Hardware Insights Forum

I set up a second system a while ago. But I left it for over a month without activating, the option to auto-configure an internet connection failed, and there's no way to manually configure networking from within the activation prompt.

I don't know what to do. As far as I can tell, the only in-place solution is to use telephone activation (cumbersome). I already tried turning back the clock (but too late apparently). The only potential alternative I can think of is to edit the registry, and that has the problem that regedit won't operate on an alternate installation. Yes, it's possible to hex-edit the contents of a drive, but how would you know where to start???

I don't have an image of the drive either. In case you're curious, the system in question has two drives - WD400JB-00JJA0 (system) and ST3120026A (user data).

(I don't think a giant like Microsoft would ever need brutal measures like this - if piracy really bothers them that much, why don't they try lowering their prices???)

I've had this before. I just ring up for activation. It's not that hard.

I do agree on the pricing, though. It's the one thing I think MS did right with windows 8 (made it much cheaper than 7), although 8 is probably bad enough that MS should really pay people to use it.