Ah, forget my reply then.
> Chris,
> There was no error on the card in the device manager. It was simply my
> desire to 'freshen' the installation and the drivers for the Intel
> In-Business 10/100 NIC Card, which did, in the end, fix my Network
problems.
> The only hardware changes that have been made to this computer are the
> installation of a Maxtor ATA/133 Controller and 80GB Maxtor D740X hard
> drive, and the replacement of an old Pioneer DVD-113 with a new Pioneer
> DVD-116 DVD drive.
> I assure you I was suprised as well :)
> I don't know the exact time, but it was about 9pm this evening.
> The guy on the phone was nice and all. No complaints there. However I
> didn't get the impression that he understood what I was reporting, and
that
> I felt it was a bug in the Activation system.
> It still all boils down to the fact that we don't need this nonsense.
> Thanks for your input!
> -Larry
> > Windows XP should absolutely NOT react like that since a single hardware
> > change should never have sent the activation out of tolerance. See:
> > http://www.racesimcentral.net/
> > Additionally, this Microsoft Knowledge Base article should help if this
> ever
> > occurs in the future:
> > http://www.racesimcentral.net/;EN-US;q305356
> > I would suggest you make quick notes of precisely your system
information,
> > which version of Windows XP (Home or Pro), method of installation (clean
> > install or upgrade), the original problem and steps you took to correct
> it,
> > which brand Ethernet card it was, what the error message in Device
Manager
> > was which prompted you to uninstall the card and reinstall it, and
e-mail
> > them to me so I can forward the information to the proper people for
> further
> > investigation. You might also note, if you know, the names of the
persons
> > who assisted in the activation center, the time and date of your call.
> > --
> > Chris H.
> > Microsoft MVP - Windows XP
> > Associate Expert
> > Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > > Well, it was bound to happen. Windows XP's stupid product activation
> was
> > > _bound_ to***up eventually.
> > > Well, it did.
> > > This evening, I was troubleshooting network connectivity problems on
my
> XP
> > > Client Machine. One of the steps I took was the time-honored
tradition
> of
> > > removing the Ethernet Card entry in the Device Manager, and letting
> > Windows
> > > re-detect it and reinstall the drivers during restart.
> > > Well, instead of Windows XP booting up and redetecting the NIC card
and
> > > reinstalling the drivers, I got the dreaded Windows XP Activation
> notice!
> > > It said something about not being able to validate my Hardware
> > > Configuration, and asked me if I wanted to re-activate.
> > > Sure, why not.
> > > However, because this stupid Product Activation would not let the
system
> > > boot up into Windows, the damned NIC card drivers were not allowed to
> > > reinstall and. This means, of course, that product activation could
not
> > do
> > > it's thing over the Internet.
> > > Ok, fine. I've got 10 minutes to waste (like I really had a choice).
> > > I called the toll-free number.
> > > Now, I went through the drawn-out automated re-activation process,
where
> > you
> > > punch in this ridiculously long number, and wait for it to read back
> your
> > > activation key.
> > > Except, it said it could not validate my hardware configuration.
> > > Now, I had to get passed to a 'human' to get it done.
> > > Ok, so now I get to plead my case for the continuing privilage of
using
> an
> > > operating system that I paid good money for to someone on the
telephone.
> > I
> > > didn't get the impression that this person really understood the
> technical
> > > issue behind this (which I consider a bug in activation), but I did
get
> > > re-activated.
> > > Windows finally booted, installed my NIC card drivers, and I was back
on
> > the
> > > Internet.
> > > So, my solution fixed my Network problem, but it was like travelling
> from
> > > ***ia to Maryland, by way of San Diego.
> > > Keep in mind that during this whole process MICROSOFT had all of my
data
> > > locked up and held hostage by this stupid activation system.
> > > If it weren't for the fact that I'd have to go back to Dual-Boot 98/2K
> (2K
> > > won't run all of my software), I would throw this XP disk in the
damned
> > > trash can.
> > > We don't need this crap.
> > > Larry
