Microsoft Reader Error Message: You Have Reached Your Activation Limit (271289)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Reader for the Pocket PC 1.0
  • Microsoft Reader 1.5
  • Microsoft Reader version 2.0
  • Microsoft Reader for the Pocket PC, version 2.0
This article was previously published under Q271289

SYMPTOMS

When you open an e-book that you purchased online in Microsoft Reader, you may receive the following error message:
Activation Error

You have reached your Activation limit.

CAUSE

The Microsoft Reader software is associated with a Microsoft Passport Network account that is unique to the user of the Reader software. Each Passport Network account can only be associated with two Microsoft Reader installations.

You can Activate Microsoft Reader on up to six computers if you use only one Passport Network account. Microsoft Reader is associated to your Passport Network account and a unique hardware ID. This hardware ID is generated from the volume serial number of the system hard disk. If you reformat your hard disk and then reinstall Microsoft Reader, the Reader software may be unable to be associated with the original Passport Network account because formatting the hard disk changes the volume serial number of the hard disk, which changes the unique hardware ID. As a result, you may receive the "Activation Error" error message. For example, you receive this error message if:
  • You install Microsoft Reader on six computers, and you associate Reader with one Passport Network account. You then reformat the hard disk of one computer, and then try to associate the Reader software with the original Passport Network account.
  • You install Microsoft Reader on one computer, and then you reformat the hard disk, reinstall the Reader software, and associate the Reader software with the original Passport Network account. You then repeat this process six more times.

STATUS

This behavior is by design as required by the e-book publishers.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Reader can be activated on up to six computers at the same time, but you may have to associate the Reader software with different Passport Network accounts. If you purchase an e-book on a computer on which you associate the Reader software with your first Passport Network account, you cannot read that e-book on a computer on which you associate the Reader software with a different Passport Network account.

Customers can request more activations at:

http://das.microsoft.com/activate/en-us/extraDefault.asp

NOTE: If you fill out the form and receive an Access Denied message or it loops back to the same page, locate and click the "click here to submit it for review" link. Clicking this link submits your request for more activations.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/13/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB271289
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