[RESOLVED] Hardware ID Changed - Activate Now
Running ATIH on windows xp SP3. Every time I restart my computer, an Acronis message appears on-screen saying "The hardware ID has changed. Activate now." I installed ATIH then updated to version 6154. Everything okay. Several days later, I ran System Mechanic tools to defrag the hard drive and to clean up the registry. I think this is when the problem started. Anyway, the computer starts, message says hardware ID changed and to activate ATIH. Turn off computer. Same or next day turn on computer and get same message and have to activate ATIH again.
What do I have to do to have ATIH permanently record activation, quit advising that the hardware ID has changed and requiring reactivation every time my computer restarts.
Thank you. DH
Issue resolved here.
It's not you; this is a quirk in how the on-line activation works. This can happen after certain software updates too.
You can uninstall 6154, run the ati2012 cleaner then reinstall the prior build. The prob might reoccur occasionally but it shouldn't happen every time you boot up.
Or, if you have very recent backup of the disk from before you changed to build 6154, just do a full restore.
I have a similar problem like David. I successfully transferred ATIH license from old PC to new PC. No acivation issue. I Was able to back up my new computer successfully. Then I used Uniblue registry cleaner. I have been using this registry cleaner for some time now. Would this be reason to have similar problem like David? On every boot, Windows XP loads and a message pops up from the status bar " Hardware ID changed, Activate now". I have not been able to activate my ATIH software since then. Click to activate and window pops up with message "connecting to activation server..." but never connects. So now I have fully paid software but I cannot activate. BTW I do not have internet connection problem.
A solution,if there is any, would be appreciated.
Greetings,
Everything Scott mentions is correct. In addition, registry cleaners can often delete files they incorrectly identify as "orphaned' or uneeded, but in reality, the key may be valid and required for installed applications to function correctly. If his suggestions do not resolve your issue, Support can usually help you resolve an ongoing activation issue you aren't able to resolve yourself.
Thank you for your comments so far. It could be the registry cleaner but I don't think so, here's why. About 3 weeks ago, I again uninstalled v 6154 as per your suggestions. I then ran the registry cleaner and then reinstalled v 5545. TIH 2012 v 5545 has worked (except for known issues with the version) since installing and reactivating it. I used it for two weeks and never ran a registry cleaner nor the feature to remove temporary windows files. It stayed activated.
About 4 or 5 days ago, I again updated to v 6154. Next time computer restarted, a message box again said "hardware ID changed - activate now". Acronis Support did not provide assistance with the activation issue as 90 day support is expired and unless I first pay money for what could be an activation issue with their software or Acronis' server. One difference between Baal's activation problem above and mine is that when I click the "Activate message", ATIH 2012 does successfully activate. So I would think that would be somewhere in the registry. However, the activation does not "stick" and need to activate every time my computer restarts.
After 4 or 5 reinstalls, I know v 5545 activation will stick but will lose activation after updating to v 6154. Should I try reinstalling again or is that the definition of insanity? :) Thanks!
David,
Why bother with the upgrade. Uninstall 5545, 6131... whichever version your install CD was. Run the clean tool. Reboot and install 6154 straightaway. Activate it. I purchaed two copies of ATIH 2012 one standard, one plus. Both were build #5545. I downloaded #6154 and used it for my installs. No issues.
See you have aleready tried this. Contact support. They will likely need to help you get your activation issue sorted.
My guess at what is happening in this case is that ati is loading before your internet access and so it is unable to verify activation. Windows reorders the startup order each restart until it finds what it thinks is best, but this is not always what works for ati activation.
Wow, a few views but no solution? Build 5545 activates and stays activated after computer restarts. After upgrading to vsn 6154, an Acronis warning appears after turning on computer advising that hardware has changed (which it has not) and to activate ATIH 2012. Clicking "activate" does activate but then needs to be reactivated after every restart of the computer. Uninstalling and completing a clean install of vsn 6154 did not help as I found out today.
Any ideas what may be the cause of the problem (other than the nut holding the steering wheel) and a possible solution would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you Shadowsports and Scott! Will download 6154 and install straight-away tonight after first removing and using the cleaner. Never did that before. I always updated from 5545 to 6154 by clicking on the "update now to newer version" message when it pops up in 5545. Then it updates on its own.
Also, Scott's guess that ati could be loading before internet access loads is pretty smart and makes sense. I don't know how to check that or manually reorder the start order of programs (there are times like now I wish I did).
Thanks again for your suggestions, really appreciated.
Wow, a few views but no solution? Build 5545 activates and stays activated after computer restarts. After upgrading to vsn 6154, an Acronis warning appears after turning on computer advising that hardware has changed (which it has not) and to activate ATIH 2012. Clicking "activate" does activate but then needs to be reactivated after every restart of the computer. Uninstalling and completing a clean install of vsn 6154 did not help as I found out today.
David,
In the post above you said you had tried uninstalling and completing a clean install of 6154. I struck out this recommendation in my previous post based on this. So you haven't actually tried this yet? I must have misunderstood what you meant in this case. This is worth trying. I recommend a reboot after uninstalling and running the clean tool. Then give installing build 6154 a shot.
Clean install is poor wording on my part. I had uninstalled ATIH, rebooted, cleaned the registry, rebooted, then reinstalled 5545 that I had purchased and then immediately updated through 5545 update available message to 6154. I guess it was more of a clean update :)
Tonight, I uninstalled ATIH using "add / remove programs" then ran the ATIH 2012 cleaning tool before rebooting. Then ran System Mechanic's registry cleaner and then rebooted again. Then downloaded and installed ATIH 2012 vsn 6154 directly as you suggested. Will update result tomorrow after restarting. Thanks again!
Not really something that's up to you. Windows decides the best start order. If the issue is due to the loading order, then it's really a fault in ATI and the on-line activation process. You might notice that when you install certain programs or windows updates the sort order is radically changed the next time you boot, but eventually, after successive use and reboots, it goes back to pretty much the same order.
. . .. I don't know how to check that or manually reorder the start order of programs (there are times like now I wish I did). . .
David,
Maybe it is covered above but would you confirm when you see the error message.
Does the message appear immediately upon bootup?
or does the message appear immediately after starting TrueImage?
I don't know that it would make any difference but under the help section, there is the automatic update option. When it is checked, the program calls home each time you start the program. You can disable this check by unchecking the option. In order to get the uncheck option, you must have the computer perform the check and the option will appear.
Also, inside the scheduling option, there is an advanced setting which can create a delay before TI starts.
David,
Start Button|RUN Command|type "msconfig" (no quotes)|press ok. When the dialog opens, select the Startup Tab.
These are your startup items... you can't manipulated their order here, but you can see them.
Certainly the update check could be the reason for online check at prog startup but not necessarily as I don't use the auto updates and I have the prob too.
With MS config you can change what is and isn't loaded but windows determines the order by trial an error with each boot up, looking for the best use of memory.
Hey Guys,
I have an idea. This may not apply, but wanted to get your thoughts on this.
Systems reports Hardware ID has changed - Activate Now is seen at each system reboot.
Would it be possible to use the Move License feature, and remove the activation for the machine where the behavior is seen repeatedly? A false way of forcing the software to reactivate on the current hardware. Has anyone tried this?
I recall one person reporting success with this technique.
Success so far! Shadowsport's suggestion worked. Uninstalled 6154. Ran the clean tool. Reboot. Downloaded 6154. Installed 6154 straightaway from downloaded file instead of updating via 5545. Activated automatically during install. So far activation is sticking upon computer restart.
Grover, the message had been appearing immediately upon / after bootup and before starting TrueImage. Thanks again everyone for all your helpful comments and suggestions.
"Hardware ID Changed - Activate Now" message reappeared today while / after booting up and before opening ATIH . So the clean install did not work. I have not defragged nor used a registry cleaner since clean install. The clean install worked for first 3 or 4 restarts but now hardware changed id message is coming up. One change is I used ATIH to backup the C drive.
Tried Move License Feature suggested above. The first step is to click "Help -> Activate" but there is no "Activate" listed on the drop down list under "Help". So cannot do second step of clicking "Too many activations" prompt so there is no step 3 to select "Move License". In Acronis My Account, my computers are not listed to deactivate or move a license.
Is only option to activate ATIH every time computer restarts?
David,
This information is helpful and we appreciate the feedback. I have not experienced this behavior so my troubleshooting capability is limited. At this point, I would suggest contacting support referencing this thread. I'd ask if they could remove the activation from your account and allow you to perform a clean install with new activation. Not sure if there are other options? Hope this will work out for you.
Hello everyone,
Thank you for your posts and your valuable assistance everyone.
David, we are sorry that you have experienced this issue and the best way to resolve it at the moment would be through our Support team.
If the problem turns out to be a known issue with the software, we will refund the Pay Per Incident fee.
Please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you.
Thank you.
The update to build 7119 seems to have corrected the problem.
David
The Hardware ID changed, Please Activate dialog that appeared for some users upon each reboot was addressed in build 7119. Glad to hear this has resolved your issue.
My problem is fixed by disabling AMD service.