Re-Installing XP

[Guest]

First post to this newsgroup. Hello to all and thanks for any help which can
be provided.

The Background: When I was running Windows 98 and 98SE, I could periodically
do a backup, wipe my hard drive clean, F Disk, Format, and reinstall
everything. A local computer shop told me this was good for keeping my
computer happy and healthy. It seemed to work as I rarely had problems.

My question: Can I do the same thing with Windows XP? (I am running a Dell
Dimension 4550 desktop, Windows XP with SP-2 installed, I download and
install every update Microsoft publishes, and have 256MB of SDRAM.) I asked
at the computer shop. They told me it couldn't be done because Microsoft
wouldn't allow re-use of the registration and activation numbers and codes.

Could someone please let me know, or provide a link to a Microsoft knowledge
base?

Thanks to all.

Jim

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Yes, but you shouldn't have to. Regular maintenance is all that is needed.

XP is NT/Win2000 based. It does not work like Win9x/ME.

Registration does not have codes. When you register you are registering
yourself as an owner but it is purely voluntary. You should not have to do
this a second time no matter how many times you reformat and reinstall.

Activation ties the software and hardware.

In short, you register you. You activate Windows.

The shop probably misunderstood your question. They may have thought you
were asking if you could use the same copy of Windows XP on a second machine
and assumed you meant at the same time. That is what you cannot do.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

First post to this newsgroup. Hello to all and thanks for any help which can
be provided.

The Background: When I was running Windows 98 and 98SE, I could periodically
do a backup, wipe my hard drive clean, F Disk, Format, and reinstall
everything. A local computer shop told me this was good for keeping my
computer happy and healthy. It seemed to work as I rarely had problems.

It may have "seemed to work," but it was completely unnecessary. When
properly maintained, even a Win3.x or Win9x installation would last for
years.

My question: Can I do the same thing with Windows XP?

You could, but there'd be even less point in it; it'll just be a waste
of your time. There's only very rarely a need to reinstall the OS.

I asked
at the computer shop. They told me it couldn't be done because Microsoft
wouldn't allow re-use of the registration and activation numbers and codes.

You really should find yourself another computer shop. The staff of
the place where you've been going seem to know very little about
maintaining computers, in general, and WinXP, in particular.

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation
license) ever expire. 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.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm





--

Bruce Chambers

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