"The 10 hardware characteristics used to determine the hardware hash are:
Display Adapter, SCSI Adapter, IDE Adapter, Network Adapter MAC Address, RAM
Amount Range (i.e. 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc), Processor Type, Processor Serial
Number, Hard Drive Device, Hard Drive Volume Serial Number,
CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM."

I plugged in a cybershot camera to my USB hub, which required a usb-serial
converter driver also. As soon as I rebooted I got the reactivation popup. I
suspect I had to only install the camera driver one time, but I am not going
to test it now.

Anyone else had to reactivate because of plugging in an USB device?

Nope. I've replaced or added video cards, sound cards,
NIC cards, USB cards and devices and never was prompted
to reactivate.

Perhaps you should contact the manufacturer of your
computer and ask them how their customized OEM
version of XP reacts when adding or changing hardware.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User


"Mark Smith" wrote:

> "The 10 hardware characteristics used to determine the hardware hash are:
> Display Adapter, SCSI Adapter, IDE Adapter, Network Adapter MAC Address, RAM
> Amount Range (i.e. 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc), Processor Type, Processor Serial
> Number, Hard Drive Device, Hard Drive Volume Serial Number,
> CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM."
>
> I plugged in a cybershot camera to my USB hub, which required a usb-serial
> converter driver also. As soon as I rebooted I got the reactivation popup. I
> suspect I had to only install the camera driver one time, but I am not going
> to test it now.
>
> Anyone else had to reactivate because of plugging in an USB device?

I've encountered this re-activation pop-up upon a video driver install. It
very easy to re-activate.

On 07/12/2005 "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Nope. I've replaced or added video cards, sound cards,
>NIC cards, USB cards and devices and never was prompted
>to reactivate.
>
>Perhaps you should contact the manufacturer of your
>computer and ask them how their customized OEM
>version of XP reacts when adding or changing hardware.
>

--
---

Y.

Yes, it is very easy to reactivate the first 2 times. Wait and see what
happens when you exceed your activation limit.

"Yves Leclerc" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
> I've encountered this re-activation pop-up upon a video driver install.
> It
> very easy to re-activate.
>
>

Thanks for trying. But no. I put this computer together and bought XP from
Circuit City or Office Depot.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:7E8AB0F4-FD7E-4CCA-9728-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Nope. I've replaced or added video cards, sound cards,
> NIC cards, USB cards and devices and never was prompted
> to reactivate.
>
> Perhaps you should contact the manufacturer of your
> computer and ask them how their customized OEM
> version of XP reacts when adding or changing hardware.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows XP - Shell/User
>
>
> "Mark Smith" wrote:
>
>> "The 10 hardware characteristics used to determine the hardware hash are:
>> Display Adapter, SCSI Adapter, IDE Adapter, Network Adapter MAC Address,
>> RAM
>> Amount Range (i.e. 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc), Processor Type, Processor
>> Serial
>> Number, Hard Drive Device, Hard Drive Volume Serial Number,
>> CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM."
>>
>> I plugged in a cybershot camera to my USB hub, which required a
>> usb-serial
>> converter driver also. As soon as I rebooted I got the reactivation
>> popup. I
>> suspect I had to only install the camera driver one time, but I am not
>> going
>> to test it now.
>>
>> Anyone else had to reactivate because of plugging in an USB device?
>

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:

> Perhaps you should contact the manufacturer of your
> computer and ask them how their customized OEM
> version of XP reacts when adding or changing hardware.

Perhaps you should ask more questions before giving answers based on
your inadequate assumptions.

There is no activation limit! You can forever re-install/re-activate the XP.

On 07/12/2005 "Mark Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Yes, it is very easy to reactivate the first 2 times. Wait and see what
>happens when you exceed your activation limit.
>
>"Yves Leclerc" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>> I've encountered this re-activation pop-up upon a video driver install.
>> It
>> very easy to re-activate.
>>
>>
>
>

--
---

Y.

What I meant was the first few times all you have to do is click 3 times and
you're done. After that limit is reached you have to type in a 60 digit
number, and if you are on dial-up like me, you have to wait for MS to dial
up automatically to some 800 number and then approve or disapprove your
activation.

"Yves Leclerc" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uaHQ7a2%(E-Mail Removed)...
> There is no activation limit! You can forever re-install/re-activate the
> XP.
>
> On 07/12/2005 "Mark Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>Yes, it is very easy to reactivate the first 2 times. Wait and see what
>>happens when you exceed your activation limit.
>>
>>"Yves Leclerc" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>> I've encountered this re-activation pop-up upon a video driver install.
>>> It
>>> very easy to re-activate.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> ---
>
> Y.
>

On Wed, 7 Dec 2005 11:25:07 -0600, "Mark Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>"The 10 hardware characteristics used to determine the hardware hash are:
>Display Adapter, SCSI Adapter, IDE Adapter, Network Adapter MAC Address, RAM
>Amount Range (i.e. 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc), Processor Type, Processor Serial
>Number, Hard Drive Device, Hard Drive Volume Serial Number,
>CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM."
>
>I plugged in a cybershot camera to my USB hub, which required a usb-serial
>converter driver also. As soon as I rebooted I got the reactivation popup. I
>suspect I had to only install the camera driver one time, but I am not going
>to test it now.
>
>Anyone else had to reactivate because of plugging in an USB device?
>

Guess I have been lucky then.

Replaced 2 hard drives, a CD-RW, Vid card, added a USB camera, and
even replaced one of the big triggers the NIC card and not once had to
reactivate. And this is a retail version of XP Pro purchased off the
shelf at Best Buy.

<Les Herrman> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Guess I have been lucky then.
>
> Replaced 2 hard drives, a CD-RW, Vid card, added a USB camera, and
> even replaced one of the big triggers the NIC card and not once had to
> reactivate. And this is a retail version of XP Pro purchased off the
> shelf at Best Buy.
>

Guess I was unlucky then.


BTW, I read on some magazine site that you have 7 configuration changes
before you have to activate. I doubt luck had anything to do with it.