After I had my hard drive formatted due to a virus and the pre-loaded Widows XP Home reinstalled I keep on getting warnings to register and activate it. I have done the registering and activation at least five times the past two months and again today was asked to do it. When I tried to register I was told that the key is now invalid and I have to obtain a new one. Why do I have to keep on registering and why do I have to get help from the PC manufacturer and not from Microsoft who was originaly supplying Windows to the the PC manufacturer? Can someone please help.

Registration is optional and never required to do. But Activation likely is. Windows HELP says --- It is important to understand the difference between registering your copy of Windows XP and activating it. Registration is optional and involves submitting some personal information to Microsoft. Windows Product Activation is part of Microsoft's effort to combat piracy and other unauthorized uses of its products. Activation is required, does not involve submitting any personal information (except the country you live in), and is a quick and easy process. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302... Description of Microsoft Product Activation http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302... Frequently asked questions about Microsoft Product Activation http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307... How to activate Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330... Windows XP Logs You Off When You Try to Activate the Product http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326... You receive a "The product key used to install Windows is invalid" error message That applies to installing Service Packs also. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312... You are prompted to activate Windows every time you restart your computer

This worked for me. Get XP SP3 and install it. The activation problem will go away. Just had the Same problem with older eMachine. MS referred me to eMachines- eMachines referred me to MS but neither could supply a solution, other than buying a new Copy of XP Home or Restore CD's. I installed XP SP3 and the activation issue went away. Order the SP3 CD to avoid all of M$'s BS tying to download it. At least it's worth a try. There is nothing to learn from someone who already agrees with you.

Order the SP3 CD Unlike XP SP2, MS does not provide XP SP3 CD's. You have to download the iso image file (see link below) then burn it to make the CD. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/... i_Xp/VistaUser

>>>"Unlike XP SP2, MS does not provide XP SP3 CD's."<<< Actually, they do, but at a cost (about half way down the page).... http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pr...

I stand corrected :-) i_Xp/VistaUser

Thanx to all who replied to my problem which I will keep for possible use in future. I have been on SP3 before my HD was formatted. My problem was fixed when local (South African) office gave me a new key number. Again, thank you to all responding quickly. James