Activation question

[Ken Zboyan]

My sister has a computer with XP Home installed on it and she has
already activated the OS. She is having some problems with other
software on the hard drive, and I suggested we might remove her hard
drive (we live some distance apart) so that I could look at the software
with which she is having problems. Of course I realize that installing
her hard drive in my computer will ask for reactivating due to the
hardware changes detected in my computer. I hope I can resolve her
problems before the grace period for reactivating is up.

My question is this: Once the hard drive is re-installed in her
computer (the one that Windows XP Home was originally loaded on and
activated) will she be asked to reactivate her version of XP Home? Or
will it be happy once the original hardware configuration has been again
detected?

Ken

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Ken,

If you need to do a repair install for it to run on your system, she will
need to reactivate it once restored to her system. If you don't, then
probably not. Either way, she should be allowed to reactivate.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You'll have problems installing your sister's hard drive
in your computer since the hardware configuration will
probably be entirely different. This will require a "repair
install" and your sister will have to perform another "repair
install" when she reinstalls the hard drive in her computer.

If your sister is having problems with "other software programs",
it's best to uninstall, then reinstall those particular programs.

HOW TO: Use the Program Compatibility Wizard in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301911

How to Troubleshoot Program Compatibility Issues in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;285909


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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My sister has a computer with XP Home installed on it and she has
| already activated the OS. She is having some problems with other
| software on the hard drive, and I suggested we might remove her hard
| drive (we live some distance apart) so that I could look at the software
| with which she is having problems. Of course I realize that installing
| her hard drive in my computer will ask for reactivating due to the
| hardware changes detected in my computer. I hope I can resolve her
| problems before the grace period for reactivating is up.
|
| My question is this: Once the hard drive is re-installed in her
| computer (the one that Windows XP Home was originally loaded on and
| activated) will she be asked to reactivate her version of XP Home? Or
| will it be happy once the original hardware configuration has been again
| detected?
|
| Ken
| --
| I intend to live forever......So far, so good.
|

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Normally, unless the new motherboard is virtually identical to the
old one (same chipset, same IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.),
you'll need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade)
installation, at the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

You, or your sister, will have to do this each time that hard
drive is inserted into a different computer.

This will probably also require re-activation. If it's been more
than 120 days since you last activated that specific Product Key,
you'll most likely be able to activate via the internet without
problem. If it's been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone
call.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Ron Martell]

My sister has a computer with XP Home installed on it and she has
already activated the OS. She is having some problems with other
software on the hard drive, and I suggested we might remove her hard
drive (we live some distance apart) so that I could look at the software
with which she is having problems. Of course I realize that installing
her hard drive in my computer will ask for reactivating due to the
hardware changes detected in my computer. I hope I can resolve her
problems before the grace period for reactivating is up.

My question is this: Once the hard drive is re-installed in her
computer (the one that Windows XP Home was originally loaded on and
activated) will she be asked to reactivate her version of XP Home? Or
will it be happy once the original hardware configuration has been again
detected?

Ken

Because of the way XP ties itself to the specific hardware in the
computer it would probably be faster and less trouble if she were to
bring or send the entire computer to you.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Alex Nichol]

My sister has a computer with XP Home installed on it and she has
already activated the OS. She is having some problems with other
software on the hard drive, and I suggested we might remove her hard
drive (we live some distance apart) so that I could look at the software
with which she is having problems. Of course I realize that installing
her hard drive in my computer will ask for reactivating due to the
hardware changes detected in my computer. I hope I can resolve her
problems before the grace period for reactivating is up.

My question is this: Once the hard drive is re-installed in her
computer (the one that Windows XP Home was originally loaded on and
activated) will she be asked to reactivate her version of XP Home?

To get a grace period in these circumstances you need to have SP1
installed. With that you could take it across, and have a couple of
days for trial. You would though need to get it back on the original
machine within the three days, and I am pretty sure you will then need
to get on the net and reactivate. If you leave it longer you wold have
the minor hassle of only being able to boot Safe mode until you have
activated by phoning in.

But unless your machine is pretty well exactly the same - same sort of
motherboard, and same model video card at the very least - I would not
try. It is likely not to work unless you do a repair reinstall; and
then need another on taking it back

 

[Ken Zboyan]

Because of the way XP ties itself to the specific hardware in the
computer it would probably be faster and less trouble if she were to
bring or send the entire computer to you.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

Thanks to all for the comments. I am beginning to think shipping the
computer is going to be easier than my plan.

Ken

 

[R. McCarty]

If both users are on Broadband, why not use "Remote
Assistance". I've made many Service Calls and fixed PC's
sitting right at my office computer.Even with Routers and
Firewalls using Remote Assistance is fairly easy to use.