Activation

[Guest]

If I reformat and reinstall Windows XP, I know I have to get "activated"
again.
Since it's the same machine, will this count against me?
-Pete

 

[D.Currie]

If I reformat and reinstall Windows XP, I know I have to get "activated"
again.
Since it's the same machine, will this count against me?
-Pete

I'm not sure what you mean by "count against me" but activation shouldn't be
a problem. At the worst, you have to pick up the phone, but that's pretty
unlikely.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

If I reformat and reinstall Windows XP, I know I have to get "activated"
again.
Since it's the same machine, will this count against me?
-Pete

".... Count against.." you, in what way?

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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[Ken Blake]

In

If I reformat and reinstall Windows XP, I know I have to get
"activated" again.
Since it's the same machine, will this count against me?

"Count against you"? There's nothing to "count against you." You
can reformat, reinstall, and reactivate Windows on the same
machine as many times as you want to, without a problem.

If it's a retail version, not an OEM one, you can also move it to
different machines and reactivate as many times as you want to,
as long as you take it off the old machine each time.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

No it won't count against you. Just re-install and activate as normal. If
you can't activate via the internet all you need do is telephone the toll
free number. Make sure you are in front of your pc and it is on when you
telephone - you need to go through activation and give the activation line a
list of numbers and, in return, they will give you another list to input
into the dialogue box on your screen.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

If I reformat and reinstall Windows XP, I know I have to get "activated"
again.
Since it's the same machine, will this count against me?
-Pete

It never counts against you. If it's been a few months since you last
activated, just do the install and once you're convinced the install was
successful, activate over the net. It takes a very short time.

I suggest waiting till the install is confirmed to activate because it is
possible to be forced into a situation (by having to reinstall and activate
repeatedly in a very short period) where you have to make a toll-free phone
call. This takes a few minutes, and is easy, but can be avoided by simply
waiting.

MS is aware of the concept that people have to re-install sometimes. I've
never had a problem seeking activation codes, it's been fast and easy.

HTH
-pk

 

[John Smithe]

If I reformat and reinstall Windows XP, I know I have to get "activated"
again.
Since it's the same machine, will this count against me?
-Pete

It is my understanding that an activation can be backed up and re-applied.
Does anyone know how to do this?

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Yes an activation can be 'backed up' but in my experience it doesn't work.
Well i've never got it to work, anyway.
The procedure is relatively simply:
Open Windows explorer and navigate to C:\WINDOWS\System32 (If you dual boot
you will need to replace the C: option with the drive letter of the
operating system you are using). Now locate the following files: wpa.dbl and
wpa.bak. Back these files up to a floppy or cd and keep them safe.
When you re-install XP again, after installation, close down and then boot
into Safe Mode. Once in safe mode go to C:WINDOWS\System32 folder and copy
the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files from your floppy/cd back to the
Windows\system32 folder. You will be alerted that the files already exist.
Just click OK to overwrite them with your backup copies. Now reboot and you
should be activated - Well that's the theory anyway.

 

[Sharon F]

Yes an activation can be 'backed up' but in my experience it doesn't work.
Well i've never got it to work, anyway.

Me neither, John. And it's a lot of fooling around when you compare it to
clicking an "Activate Now" button. Even if you end up calling in for
activation, I think that goes faster than the wpa.* dance.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

I can only agree with you, Sharon. It's a damn sight easier to click the
activation button than saving copies and then re-copying. I'd be stuck
anyway because i can't access safe mode (for some unknown reason on my XP
Home or XP Pro partition, yet i can access safe mode in Vista.)