VMware server 2 deactivated XP!!!

[scbs29]

I recently dowloaded VMware server 2 for Windows to try it out. The
file was VMware-server-2.0.1-156745.exe.

I installed onto my Windows XP Pro SP3 system, accepting all of the
defaults, and rebooted as requested.

When I rebooted I was informed to the effect that my hardware had
changed drastically and that I had to reactivate my XP within 3 days.
Needless to say, my hardware had not changed, the only change was the
installation of VMware server.

Luckily I had installed using Ashampoo UnInstaller and was able to
remove all traces of VMware. I still had to contact Microft, however,
to reactivate my XP.

What is going on ??

Why did VMware server deactivate my XP installation. If I did decide
to go the VMware route for virtualisation is this likely to happen
again ?

What if I had installed on my dual boot PCLinuxOS installation ? Would
it have screwed that up in some way as well ?

Is mine an isolated instance, or have others had the same problem ?

remove fred before emailing

[Thomas Boehne]

scbs29 wrote:
> When I rebooted I was informed to the effect that my hardware had
> changed drastically and that I had to reactivate my XP within 3 days.
> Needless to say, my hardware had not changed, the only change was the
> installation of VMware server.

It guess it could be caused by the additional virtual hardware components
that VMware creates (i.e., network adapters).

Regards,
Thomas