One for the MVPs

[The Grey Goose]

Hi

My machine is 10 months old, and running XP HE
Shortly after buying it I installed a second CD RW
More recently I installed a second HD

Now I know that if I put too much new kit in it I will have to reactivate
it, But I seem to recall reading somewhere, that after 120 days of fitting a
new component in the puter treats as though it has always been in there, Is
this the case, as I want to add a USB2 PCI card

And I don't want the hassle of reactivation

TIA


--
The Goose

Trolls & spammers
nuke them till they glow
then shoot them in the dark



..

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

The following article by MVP Alex Nichol will help you:

"Windows Product Activation (WPA)on Windows XP"
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

Will

 

[Rob Schneider]

Activation is not a hassle. If changes you make to XP cause XP to decide
it needs to be reactivated, it will tell you and it's almost automatic
via web access, and at most takes a phone call.

 

[The Grey Goose]

Activation is not a hassle. If changes you make to XP cause XP to decide
it needs to be reactivated, it will tell you and it's almost automatic
via web access, and at most takes a phone call.

Thanks Folks



--
The Goose

Trolls & spammers
nuke them till they glow
then shoot them in the dark



..

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Adding new hardware should not trigger activation. Replacing old hardware,
in sufficient quantities will. And yes, after 120 days, the existing
hardware configuration is considered original. However, not all hardware
counts against the limit of what can be changed.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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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[Alex Nichol]

My machine is 10 months old, and running XP HE
Shortly after buying it I installed a second CD RW
More recently I installed a second HD

Now I know that if I put too much new kit in it I will have to reactivate
it, But I seem to recall reading somewhere, that after 120 days of fitting a
new component in the puter treats as though it has always been in there,Is
this the case, as I want to add a USB2 PCI card

You can do a lot more changing of hardware before the system, at boot,
thinks 'This ain't Kansas any more'. If you reformat the disk ever, you
will have to activate again, because the record on the machine will have
been lost. If more than 120 days have passed the record at MS will have
been wiped and it will activate on the net just like the first time, in
a about 30 seconds. If the system at boot gets to think a new
activation is needed the 120 days does not apply - you have to phone in,
and swap one long number for another, as you do if there has been too
much change to be accepted after a reformat within the 120 days. This
takes five minutes or so - don't make too much of a meal of it. And
read more at www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm