First re-install of WinXP Home

[Guest]

It used to be with my Win95/98/ME/2K machines, every six months or so I would reformat the hard drives and start fresh since I tend to accumulate lots of stuff.

But with XP and the whole activation process, I have yet to attempt it on my main PC which has WinXP Home on it. It is the retail version, so I don't have to worry about any OEM issues.

Anyway, I have had the PC for 2 years now, and the only major changes have been a new video card and and added RAM memory.

So if I re-format my hard drive and want to start over again and re-install my retail edition of XP Home, do you think I will have any trouble whatsoever activating it again?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Jerry]

If it's been over 120 days since the activation then doing it again will be
no different than it was the first time.

It used to be with my Win95/98/ME/2K machines, every six months or so I

would reformat the hard drives and start fresh since I tend to accumulate
lots of stuff.

But with XP and the whole activation process, I have yet to attempt it on

my main PC which has WinXP Home on it. It is the retail version, so I don't
have to worry about any OEM issues.

Anyway, I have had the PC for 2 years now, and the only major changes have

been a new video card and and added RAM memory.

So if I re-format my hard drive and want to start over again and

re-install my retail edition of XP Home, do you think I will have any
trouble whatsoever activating it again?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Greg;
You can reinstall and activate an unlimited # of times on that
computer.

After installation attempt internet activation.
If that fails, choose the option to activate by phone.
Call the displayed number for that region, done in about 5 minutes.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/

It used to be with my Win95/98/ME/2K machines, every six months or

so I would reformat the hard drives and start fresh since I tend to
accumulate lots of stuff.

But with XP and the whole activation process, I have yet to attempt

it on my main PC which has WinXP Home on it. It is the retail version,
so I don't have to worry about any OEM issues.

Anyway, I have had the PC for 2 years now, and the only major

changes have been a new video card and and added RAM memory.

So if I re-format my hard drive and want to start over again and

re-install my retail edition of XP Home, do you think I will have any
trouble whatsoever activating it again?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You shouldn't have any problems, at all.

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. 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

It used to be with my Win95/98/ME/2K machines, every six months or

so I would reformat the hard drives and start fresh since I tend to
accumulate lots of stuff.

But with XP and the whole activation process, I have yet to attempt

it on my main PC which has WinXP Home on it. It is the retail version,
so I don't have to worry about any OEM issues.

Anyway, I have had the PC for 2 years now, and the only major

changes have been a new video card and and added RAM memory.

So if I re-format my hard drive and want to start over again and

re-install my retail edition of XP Home, do you think I will have any
trouble whatsoever activating it again?