Reactivating XP

[Joy]

I've just bought a new, upgraded barebones computer, and
I'll be putting my old hard drive with XP Pro on it. I've
been concerned about whether this will be seen as the same
installation, and whether I'll need to reactivate XP. If
so, how do I do that?

 

[Guest]

you will have to re-install Xp , and re-activate, very
straight forward.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I've just bought a new, upgraded barebones computer, and
I'll be putting my old hard drive with XP Pro on it. I've
been concerned about whether this will be seen as the same
installation, and whether I'll need to reactivate XP. If
so, how do I do that?

Normally, and assuming a retail license (many OEM installations
and licenses are not transferable to a new motherboard - check yours
before starting), unless the new motherboard is virtually identical
(same chipset, same IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the
one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, 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

The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this
point. You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the
OS. (If you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as
picking up a Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch
style foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K
before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to
accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. On
installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This
is one of the reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much
more stable than the Win9x group.

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

This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. 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

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I've just bought a new, upgraded barebones computer, and
I'll be putting my old hard drive with XP Pro on it. I've
been concerned about whether this will be seen as the same
installation, and whether I'll need to reactivate XP. If
so, how do I do that?

No, you can't just do this. The registry contains lots of
information about your hardware configuration, all of which will
be wrong. there will be also be wrong drivers loaded. At the very
least, you'll have to do a repair installation, and you may to
reinstall Windows XP cleanly.

Also, is your copy of Windows XP a retail one or an OEM one? If
it's retail, you'll just have to reactivate, but if it's OEM, you
can't do this it all; the OEM license permanently ties Windows XP
to the first computer it's installed in. You can never move it to
another, as you're planning on doing.

 

[Michael Stevens]

I've just bought a new, upgraded barebones computer, and
I'll be putting my old hard drive with XP Pro on it. I've
been concerned about whether this will be seen as the same
installation, and whether I'll need to reactivate XP. If
so, how do I do that?

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Move XP to new hardware.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I've just bought a new, upgraded barebones computer, and
I'll be putting my old hard drive with XP Pro on it. I've
been concerned about whether this will be seen as the same
installation, and whether I'll need to reactivate XP.

First - this would by any definition be seen as a new machine, so if
your XP CD is one of the OEM ones that are licensed solely to the
machine first installed on (usually marked something like "for supply
only with a new computer"), you may not do it.

If it is a retail CD you can transfer. Start with a repair reinstall;
boot the XP CD and in Setup after the license agreement take 'repair
installation', so as to get the system matched to its new environment.
This will unwind all updates back to the state of the CD; I suggest
having an SP2 CD to hand to run immediately. At the very least have the
firewall enabled before going on the net even for a moment. And back up
data in advance, just in case

With such a complete change of hardware this will need reactivation -
you will only be able to boot Safe Mode. From that go to
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Activate Windows
and use the option to Activate by phoning in. Call the toll free number
that will be give, and you will then need to read and check back one
long number, and get another to type in in exchange