Windows Product Activation workaround

[RJ]

I did a clean install after reformating my existing WinXPHomeSP2. Since
there were no hardware updgrades I tried the workaround - copied the old
wpa.dbl to a floppy , then copied it to System32 in safe mode after renaming
the new one wpa.new. But I kept getting the message to activate. When I
copied the file it was 14kb, but when I looked at it after reboot, it was
only 6kb. So did the original 14kb file get replaced when I rebooted?
Anyway, I moved the 'wpabln' file from System32 to a temp folder and now I
don't get the annoying reminders to activate. Did the workaround work? What
will happen after 30 days if I'm supposed to activate but didn't? Did I miss
any steps in the workaround?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I did a clean install after reformating my existing WinXPHomeSP2. Since
there were no hardware updgrades I tried the workaround - copied the old
wpa.dbl to a floppy , then copied it to System32 in safe mode after renaming
the new one wpa.new. But I kept getting the message to activate. When I
copied the file it was 14kb, but when I looked at it after reboot, it was
only 6kb. So did the original 14kb file get replaced when I rebooted?
Anyway, I moved the 'wpabln' file from System32 to a temp folder and now I
don't get the annoying reminders to activate. Did the workaround work? What
will happen after 30 days if I'm supposed to activate but didn't? Did I miss
any steps in the workaround?

Why not just activate in the normal manner? Then you wouldn't need to
wonder whether or not all that extra trouble you put yourself did any good.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[RJ]

I did some research. It doesn't work on a clean install, only on a
reinstall. see below.......



It is valuable to back up the two files WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK from the
Windows\System32 folder.Then, should they get damaged, or should you do a
'Repair' reinstallation of Win XP, these files can be copied back to restore
the prior activation status. However, this only works in those limited
circumstances. The contents of these two files is matched to the specific
Windows setup; therefore, contrary to what many journalists and members of
the user community have written in recent months, restoring these files will
not restore your activation status following a reformat and clean
install. --Alex Nichol, MS-MVP