New windows install issues

[sinkoman]

Ok, so I just reformatted (with my new HDD :E) but I have a couple of problems.

The first one (and probably biggest) is that I can't activate my copy of windows. No matter how hard I try, it always says that it can't connect to the activation server. I've tried turning off my firewall, changing my connection settings, and connecting directcly to my cable modem, but no matter what, it always gives me the "servers cannot be connected to, please check your connection" bullshit.

Second problem is that this "safely remove hardware" icon keeps popping up for all my harddrives. My harddrives are all permanent, and I can't think of why it would ask me to safely remove them. I'll take a screenshot to show you the icon.

I can't think of any reason why this thing would pop up, and I can't think of any way how to get rid of it.

Grrr!

 

[Kamikazie]

did you remove them?

 

[psyno]

Because they're hot-swappable SATA drives. And give the Microsoft activation line a phone call.

 

[sinkoman]

Well that makes sense (since the NF4 sata controller they're on supports hot swapping) but I want windows to recognize them as permanent drives.

If I can't do that, how can I get this damned thing to stop showing up in my task bar?

EDIT: Well, the activation issue is fixed. I changed the date on my PC from Jan 1'st to the current date, then restarted, and upon bootup I was greeted with a message allong the lines off "You must activate this copy of microsoft windows to continue using it". Thought, oh shit, it's not going to work again, tried to activate, and got a message saying "thank you for activating this copy of microsoft windows!"

EDIT: I found out I can hide the icon if I have autohide enabled on my taskbar, but I don't

EDIT: GOD THIS ****ING THING IS ****ING TAUNTING ME!!!

 

[duffers20]

Anyway to turn off the hotswappable feature in teh bios, to make them permanent drives?

 

[sinkoman]

Nope. Nothing.

GOD! It's like, sitting there in my systme tray, just mocking me.

 

[duffers20]

Just downloaded the manual for your motherboard and I can't seem to find anything on disabling the hotswappable sata drive feature. You tried right clicking on the drives in device manager and then going to the properties to see if it says anything about showing the remove hardware icon in teh systray?

 

[Synthos]

there's a way to bypass activation, check online for some guides on how to do it. I have the files if you can't find them on your own.

 

[duffers20]

there's a way to bypass activation, check online for some guides on how to do it. I have the files if you can't find them on your own.

He has already activated windows. He needs to sort the next problem in getting rid of the safely remove hardware icon for his hot-swappable sata hard discs.

 

[sinkoman]

Already tried the device manager.

And this thing sits right next to my firewall and iTunes icon. I'm getting scared that i'll accidentally remove my HDD's while trying to change songs.

Although i'm pretty sure that selecting it just stems the removal options, still...

 

[Asus]

If you try to click on it and select your main drive (OS) it would say:
Problem Ejecting <Drive Name Here>
The Device "<Drive Name Here>" cannot be stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later.

 

[MorneHeru]

http://mlin.net/TraySaver.shtml

Something that runs In your SysTray, you can use it to hide certain icons. There are some other useful programs there too...

 

[Solaris]

Ye that looks pretty kewl, I might d/l it.

 

[sinkoman]

I have not tested it on Windows 2000, so I cannot recommend using it under this operating system...

...UPGRADING FROM A PREVIOUS BETA WITHOUT UNINSTALLING CAN RENDER YOUR SYSTEM UNBOOTABLE

That scares me.

I know I could always just bust out the UBCD4Win but I don't want to have to go through the hassel of recovering driver files/whatever files he says to again.

EDIT: Ok, I got traysaver working, but I made the mistake of hiding the icon, and now I have no way of accessing the program. Some help?