How many times can i install XP on same computer

[Guest]

I would like to know how many times i can install xp on the same computer? I
like to reformat my computer every 6 months just to clean it up and would
like to know if i bought xp that I could do that?

 

[kurttrail]

I would like to know how many times i can install xp on the same
computer? I like to reformat my computer every 6 months just to
clean it up and would like to know if i bought xp that I could do
that?

Infinite

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Jim Macklin]

Yes, you can. The activation server is purged every 120
days, so re-activation will proceed normally on-line.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


|I would like to know how many times i can install xp on the
same computer? I
| like to reformat my computer every 6 months just to clean
it up and would
| like to know if i bought xp that I could do that?

 

[Plato]

I would like to know how many times i can install xp on the same computer? I

There is NO limit whatsoever.

 

[johnsuth]

I would like to know how many times i can install xp on the same computer? I
like to reformat my computer every 6 months just to clean it up and would
like to know if i bought xp that I could do that?

My experience is that you are allowed perhaps 2 or 3 Activations before you are refused. I phone to get the key (the boxes are not on line), and after the first refusal I feigned ignorance and pleaded extenuating circumstances to get an extra activation.

 

[NoStop]

I would like to know how many times i can install xp on the same computer?
I like to reformat my computer every 6 months just to clean it up and
would
like to know if i bought xp that I could do that?

Of course. That's the typical way one works with Windoze.

--

ø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°øø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°ø
Windows is *NOT* a virus. Viruses are small and efficient.
Tired of the insecurity of your Wintendo box? Update to GNU/Linux
STOP the dummying down of America - Move to a REAL o/s.

 

[kurttrail]

Of course. That's the typical way one works with Windoze.

LOL! Most Windows Users NEVER EVER installed a Windows OS, nevermind
reinstall Windows. Can you say the same with Linux? I think not!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

My experience is that you are allowed perhaps 2 or 3 Activations
before you are refused. I phone to get the key (the boxes are not on
line), and after the first refusal I feigned ignorance and pleaded
extenuating circumstances to get an extra activation.

My guess is that ignorance comes naturally to you.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[NoStop]

LOL! Most Windows Users NEVER EVER installed a Windows OS, nevermind
reinstall Windows.

They may never have installed it originally because it came pre-installed on
their 'puters. But, when it screws up, as inevitably they all seem to do,
the most common "solution" is to wipe the drive and install from scratch.
At that point it is either done by the user or they take it into a shop and
some "tech" does it for them. Personally, I've never had to do that. Every
Windoze computer I had, I've been able to keep the thing running (and it's
been an effort). Still have an old Win95 computer kicking around here that
has never been reformatted since the day I put it together. But that IS NOT
common procedure with most computer users that I've come across over the
years. Most Windoze computer users I know personally that have been running
XP for some time, have gone through a complete re-installation due to the
system becoming so unstable it was beyond their capability to do anything
but.

Why do you think the OP said "I like to reformat my computer every 6 months
just to *clean it up*"? In my experience that is a fairly typical approach
in the Windoze world.

Can you say the same with Linux? I think not!

Coming from a guy who hasn't yet ever got Linux up and running, I have to
question your knowledge of the Linux community and their experiences with
it. Typically, once one has Linux up and running, there is never any reason
to reformat the hard drive(s) and re-install. It just works. I know this
concept is pretty hard for Windoze users to believe, because it is so alien
to their personal experiences with computers.

People will sometimes do a fresh install if they're moving up to a newer
version, but not because the o/s itself has screwed up and requires it as
is so common with Windoze. Even wiping the root drive and re-installing a
Linux system, doesn't destroy the old configuration settings a user on that
machine has setup, as the home directories are typically placed on another
partition. I'd wager there are Linux systems running today that haven't
been rebooted from the time they were originally installed, let alone been
reformatted and re-installed. One can't even keep a Windoze system running
for very long without requiring a reboot because the system requires it
just to "clean up".

--

ø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°øø¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°ø
Windows is *NOT* a virus. Viruses are small and efficient.
Tired of the insecurity of your Wintendo box? Update to GNU/Linux
STOP the dummying down of America - Move to a REAL o/s.

 

[Kerry Brown]

They may never have installed it originally because it came pre-installed
on
their 'puters. But, when it screws up, as inevitably they all seem to do,
the most common "solution" is to wipe the drive and install from scratch.
At that point it is either done by the user or they take it into a shop
and
some "tech" does it for them. Personally, I've never had to do that. Every
Windoze computer I had, I've been able to keep the thing running (and it's
been an effort). Still have an old Win95 computer kicking around here that
has never been reformatted since the day I put it together. But that IS
NOT
common procedure with most computer users that I've come across over the
years. Most Windoze computer users I know personally that have been
running
XP for some time, have gone through a complete re-installation due to the
system becoming so unstable it was beyond their capability to do anything
but.

This is not my experience. I have many customers (at a guess 95%) that have
never had to reformat and do a clean install of Windows 2000 or XP. There
are problems with virus and malware infections but no to the point of a
clean install. Part of this reputation is due to older versions of Windows
based on MD-DOS and large OEM tech support that consists of telling the
customer to restore the sysytme to the factory configuration.

Why do you think the OP said "I like to reformat my computer every 6
months
just to *clean it up*"? In my experience that is a fairly typical approach
in the Windoze world.

Atypical but sometimes mistakenly done because of the reasons mentioned
above.

Coming from a guy who hasn't yet ever got Linux up and running, I have to
question your knowledge of the Linux community and their experiences with
it. Typically, once one has Linux up and running, there is never any
reason
to reformat the hard drive(s) and re-install. It just works. I know this
concept is pretty hard for Windoze users to believe, because it is so
alien
to their personal experiences with computers.

People will sometimes do a fresh install if they're moving up to a newer
version, but not because the o/s itself has screwed up and requires it as
is so common with Windoze. Even wiping the root drive and re-installing a
Linux system, doesn't destroy the old configuration settings a user on
that
machine has setup, as the home directories are typically placed on another
partition. I'd wager there are Linux systems running today that haven't
been rebooted from the time they were originally installed, let alone been
reformatted and re-installed. One can't even keep a Windoze system running
for very long without requiring a reboot because the system requires it
just to "clean up".

--

Linux will not take over the consumer desktop until someone markets it a
little better. The vast majority of computer users want to buy a pc with
everything installed and use it. They don't want to know anything about
logging in as a root level user to do maitenance etc. That's why in windows
XP the user level defaults to administrator. Does this cause problems? Of
course it does but that is what the consumer wants so that is what MS gives
them. If and when someone markets linux well enough to take a significant
market share many of the same problems that windows has will start to occur.
Malware and virus writers will start to target it. Every program has bugs
that can be exploited. If there is a financial incentive those bugs will be
found. The average user will be frustrated with learning how to use root
level access to install programs and figure out to how give themselves root
access all the time. Many "experts" who probably migrated from windows will
come across a problem they can't figure out and advise their friend/customer
to reformat and do a clean install. Large OEMs will stiil have crappy tech
support and advise customers to return the system to the factory
configuration. How is this any better than where we are now? There are no
consumer safe OS's on the market yet. Whoever develops one will take over
the world

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Of course. That's the typical way one works with Windoze.

Actually, it's typical only if the computer user has absolutely *no*
idea how to use and/or maintain a computer at all. *No* properly
maintained Windows operating system, when installed upon fully
compatible and nondefective hardware, *needs* to be periodically
re-installed.


--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

They may never have installed it originally because it came pre-installed on
their 'puters. But, when it screws up, as inevitably they all seem to do,

Depends entirely upon the computer knowledge and skills, or lack
thereof, of each individual user. There's nothing at all inevitable
about it.

the most common "solution" is to wipe the drive and install from scratch.

This is merely the first resort of inept.

Every
Windoze computer I had, I've been able to keep the thing running (and it's
been an effort).

If it was an effort, then you should have learned a little about the
OS. If you cannot manage Windows without effort, then you'll never
learn to manage Linux properly.

Most Windoze computer users I know personally that have been running
XP for some time, have gone through a complete re-installation due to the
system becoming so unstable it was beyond their capability to do anything
but.

So, don't you know anyone who can learn a few simple preventative measures?

Why do you think the OP said "I like to reformat my computer every 6 months
just to *clean it up*"?

Because the OP clearly doesn't know any better.



--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My experience is that you are allowed perhaps 2 or 3 Activations before you are refused. I phone to get the key (the boxes are not on line), and after the first refusal I feigned ignorance and pleaded extenuating circumstances to get an extra activation.

That's incorrect.

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

 

[kurttrail]

They may never have installed it originally because it came
pre-installed on their 'puters. But, when it screws up, as inevitably
they all seem to do, the most common "solution" is to wipe the drive
and install from scratch.

And a vast majority of them have NEVER had to do that, so wiping the
harddrive as a solution doesn't sound like a "common" one to me!

At that point it is either done by the user
or they take it into a shop and some "tech" does it for them.
Personally, I've never had to do that. Every Windoze computer I had,
I've been able to keep the thing running (and it's been an effort).
Still have an old Win95 computer kicking around here that has never
been reformatted since the day I put it together. But that IS NOT
common procedure with most computer users that I've come across over
the years. Most Windoze computer users I know personally that have
been running XP for some time, have gone through a complete
re-installation due to the system becoming so unstable it was beyond
their capability to do anything but.

I would suspect the unstableness is due to their inability to use their
common sense when computing.

Why do you think the OP said "I like to reformat my computer every 6
months just to *clean it up*"? In my experience that is a fairly
typical approach in the Windoze world.

Then you don't know that many casual computers users that mostly use the
PC as a communications device.

Coming from a guy who hasn't yet ever got Linux up and running, I
have to question your knowledge of the Linux community and their
experiences with it.

On my multimedia PC, I never said I haven't gotten it running on other
PCs! You should read more carefully!

Typically, once one has Linux up and running,
there is never any reason to reformat the hard drive(s) and
re-install. It just works. I know this concept is pretty hard for
Windoze users to believe, because it is so alien to their personal
experiences with computers.

The only partition I've had to reformat in years, is the partition that
I install different OS for testing.

And my "software" RAID has seen 4 different motherboards with at least
three different chipsets!

People will sometimes do a fresh install if they're moving up to a
newer version, but not because the o/s itself has screwed up and
requires it as is so common with Windoze.

Most windows users have never done it so you Bullsh*t about it being
"common" is just that! Bullsh*t!

Even wiping the root drive
and re-installing a Linux system, doesn't destroy the old
configuration settings a user on that machine has setup, as the home
directories are typically placed on another partition. I'd wager
there are Linux systems running today that haven't been rebooted from
the time they were originally installed, let alone been reformatted
and re-installed. One can't even keep a Windoze system running for
very long without requiring a reboot because the system requires it
just to "clean up".

LOL! Since many if not most Windows users turn off their computers at
night, it is not that big of a deal.

It is a big deal in the server world, where down time is a big deal.
But as a user-friendly multimedia OS Linux still need work.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Steve N.]

That's incorrect.

It happens Bruce. WPA is flawed and Windows itself lies to people saying
it has been activated too many times when online activation fails for
whatever reason. Then people have to call in and explain to some
stranger their situation and sometimes try to prove they are not guilty
of software piracy. If the stranger on the other end doesn't like their
explanation then activation can be refused.

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

Those are the Micorsoft version of the facts. That's the way MS _hopes_
it works but the facts as experienced by end users are often at variance
with what MS says should happen. I have personally experienced some
pretty wierd things with WPA. For example, after a clean re-install to a
new hard drive within a week of the original activation it tells me to
call MS to activate but the next day it activates online with no problem.

Now with MS disabling valid OEM keys used for mass installations brand
new machines won't activate out of the box unless you change the key and
pray it works. No wonder people are confused.

Steve

 

[johnsuth]

It happens Bruce. WPA is flawed and Windows itself lies to people saying
it has been activated too many times when online activation fails for
whatever reason. Then people have to call in and explain to some
stranger their situation and sometimes try to prove they are not guilty
of software piracy. If the stranger on the other end doesn't like their
explanation then activation can be refused.


Those are the Micorsoft version of the facts. That's the way MS _hopes_
it works but the facts as experienced by end users are often at variance
with what MS says should happen. I have personally experienced some
pretty wierd things with WPA. For example, after a clean re-install to a
new hard drive within a week of the original activation it tells me to
call MS to activate but the next day it activates online with no problem.

Now with MS disabling valid OEM keys used for mass installations brand
new machines won't activate out of the box unless you change the key and
pray it works. No wonder people are confused.

Steve

I value Bruce's contributions here and don't want to see him looking silly because he did not have the full facts, so here they are:-

Itook over responsibility for a cluster of computers which came with a cluster of OEM Re-installaion CDs for XP Home. I keep one CD in my toolkit with a list of the MS keys on the boxes. I have used the one CD and the first key on the list for I think four installs, the last one requiring the pleading phone call.

One install was where a user had left the organisation and taken the password with him. I realise now that there may have been a more elegant solution, but I did not know that then. I do anticipate finding boxes where the user has put a password on the safe mode owner. The naive purchaser was not aware of that issue.

I tried to install XP over a failing Me but it refused. Me failed to detect that the hard drive was the problem but a third party utility did. I bought a new drive and installed XP.

I rarely use Windows at home, but the new job brought the need for a test box at home, so I installed XP on a 98 box and it went in beside 98, giving me a choice of boot.

That 4GB drive was too small for the job so I bought another drive and installed XP again.

I can find no disks for computers bought within the last year. Are they not supplied anymore?

Yes we are short on licences but I will recommend that we correct that by getting a site licence and bringing all boxes up to the same OS.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I value Bruce's contributions here and don't want to see him looking silly because he did not have the full facts, so here they are:-

Thank you for the kind words, but you needn't be concerned about my
feeling "silly." After all, I'm not the one who categorically condemned
an entire program just because there's a problem in a small and
_statistically_ insignificant number of cases. (And I'm not trying to
denigrate or brush off the frustration obviously and rightly felt by
those so unfortunate to experience one of those rare failures.) That's
like saying that *all* Fords should be scrapped because, out of the
hundreds of millions sold, 5 have broken down. As with any technology,
problems do occasionally happen with WPA; this doesn't necessarily mean
that the entire program is "flawed." Heck, by that reasoning, I guess
we'd better stop using fire, because, every once in a while, someone
does get burned.

I can find no disks for computers bought within the last year. Are they not supplied anymore?

Sadly, many low-end, bargain-basement manufacturers are going this
CD-less route to cut their own costs, but the better companies still
provide installation media. Microsoft requires its licensed OEM
computer manufacturers to provide a means of returning the computer to
its original, ex-factory state. The particular method of recovery,
however, is left entirely to the discretion of each individual computer
manufacturer.

Legally, the OEM has met it's contractual obligation to Microsoft
by providing a means of returning the PC to its ex-factory state,
whether it's a Recovery CD or a Recovery Partition. They are not
legally obliged to provide a true installation CD as part of the sale.
Reputable, customer-service aware OEMs, like Dell and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation CD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. Many uncaring OEMs, such as Compaq, HP, and
Sony, however, in an effort to save pennies and reduce their support
costs by having to hire support people that can only say "Boot from the
Recovery CD to return your PC to its original condition," provide only a
CD bearing a disk image of the hard drive as it left the factory. These
Recovery/Restore CDs cannot perform normal installations, nor can they
be used to do any sort of customizations.

Essentially, it boils down to "You get what you pay for."


--

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

 

[Steve N.]

I value Bruce's contributions here and don't want to see him looking
silly because he did not have the full facts, so here they are:-

I value his contributions, too, and I did not reply trying to make him
look silly. All I am saying is that Windows Product Activation is not
perfect, is complicated and doesn't always work as MS says it does. With
recent changes in how OEM installs activate it gets even more confusing
for people.

Itook over responsibility for a cluster of computers which came with
a cluster of OEM Re-installaion CDs for XP Home. I keep one CD in my
toolkit with a list of the MS keys on the boxes. I have used the one
CD and the first key on the list for I think four installs, the last
one requiring the pleading phone call.

One install was where a user had left the organisation and taken the
password with him. I realise now that there may have been a more
elegant solution, but I did not know that then. I do anticipate
finding boxes where the user has put a password on the safe mode
owner. The naive purchaser was not aware of that issue.

I tried to install XP over a failing Me but it refused. Me failed to
detect that the hard drive was the problem but a third party utility
did. I bought a new drive and installed XP.

I rarely use Windows at home, but the new job brought the need for a
test box at home, so I installed XP on a 98 box and it went in beside
98, giving me a choice of boot.

That 4GB drive was too small for the job so I bought another drive
and installed XP again.

I can find no disks for computers bought within the last year. Are
they not supplied anymore?

Yes we are short on licences but I will recommend that we correct
that by getting a site licence and bringing all boxes up to the same
OS.

I understand the difficulties you are describing but if you don't have
enough licenses then that is what needs to be corrected.

Steve

 

[Alias]

problems do occasionally happen with WPA; this doesn't necessarily mean
that the entire program is "flawed."

By its very nature it is flawed because it assumes paying customers have not
bought a bonafide copy of Windows and one is therefore presumed to be guilty
until proven innocent. It ONLY affects paying customers, not pirates. In
short, it's the worst PR move MS has ever done.

Alias

 

[Steve N.]

Thank you for the kind words, but you needn't be concerned about my
feeling "silly." After all, I'm not the one who categorically condemned
an entire program just because there's a problem in a small and
_statistically_ insignificant number of cases. (And I'm not trying to
denigrate or brush off the frustration obviously and rightly felt by
those so unfortunate to experience one of those rare failures.) That's
like saying that *all* Fords should be scrapped because, out of the
hundreds of millions sold, 5 have broken down. As with any technology,
problems do occasionally happen with WPA; this doesn't necessarily mean
that the entire program is "flawed." Heck, by that reasoning, I guess
we'd better stop using fire, because, every once in a while, someone
does get burned.

Excuse me Bruce, but you've misinterpreted and subsequently
misrepresented what I wrote. I did not categorically condemn an entire
program, I said there are problems with product activation, which there
are, and they are increasing due to the new restrictions on OEM
installations being unable to activate on-line without changing the
product key that was used to install the software. That and the outright
lie that Windows sometimes displays about having "activated too many
times" and no wonder people get confused. The program is flawed and if
MS continues to use it they should fix the flaws in my opinion. Just
because someone has criticisms of a situation doesn't mean they are
condemning it.

BTW, I didn't intend to make anyone look silly, but I think your
analogies are kind of silly and I never said anything about scrapping
the whole thing. You injected that sort of thinking, not me.

Steve