New XP installation on new Hard Drive

[Guest]

Running Win XP (Home) on computer with a 30Gb hard drive. I have purchased a
new 80Gb hard drive and would like to re-install the operating system on the
new HD. The new HD is formatted NTFS and pins set to Master drive. I have
made no other changes to any hardware on the compute. If I remove the
original 30 GB HD and install the new 80GB HD and then install my Win XP on
it, will I have to go through all Microsoft Activation thing again ??

Any help on how to get my HD changed to the new 80GB one and my operating
system on it would be appreciated. Thanks.

Redwagon.........

 

[Dennis Lazo]

if you mean you want to get rid of the old 30 gig HD and replace it with an
80 gig HD and then reinstall winxp in it, yep, you need to go through the
activation. but then, there shouldn't be a prob with activation anyways, it
takes less than 15 seconds for me to do it each time i reinstall winxp.

you can replace your new hard drive by opening your puter up, and then
locating where the old hard drive is. remove the data cables and power
cables. and then you can unscrew the old hard drive and then remove it.

as for your new hard drive, make sure that it is set as a master drive.
your new hard drive should have a manual to tell you on how to do this.
most hard drives also has some form of info on its face on how to set the
hard drive as a master drive.

after doing that, just insert the new hard drive at the slot of your old
hard drive, screw it in place, and then plug the data and power cables into
the hard drive. make sure you are a little careful here. data and power
cables can only be plugged in the drive in a specific direction. meaning if
it seems that it won't go in, try turning the cable around. if you are
plugging it properly, it would just be easy to push it in. and if it does
push in, make sure that it is in properly. there won't be any clicks but a
little pull of the cables won't detach them from the drive.

and duh...you already know that the drive is set as master LOL!

hope this helps though.
--
Regards,
Dennis Lazo

the email address from where this message has been sent from is unmonitored.
e-mails may be sent at http://dennislazo.com/email/.
information herein is provided as is with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Dennis for the reply. I have no problems changing out the hard drives
etc. I have custom buit about a dozen computers and have had no problems. The
answer I was looking for is you said "YES" I would have to re-activate the
operating system. Always before when building a computer It is with a new
operating system I purchased and all new hardware. This time I want to just
change out the HD's.

I would assume if I changed some other Hardware items then the system would
recognize that and would then definitely have to re-activate. But not
changing any other hardware except the new 80GB HD with nothing on it, I
thought I might not have to re-activate.

Thanks
Redwagon

 

[Rock]

Running Win XP (Home) on computer with a 30Gb hard drive. I have purchased a
new 80Gb hard drive and would like to re-install the operating system on the
new HD. The new HD is formatted NTFS and pins set to Master drive. I have
made no other changes to any hardware on the compute. If I remove the
original 30 GB HD and install the new 80GB HD and then install my Win XP on
it, will I have to go through all Microsoft Activation thing again ??

Any help on how to get my HD changed to the new 80GB one and my operating
system on it would be appreciated. Thanks.

Redwagon.........

If it's a retail drive it should come with a utility to copy the data
from the old drive. If it's OEM, go to the drive manufacturer's web
site to get the copy utility. There should be no need to activate.

 

[kurttrail]

If it's a retail drive it should come with a utility to copy the data
from the old drive. If it's OEM, go to the drive manufacturer's web
site to get the copy utility. There should be no need to activate.

Only if it is on OEM machine that uses BIOS locking, but I suspect that
is not the case, since the OP asked, "will I have to go through all
Microsoft Activation thing again ??" The key word would be the last
one, "AGAIN." Assuming to OP has a working understanding of the english
language, it would be neccessary to have activation WXP at least once in
order that it would have to be activated again, and if the OP didn't
have to activated WCP already, the question really would make much
sense.

So assuming that the OP is not using OEM BIOS-LOCKED WXP, then
activation will indeed need to be re-done. If there are no other
changes in hardware in the computer since WXP was last activated then
WXP should activate smoothly over the internet. However, if there have
been other hardware changes since WXP was last activated AND WXP was
last activated less than 120 days ago, then phone activation MAY be
required.

And if it is a full moon at the sixth hour on the sixth day of the sixth
month, then you have to worship the Anti-Christ in order to get
activated!

[Just joking with the last bit!]

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Guest]

O.K., maybe I didn't give you all the information needed to answer my
question. First of all, I have been custom building computers for some time
now. I don't usually change hardware on any of them unless I think it really
needs it. That's why I have never ahd to know anything about having to
re-activate. The last three I built used Win XP. All the others I installed
Win 2000 Pro on so didn't need to worry about activation.

The one I am considering changing the HD on was built with an OEM 30GB HD
and an OEM copy of Win XP installed on it the first time and an internet
activation that went all O.K.

From what I gather from all the replies is that re-activation will most
likely be required. And the reply about the HD manufacturer having a program
or way of automatically copying the existing system to a new HD without
activation is not likely in my opinion. (By the way, the HD is a Western
Digital).

I do know there are other propritory programs that might handle the change
but have used any of them.

I have no problems having to re-activate if that's what is necessary but I
just don't want to have to go through all the crap that MS goes through when
you have an OEM copy of their operating system. Once they found out that I
build OEM computers and don't buy my operating systems from their suggested
sellers, they get nasty.

Thanks to you all for your information. I appreciate it all.
Cheers
Redwagon....

If it's a retail drive it should come with a utility to copy the data
from the old drive. If it's OEM, go to the drive manufacturer's web
site to get the copy utility. There should be no need to activate.

Only if it is on OEM machine that uses BIOS locking, but I suspect that
is not the case, since the OP asked, "will I have to go through all
Microsoft Activation thing again ??" The key word would be the last
one, "AGAIN." Assuming to OP has a working understanding of the english
language, it would be neccessary to have activation WXP at least once in
order that it would have to be activated again, and if the OP didn't
have to activated WCP already, the question really would make much
sense.

So assuming that the OP is not using OEM BIOS-LOCKED WXP, then
activation will indeed need to be re-done. If there are no other
changes in hardware in the computer since WXP was last activated then
WXP should activate smoothly over the internet. However, if there have
been other hardware changes since WXP was last activated AND WXP was
last activated less than 120 days ago, then phone activation MAY be
required.

And if it is a full moon at the sixth hour on the sixth day of the sixth
month, then you have to worship the Anti-Christ in order to get
activated!

[Just joking with the last bit!]

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Guest]

Western Digital has a program that will effectively clone your present HD,
including the OS, to your new WD drive. Of course, you need two HD slots in
the computer to do it. Once cloned you can use the new HD as the master and
the old one as the primary slave/backup. You can download the WD program at:
http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=999&swid=1

Marty

 

[kurttrail]

O.K., maybe I didn't give you all the information needed to answer my
question. First of all, I have been custom building computers for
some time now. I don't usually change hardware on any of them unless
I think it really needs it. That's why I have never ahd to know
anything about having to re-activate. The last three I built used Win
XP. All the others I installed Win 2000 Pro on so didn't need to
worry about activation.

The one I am considering changing the HD on was built with an OEM
30GB HD and an OEM copy of Win XP installed on it the first time and
an internet activation that went all O.K.

So if you are going to do the reinstall route, then activation should go
though over the internet again as smoothly as before, as long as it has
been MORE than 120 days since that copy was last activated. If it has
been less than 120 days since that copy of XP had been activated last,
then may have to activate by phone.

From what I gather from all the replies is that re-activation will
most likely be required. And the reply about the HD manufacturer
having a program or way of automatically copying the existing system
to a new HD without activation is not likely in my opinion. (By the
way, the HD is a Western Digital).
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc...TEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1jb3B5&p_li=&p_topview=1


I do know there are other propritory programs that might handle the
change but have used any of them.

I have no problems having to re-activate if that's what is necessary
but I just don't want to have to go through all the crap that MS goes
through when you have an OEM copy of their operating system. Once
they found out that I build OEM computers and don't buy my operating
systems from their suggested sellers, they get nasty.

Don't tell them that. You don't have to.

Thanks to you all for your information. I appreciate it all.
Cheers
Redwagon....

REDWAGON wrote:

Running Win XP (Home) on computer with a 30Gb hard drive. I have
purchased a new 80Gb hard drive and would like to re-install the
operating system on the new HD. The new HD is formatted NTFS and
pins set to Master drive. I have made no other changes to any
hardware on the compute. If I remove the original 30 GB HD and
install the new 80GB HD and then install my Win XP on it, will I
have to go through all Microsoft Activation thing again ?? Any help
on how to get my HD changed to the new 80GB one and my
operating system on it would be appreciated. Thanks.

Redwagon.........


If it's a retail drive it should come with a utility to copy the
data from the old drive. If it's OEM, go to the drive
manufacturer's web site to get the copy utility. There should be
no need to activate.

Only if it is on OEM machine that uses BIOS locking, but I suspect
that is not the case, since the OP asked, "will I have to go through
all Microsoft Activation thing again ??" The key word would be the
last one, "AGAIN." Assuming to OP has a working understanding of
the english language, it would be neccessary to have activation WXP
at least once in order that it would have to be activated again, and
if the OP didn't have to activated WCP already, the question really
would make much sense.

So assuming that the OP is not using OEM BIOS-LOCKED WXP, then
activation will indeed need to be re-done. If there are no other
changes in hardware in the computer since WXP was last activated then
WXP should activate smoothly over the internet. However, if there
have been other hardware changes since WXP was last activated AND
WXP was last activated less than 120 days ago, then phone activation
MAY be required.

And if it is a full moon at the sixth hour on the sixth day of the
sixth month, then you have to worship the Anti-Christ in order to get
activated!

[Just joking with the last bit!]

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Rock]

REDWAGON wrote:



If it's a retail drive it should come with a utility to copy the data
from the old drive. If it's OEM, go to the drive manufacturer's web
site to get the copy utility. There should be no need to activate.

Only if it is on OEM machine that uses BIOS locking, but I suspect that
is not the case, since the OP asked, "will I have to go through all
Microsoft Activation thing again ??" The key word would be the last
one, "AGAIN." Assuming to OP has a working understanding of the english
language, it would be neccessary to have activation WXP at least once in
order that it would have to be activated again, and if the OP didn't
have to activated WCP already, the question really would make much
sense.

So assuming that the OP is not using OEM BIOS-LOCKED WXP, then
activation will indeed need to be re-done. If there are no other
changes in hardware in the computer since WXP was last activated then
WXP should activate smoothly over the internet. However, if there have
been other hardware changes since WXP was last activated AND WXP was
last activated less than 120 days ago, then phone activation MAY be
required.

And if it is a full moon at the sixth hour on the sixth day of the sixth
month, then you have to worship the Anti-Christ in order to get
activated!

[Just joking with the last bit!]

Yep, sure got that one wrong. Wasn't paying attention.

 

[VWWall]

O.K., maybe I didn't give you all the information needed to answer my
question. First of all, I have been custom building computers for some time
now. I don't usually change hardware on any of them unless I think it really
needs it. That's why I have never ahd to know anything about having to
re-activate. The last three I built used Win XP. All the others I installed
Win 2000 Pro on so didn't need to worry about activation.

The one I am considering changing the HD on was built with an OEM 30GB HD
and an OEM copy of Win XP installed on it the first time and an internet
activation that went all O.K.

From what I gather from all the replies is that re-activation will most
likely be required. And the reply about the HD manufacturer having a program
or way of automatically copying the existing system to a new HD without
activation is not likely in my opinion. (By the way, the HD is a Western
Digital).

Here's a good discussion of the activation process:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

In particular see "What about formatting a hard disk".

The license restrictions on OEM are not too clear, but as long as the OS
is used in the same computer as originally activated, reasonable
changes/additions are allowed.

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

Thanks Dennis for the reply. I have no problems changing out the hard
drives etc. I have custom buit about a dozen computers and have had
no problems. The answer I was looking for is you said "YES" I would
have to re-activate the operating system. Always before when building
a computer It is with a new operating system I purchased and all new
hardware. This time I want to just change out the HD's.

I would assume if I changed some other Hardware items then the system
would recognize that and would then definitely have to re-activate.
But not changing any other hardware except the new 80GB HD with
nothing on it, I thought I might not have to re-activate.

Thanks
Redwagon

And why on earth should you think that?! You are installing on a virgin
drive - what do you think happens, the activation information miraculously
appears somehow? Use your common sense, man!

 

[VWWall]

REDWAGON wrote:



And why on earth should you think that?! You are installing on a virgin
drive - what do you think happens, the activation information miraculously
appears somehow? Use your common sense, man!

From your sig:

In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

The article I just mentioned to REDWAGON was written by Alex Nichol.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

I hadn't heard of his death until I found the latest revision.

 

[Guest]

Hey Marty, if one can "clone" a hard drive that easy, wouldn't that be
dodging the MS activation ? What would stop anyone from cloning a new HD and
then using that HD on another machine ? Especially if that 2nd computer was
the exact twin, as far as hardware goes, to the original computer. Maybe when
you install, it takes into account the serial numbers of certain hardware in
the computer. If it did that then that would stop it I guess. Anyway thanks
Marty for the Western Digital download. That will come in very handy for me
if it works. I'll give it a try.
Redwagon..........

 

[Guest]

I don't have the answer to your questions, though from what I've read, unless
the cloning is done and used on an OEM BIOS-Locked system, which is what I
have, it probably would require activation, even if there is no change in
hardware, whether on the original computer or another one. Though the WD
drive I cloned works flawlessly on my computer, I'm reasonably certain it
wouldn't work on any other computer. I'd be interested in knowing how it
works out for you.

Marty

 

[Paul Knudsen]

Running Win XP (Home) on computer with a 30Gb hard drive. I have purchased a
new 80Gb hard drive and would like to re-install the operating system on the
new HD. The new HD is formatted NTFS and pins set to Master drive. I have
made no other changes to any hardware on the compute. If I remove the
original 30 GB HD and install the new 80GB HD and then install my Win XP on
it, will I have to go through all Microsoft Activation thing again ??

Any help on how to get my HD changed to the new 80GB one and my operating
system on it would be appreciated. Thanks.

Redwagon.........

You could but why bother? Your old drive can't be very old, so I
doubt the new one will be faster. So why not just install it as a
slave and keep data, backups, etc on it?