ about your computer and probabl yourself to get rid of the pop-up bubble.
Well, I thought I’d do it first. 
Seriously though. I’m thinking the time for workarounds is coming to an end. However, if that changes, I’m sure Ratlung will be the first to tell us. 
Well, I thought I’d do it first.
Seriously though. I’m thinking the time for workarounds is coming to an end. However, if that changes, I’m sure Ratlung will be the first to tell us. :p[/quote]
I will try to find a work around once I have some more time. I am sure it does not take much, just like the online update thing.
There are a few ways to delete the program mentioned here: theinquirer.net/?article=31281
But the easiest way to avoid it is to not install it in the first place. If you set Windows Automatic Update to check for updates automatically, but to not download or install without asking you, then you can just uncheck the Genuine Advantage application and not have to worry about it again.
Beautiful.
Thanks 
[quote=“Rik”]There are a few ways to delete the program mentioned here: theinquirer.net/?article=31281
But the easiest way to avoid it is to not install it in the first place. If you set Windows Automatic Update to check for updates automatically, but to not download or install without asking you, then you can just uncheck the Genuine Advantage application and not have to worry about it again.[/quote]
Thanks for the info. It took a few tries but I was able to delete the program following the instructions in the article.
[quote=“Rik”]There are a few ways to delete the program mentioned here: theinquirer.net/?article=31281
But the easiest way to avoid it is to not install it in the first place. If you set Windows Automatic Update to check for updates automatically, but to not download or install without asking you, then you can just uncheck the Genuine Advantage application and not have to worry about it again.[/quote]
Or you could install all the patches, and then disagree to the EULA of the WGA patch. That should do the trick. It has also been reported, that when the WGA patch finds a key that is does not except, it phones home to M$. Nobody know what for though.
This is all a bit beyond me but now raises some questions…which may be naiive so please don’t flame me (especially on Tom Hill’s no garbage day).
I have a new laptop that came with Chinese Windows installed but the CD that came with the laptop remained unopened. I took this to a computer shop who merrily swapped it for an English version and installed English XP for me (not from the same disk).
So I now have my shiny new laptop running XP and an unopened XP home edition CD.
Question: will the CD I have work with any other laptop, or only my one?
[quote=“Edgar Allen”]This is all a bit beyond me but now raises some questions…which may be naiive so please don’t flame me (especially on Tom Hill’s no garbage day).
I have a new laptop that came with Chinese Windows installed but the CD that came with the laptop remained unopened. I took this to a computer shop who merrily swapped it for an English version and installed English XP for me (not from the same disk).
So I now have my shiny new laptop running XP and an unopened XP home edition CD.
Question: will the CD I have work with any other laptop, or only my one?[/quote]
Well, legally, it is for that laptop only, BUT, would it work on another computer? Probably not. It has probably been “activated” on-line and will only be for that laptop. If it is OEM, you will NEVER be allowed to install it on another computer. If it is not OEM, you can contact Microsoft to deactivate your laptop, and then activate your new computer (AFAIK… I’ve never done it (cos I’ve got OEM)).
So should I just throw it away?
Absolutely NOT! Read the opening post of this thread and you’ll see why you should hold on to it.
[quote=“irishstu”][quote=“Edgar Allen”]This is all a bit beyond me but now raises some questions…which may be naiive so please don’t flame me (especially on Tom Hill’s no garbage day).
I have a new laptop that came with Chinese Windows installed but the CD that came with the laptop remained unopened. I took this to a computer shop who merrily swapped it for an English version and installed English XP for me (not from the same disk).
So I now have my shiny new laptop running XP and an unopened XP home edition CD.
Question: will the CD I have work with any other laptop, or only my one?[/quote]
Well, legally, it is for that laptop only, BUT, would it work on another computer? Probably not. It has probably been “activated” on-line and will only be for that laptop. If it is OEM, you will NEVER be allowed to install it on another computer. If it is not OEM, you can contact Microsoft to deactivate your laptop, and then activate your new computer (AFAIK… I’ve never done it (cos I’ve got OEM)).[/quote]
The thing is, the registration key that is on the wrapper was likely used during the installation onto the notebook. So you cannot use this key twice, but the package is like a contract and is proof for you that you have a legal license to run Windows. So you should not throw it away. You can install XP from that CD onto another computer using a registration key that does not require activation but it would not be legal and M$ will send the big bad wolf after you.
It depends on whether the CD is an install or recovery CD. It used to be that computers would include regular install CDs for the OS, but now quite a lot of systems instead come with recovery CDs. The difference is that a recovery CD essentially restores a pre-installed image of an OS with the vendor tools and drivers already installed. It is much quicker to install this way and it will ensure that you get all the particular drivers for the computer. However, recovery CDs almost always will work only with a particular computer model or line of computers.
The other problem is what license key would you use? When the technician installed the English version of Windows he probably (hopefully) used the same license key as the laptop was originally installed with. In that case the license key is already in use and you would have both legal and technical problems using it on a second computer. In practice it is the license keys that are more important than the CD itself.