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I have no idea why it no longer works, and I can't test anything like this in my environment.
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Is there a method of restoring the original XP product
key number that came with the computer and XP SP2 installation
cd disk that I am using.I was experimenting with changing the
product key and I changed two of the numbers in the ODBETIMER
in the regedit.Then using the magical jellybean program, I got the new product key number.
Then,I reinstalled the xp and when prompted by the XP cd
disk to enter the product key , I entered the new number that I got
from the magical jellybean and I was able to proceed with the new installation.
But,it takes about 75 seconds for my computer to boot up each time I turn it on as compared to about 35 seconds before I changed the product key.The computer operates normally once it boots
up and is still fast to turn off;in about 15 seconds.
The XP does not require activation now.
Also, I notice that I can still use my original product key when prompted by the XP SP2 cd install disk,when reinstalling
the xp operating system; although the jellybean still gives the new product key number if I run the jellybean.
Before I changed two of the "ODBETIMER" digits; I wrote down the digits [22]in total of the original "OBETIMER",before I randomly changed two of the digits manuelly.
I tried re entering the original 22 digits in ODBETIMER ,to see if I could restore the speed of the computer at bootup;but the new scrambled numbers reappeared in the ODBETIMER after booting up and was still a slow 75 second boot up.
I got a couple of fast 35 second bootup by entering all 22 of the original ODBETIMER digits and then, istead of rebooting the computer normally , I pressed the F12 key and and changed the bootup to my XP SP2 cd install disk that allows for a complete new reinstallation with formatting. When the reinstallation was complete; I was able to get a couple of fast bootups[30 to 35] seconds,after installing the graghics and audio drivers from the driver disk. After that,the bootup slowed down to the 75 second range on subsequent reboots whenever I am going to use the computer.
Is there a possibility that that a reset of some sort could be done in the BIOS in the computer with the settings or by taking the battery out of the motherboard briefly and with the power cord diconnected from the 120 volt AC ?
Would a phone call to microsoft be required in order
to get a new product ID number of some sort; as the only solution?
Any suggestions anyone?
- thanks, winch1020
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My suggestion is that you stop messing around trying to disable activation and go out any buy a legal copy of XP.
Doing a full format & reinstall using your original legal product key is enough. Nothing related to windows XP or products keys is stored in the BIOS.
Simon
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The XP SP2 cd disk I am using is a legal copy that Dell
sent to me [it is a 2006 version] so I would have the service pack 2 update and could use it when doing reinstalls on my Dell computer which is legally registered in my name.I had bought the computer from a friend as a used computer because the company he works for was upgrading to new computers and he phoned Dell and re-registered the computer in my name.
Also, from what I have read in various computer articles, there are no differences in any of the XP disks in regards to any particular product key.The determining factor is what product key number has been pre-programmed into each individual computer by the manufacturer before selling the computers.Although, the original product key number can be reset by a computer owner as there are articles on some of the different internet sites that tell you how to change your computers product key number;for example,the microsoft knowledge base is one source of instructions that tell you how to chamge your product key number.
When I wrote in my previous post that my original product key was still working whenever I wanted to reinstall the XP cd; after I had apparently reset the product key number according to the jellybean program;there is a problem using the original product key and that is that after I have reinstalled the XP;and then launch the activation wizard by running the %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a routine, the wizard says lets activate windows and when I try activating using the over the internet option; the wizard says "that according to microsoft records ,I have used my product key to many times and that I should phone microsoft to get a new number ".
However, if I do a reinstall of the xp disc and enter the new product key that the magical jellybean program had extracted from my computer;then,after the xp has been reinstalled and I run the activation wizard;the wizard says that the computer is already activated and that I close the wizard.
-winch1020
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Ok, lets just clear this up. It sounds like what you are doing, although not downright illegal, is probably a bit dodgy.
There is no legitimate reason to want to change product keys. What are you trying to achieve?
Different types XP disks are physically different. You can't just change the product key to change from home to professional or any other version. There are also different types of license versions like "Retail" and "Business" which have different keys and activation types. Even if you could, doing so would be illegal, just go and buy the version you want to use.
Why are you trying to bypass/extend the activation? If your copy of XP is legal, just activate it. If it won't let you, phone MS, they will sort the problem out over the phone, it just involves some extra checks to make sure your not stealing it.
The hardware is not linked to the software in _any_ way by dell or any other company. some manufacturers, modify the windows installer so it won't install on any other PC, but that doesn't stop you from formatting your dell PC and putting whatever version of windows you want on it. A full format and full reinstall will revert everything back to how it was to begin with. No product key will be remembered after a format.
My recommendation to you is as follows:
A) If you are happy with the version of XP that you have legally on disk from dell, do a full format and reinstall, use the product key given to you by dell. If it requires activation, activate it, if it doesn't work, call MS.
B) If you are not happy with the version of XP that you have from dell, just go out and buy a version you are happy with.
Simon
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As I stated in my first posting; I was experimenting with the XP.When I read various computer articles that have some xp tweaks,I find some of them interesting and I am curious as to how my computer will respond to them,and the modifications suggested in some of the product key articles were both intersting and easy to apply.
I have done at least 15 to 20 new reinstalls including formatting over the past months on my computer and the XP cd disk has required that the 25 digit product key number be manuelly entered using the keyboard for each of those installations.Are you doing some dodging
yourself when you say that the product key will disappear {are you saying permanently?],after the first reinstallation and formatting that a computer user does with the computer.
I know that the XP SP3 is supposed to automatically fill the product
key in for the computer user ,from what I have read.I downloaded the SP3 when it came out a few months ago but I uninstalled it after about one day because of a few operating system problems it was creating.
- winch1020
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I am posting a spelling correction for a couple of items in my previous posts.
The OOBETimer is the correct spelling; There should be no letter "D" in the word.
The second error was the number 22.There are 24 digits in the data field of the OOBETimer; not 22.
The regedit path to the OObetimer is: HKLM > Software > Microsoft > Windows NT >Current version > WPA Events and the OOBETIMER Dword is located in the right part of the window.
I had read on one of the internet computer sites,that changing at least one of the digits in the OOBETimer data field is one method of resetting the product key in order to get a new product key number.
My XP SP2 cd that has the DELL logo on it, may be considerd legal by DELL, but Microsoft might not recognize the transfer of the XP cd disk to a second party;and if I were to ask Microsoft for a new product key then they might consider the disk as a new purchase with royality rights etc.
Since,my topic has centered around product keys; I will mention one other thing that I have read on one of the internet computer site forums; someone asked if the 30 day activation time parameter could possibly be tweaked and extended to a couple of years or longer etc; but I have read nothing further on it and I forget which of the computer sites that I read the archived forum when I was once browsing the different internet sites.
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Robert Winchell wrote: I had read on one of the internet computer sites,that changing at least one of the digits in the OOBETimer data field is one method of resetting the product key in order to get a new product key number.
Wrong. This does not generate a new product key. It invalidates the activation so you are forced to enter a new key, which you have to provide. There is nothing in Windows that generates a new key for you. In order to get a new key, you either have to buy it off the shelf, or call Microsoft and jump through a ton of hoops to get a new key generated for you.
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I am not going to try and phone microsoft and try and get a new replacement key for free ,as the XP got activated by the new product key that the magical jellybean extracted from the computer or should I say ,generated, when it was doing the extracting and looking for a product key.Maybe,the jellybean has a built in key generator program that turns on when it detects certain changes in files associated to the product key and activation process etc.
I could possibly try some other changes[tweaks] at some point in time to test the effect on the product key and activation process and the bootup time, if I happen to read an article pertaining to it.There are the two WPA files in the system 32 folder.
The longer bootup time is only a minor inconvienance and I think that being able to bypass the activation is pretty neat.If I were to get a new key from microsoft,then I would be less likely to experiment with it.If the activation process should happen to shut down my computer,then I would have to contact microsoft and possibly pay for a new key but for now I think that I will go with the magical jellybean.
- winch1020
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Robert Winchell wrote: Would a phone call to microsoft be required in order
to get a new product ID number of some sort; as the only solution?
Yes, and don't forget your checkbook.
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if you cant delete an ntfs / fat32 folder from a linux live cd boot it might mean the file system or drive itself is corrupt
"mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"
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So, how can I repair it ?
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well first of all i would be *extremely* careful in suggesting anything without being able to sit down and look for myself... BUT if it is an NTFS or FAT32 drive under windows i believe right-clicking on the drive in "my computer" will give a properties box, with one tab being "tools" or something, and one option there being "repair" ... that is def worth a try but be aware that it might require a reboot if it needs to do a surface scan too
if that doesnt work then i would be puzzled to say the least
hth and good luck
"mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"
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Thanks.
I've had Windows XP SP3.
I've not any problems with it, just I've wanted to delete that folder.
I don't think so the File System is corrupt (my drives are NTFS), but I'll try your suggestion.
By the way Scan Disk can find any errors ?
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whats actually in the folder? and how did it get there?
"mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"
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Allright.
Some days ago my system had a virus , I cleaned it (with updated ESET Smart Security) and I'm sure my system is clear rightnow.
After that I pryed  in my drives and I delete this folder (System Volume Information).
At first it deleted easily and I didn't have any problems. But when I reser my sestem and wanted to delete it from my recycle bin , this problem occured and I couldn't delete it. I couldn't restore it though 
I was looking for a solution to solve it and I found this site[^].
I could to empty my recycle bin with rename RECYCLER folder to anther name (so RECYCLER1), but I haven't deleted RECYCLER1 so far.
This was my story 
Now can you help me
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ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh a virus ..... hmmmmmmmm then you might have more problems since there is obviously a process running that takes ownership of the folder and/or recreates it if it gets deleted
i think you will have to identify the virus (usually the process that owns the folder) and try to remove that process either manually or with a virus killer designed for that infection
shame thats horrible
"mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"
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l a u r e n wrote: i think you will have to identify the virus (usually the process that owns the folder) and try to remove that process either manually or with a virus killer designed for that infection
I've did it, I'm sure my system is clear now.
I've wanted to delete it with Linux but I could't so I think a virus didn't cause this problem .
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probably linux didnt mount the ntfs partition as read / write ... which is usual for live cds ... normally you could have deleted it from linux if you were using the ntfs-3g sub-system
"mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"
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I don't think so.
Thanks anyway
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You probably need to take ownership of the folder, and remove any 'limbo' permissions.
xacc.ide - now with TabsToSpaces support IronScheme - 1.0 beta 1 - out now! ((lambda (x) `((lambda (x) ,x) ',x)) '`((lambda (x) ,x) ',x))
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but surely if he booted into knoppix live cd there wont be any ownership issues since windows isnt even running??
thats whats puzzling me
"mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"
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l a u r e n wrote: issues since windows isnt even running??
I am not sure how NTFS does it exactly, but I have seen it happen. A 'scandisk' will probably fix it on second thought.
xacc.ide - now with TabsToSpaces support IronScheme - 1.0 beta 1 - out now! ((lambda (x) `((lambda (x) ,x) ',x)) '`((lambda (x) ,x) ',x))
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l a u r e n wrote: if he booted into knoppix live cd there wont be any ownership issues since windows isnt even running?
Yes, I find that puzzling as well.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
"Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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