Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
"Lorne" <Lorne_Anderson@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OSNeOGIOFHA.3668@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>I think you are right in that it did say Activate rather than register,
>but I was careless in my terminology.
>
> Are you saying that if I never install driver updates directly from
> Windows Update this will not happen again? It seems bizarre to me
> that Microsoft offer a service that then screws up your windows
> installation and requires reactivation.
>
>
>
> <Vanguard> wrote in message news:FJWdnftsK7b-uM3fRVn-vQ@comcast.com...
>> "Lorne" <Lorne_Anderson@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:ewn3a6GOFHA.2736@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>>I just switched my computer on and got the message that because my
>>>configuration had changed significantly since I registered Windows I
>>>have to reregister within 3 days.
>>>
>>> It turned out to be no problem - just clicked yes to a couple of
>>> prompts and it said I was reregistered but why did this happen?
>>>
>>> I have made no change to my computer since it was new 2 years ago
>>> other than adding 512Mb of memory 3 weeks ago and that hardly
>>> justifies a "significant configuration change" message.
>>>
>>> My concern is what would happen if I was away from home and this
>>> happened - last year I spent 3 weeks in the wilderness in Alaska
>>> mostly 50+ miles from the nearest road so would I have just not been
>>> able to use my computer because I certainly could not have connected
>>> to the internet. Would it have just stopped working or does it still
>>> work if there is no internet connection? And how do I make sure it
>>> will not happen again?
>>>
>>
>>
>> You are NEVER required to register. Registration is entirely
>> optional. ACTIVATION is required and is *not* the same as
>> registration.
>>
>> Could be you installed updated drivers which, to the OS, makes it
>> look like new hardware. Remember that the OS has to also access the
>> hardware through drivers, so if the drivers change the hardware's
>> enumeration to the OS then the OS thinks you have new hardware.
>>
>> By the way, NEVER install the hardware updates proffered at the
>> Windows Update site. Only use it as a prompt to visit the hardware
>> manufacturer's web site to get the newer driver, if you even need it.
No, the warning regarding driver updates from Windows Update was a "by
the way" note. When using Windows Update, *never* select it to install
drivers from there. They can be out of date (it takes a long time to
get a driver certified through Microsoft) and the detection used to
determine if you need the driver is inaccurate (it might even suggest a
driver for hardware that you don't have). Also, NEVER EVER configure
the Automatic Update feature in Windows to automatically download and
install updates; otherwise, you risk stability and also lose tracking of
just what is on your computer. Let it notify you when there are updates
available, then decide when and if you will visit their site to get them
and install them. You choose to lose control when you let Microsoft, or
anyone else, dynamically and at-will reconfigure your software.
Doesn't matter where you get the drivers from. Installing new drivers
can make it look like you have new hardware. You're watching Jurassic
Park on your portable television, then watch it on your 20" television
with side-firing speakers, then on a large-screen TV with a huge sound
system attached, and then in the theatre with the huge wide screen and
super sound system. It's the same movie but the experience is different
with each port through which you viewed the movie. The number of
crystals does not change but rotating a kaleidoscope certainly changes
the view. A different driver can make the hardware look different than
it was before.
Before installing a new driver, determine if you even need it. Yeah, it
might add a new feature but if you don't need it or can't use it then it
is a waste of time to install the new driver. Yeah, it might fix some
bugs but not all bugs are exhibited on all hardware platforms (i.e., the
bug manifests itself only under certain condition), so the bug fix may
do nothing specifically for your setup.
Since you make it sound like your "computer" is travelling around with
you, looks like we are supposed to guess that it is a laptop. If it is
a laptop then it has slots for modems, drives, NICs, and so forth. That
means you inserting those devices the first time requires installing a
driver that may not have been loaded before, so your hardware
configuration changed. Make sure to slide in all those cards, install
their drivers (or activate them), and get them working before you go
travelling with your laptop. Even sliding your laptop into a docking
bay can activate changes that make it look like your hardware has
changed (because, well, it has changed).
--
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