Back up Windows XP Pro SP2

[vze2mp9g]

Hi,
I usually backup my boot partition and wipe it clean and reinstall
Windows XP Pro. I've done this seven times and now I have to call
Microsoft to give me a new "Key Code" because I could only reinstall it
so many times. I don't know where I saw or read it, but there is a small
file on the Windows installation drive to back up and put it back when
you are finished and you don't have to call Microsoft to obtain a new
"Key Code". I would like to wipe my drive clean and reinstall XP Pro
(clean) and I don't have to call Microsoft. Can anyone help me on this?
Thank You.
David

 

[Zilbandy]

I usually backup my boot partition and wipe it clean and reinstall
Windows XP Pro. I've done this seven times

I can't help with your problem, but I can't help but wonder why you
would need to do seven 'clean' installs. I've got one computer running
xp pro for three years and this laptop with xp home that has over two
years on the original installs. I just don't understand the need to do
so many re-installs. I can definitely understand one, maybe two... but
seven? ::color me confused::

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I can't help with your problem, but I can't help but wonder why you
would need to do seven 'clean' installs. I've got one computer running
xp pro for three years and this laptop with xp home that has over two
years on the original installs. I just don't understand the need to do
so many re-installs. I can definitely understand one, maybe two... but
seven? ::color me confused::

Even one or two is hardly even necessary. I've run Windows 3.0, 3.1, WFWG
3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and now Windows
Vista, each for the period of time before the next version came out, and
each on two machines here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never
had anything more than an occasional minor problem.

Reinstalling is hardly ever necessary and is almost always a mistake. It
should be a last resort in problem-solving, not something that should be
done routinely.

 

[Jerry]

If you insist on clean installs that often, I suggest you get an imaging
program like Ghost 2003 or Acronis and make an image on DVD of the fresh
install. This eliminates the need of calling MS and is a heck of a lot
quicker <about 10 minutes>. My personal preference is Ghost 2003 if you
can find it. Later versions of Ghost are terrible.

You can also even do images after installing all updates and software and
still put that image back at anytime. Restoring images is fast and I have
found them to be very reliable. The piece of mind that having an image
available is priceless.