About to Upgrade Hardware

[Cliff]

I am about to upgrade hardware, it will be a sunstantial change from my
existing setup. I intend to reinstal XP PRO on the upgraded system.

What is the situation regarding reinstalling XP again on a new system?, will
I be prompted to activate XP, bearing in mind its already activated on my
current system. On looking at some forums it appears a confusing situation.

Any advice much appreciated.

Cliff

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

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

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

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

"Cliff" wrote:

| I am about to upgrade hardware, it will be a sunstantial change from my
| existing setup. I intend to reinstal XP PRO on the upgraded system.
|
| What is the situation regarding reinstalling XP again on a new system?, will
| I be prompted to activate XP, bearing in mind its already activated on my
| current system. On looking at some forums it appears a confusing situation.
|
| Any advice much appreciated.
|
| Cliff

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

120 days after the last activation, a key is good automatically, on any new hardware.

 

[D.L.]

I am about to upgrade hardware, it will be a sunstantial change from my
existing setup. I intend to reinstal XP PRO on the upgraded system.

What is the situation regarding reinstalling XP again on a new system?, will
I be prompted to activate XP, bearing in mind its already activated on my
current system. On looking at some forums it appears a confusing situation.

Any advice much appreciated.

Cliff

My experience is that even a significant change (motherboard/processor
or similar) shouldn't be a problem. I have had the online activiation
halt and direct me to toll free number...where a short conversation with
a human ("I just put in a new motherboard") took care of the situation
easily. Your mileage may, of course, vary, but I expect you'll be fine.

 

[Cliff]

Thanks for info, it has been over a year since XP was installed, so guess I
will not get any unpleasant messages when I reinstal on upgraded system

Thanks for your help.

Cliff

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I am about to upgrade hardware, it will be a sunstantial change from my
existing setup. I intend to reinstal XP PRO on the upgraded system.

What is the situation regarding reinstalling XP again on a new system?, will
I be prompted to activate XP, bearing in mind its already activated on my
current system. On looking at some forums it appears a confusing situation.

Any advice much appreciated.

Cliff

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

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]

I am about to upgrade hardware, it will be a sunstantial change from my
existing setup. I intend to reinstal XP PRO on the upgraded system.

What is the situation regarding reinstalling XP again on a new system?, will
I be prompted to activate XP, bearing in mind its already activated on my
current system. On looking at some forums it appears a confusing situation.

Any advice much appreciated.

Cliff

If your Windows XP is a "BIOS Locked" OEM version then you will not be
able to activate it on new a new motherboard unless that motherboard
is from the same manufacturer as your original computer.

1. Open Control Panel - System - General and look at the 20 character
Product I.D. code shown in the "Registered to" section.

If the second segment (3 characters) of the Product I.D. is "OEM" then
the installed Windows XP is an OEM version. If the second segment is
numeric (3 digits) then it is either a Retail or Volume Licensed
version.

2. Look on the Start menu under Accessories - System Tools for an
"Activate Windows" entry.

If there is no Activate Windows item and the Product I.D. is OEM then
you have a BIOS locked OEM version and it cannot be activated on a
motherboard whose BIOS is not from the original OEM.


Good luck


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

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm