Just updated to Fusion 13.6.2 - Windows XP asking for reactivation

[togo109]

I just updated to Fusion 13.6.2.  When it restarted my Windows XP VM, Windows asked for a re-activation.  

Even though I have the original Product Key, there is no place to put it. The Activation program is supposed to give me an activation ID but there isn't in the window.  Microsoft phone support is non-existent.  Broadcom says my license for Fusion is expired and won't give me support. They suggested I ask the "community" for help. So here I am.

I am panicking because I have only 3 days to re-activate Windows XP.  I need the one program I use on the OS for my business.  I can't get support from that program because they no longer exist.

Can someone suggest how I can get Windows XP re-activated?

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A Goldsmith
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[Technogeezer]

Questions:

Did you receive a prompt to upgrade your virtual machine hardware the first time you powered on your Windows XP VM after upgrading Fusion? If you did, and you answered that "Yes", then that's may be why Windows XP is asking for a re-activation. Upgrading the virtual machine hardware can make Windows think it's running on a new system - and that triggers the re-activation warning.

There is also an issue with Fusion on macOS Sequoia where it will ask if you copied or moved a VM when you power it on. If you happened to answer that question with "Copied", that will sldo change things in the VM that will also make Windows think that you are running on new hardware.

You might want to post the log files found in the VMs bundle folder. If you haven't tried to restart the VM more than 3 times, we might be able to see if something there might give us a clue if the Fusion upgrade has made changes that trigger Windows re-activation. The files can be found by locating the VM in the Finder, right clicking on it, and selecting "Shoe Package Contents". A window will open showing the component files of your VM -- the log files can be found there.

Do you have a backup of this VM -- meaning have you made a copy of it to an external disk drive and not by using Time Machine? If so, restore it, power on the VM, decline to update the VM's virtual hardware, and (if prompted) indicate that you "Moved" the VM. 

Other than that, you'll have to ask a Microsoft forum about re-activating Windows XP. 

As a side note, it's really an extreme risk to continue to run Windows XP these days, and an even greater business risk to depend on it for your livelihood. At some point in the not too distant future, you'll have to consider either moving that VM to a PC running Windows/Linux, or finding a newer (and supportable) replacement for that abandonware platform (XP and the software you're running your business on). 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
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