Possible to backup Windows XP license?

[David Leon]

Is it possible to backup my Windows XP license so I don't have to
re-activate after I format? I am using Windows XP Pro OEM.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Michael Stevens]

Is it possible to backup my Windows XP license so I don't have to
re-activate after I format? I am using Windows XP Pro OEM.

Thanks in advance.

A format will require activation, no way around it. Usually this is over the
internet, but sometimes requires the phone in activation. 5 to 10 minutes at
the most to activate.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
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[Michal Kawecki]

Is it possible to backup my Windows XP license so I don't have to
re-activate after I format? I am using Windows XP Pro OEM.

Yes, it is possible.
http://is-it-true.org/nt/xp/atips/atips13.shtml

 

[Michael Stevens]

Yes, it is possible.
http://is-it-true.org/nt/xp/atips/atips13.shtml

Backup and restore of the WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK files does not work after a
format or clean install.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Michal Kawecki]

Backup and restore of the WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK files does not work
after a format or clean install.

It's very interesting. I have never tried that tip, but there is no
mention about complications related with formatting of system partition.
Can you explain, where is a trick? ;-).
(I think, it can be related with specific position of those files on
that partition, but...)

 

[Malke]

It's very interesting. I have never tried that tip, but there is no
mention about complications related with formatting of system
partition. Can you explain, where is a trick? ;-).
(I think, it can be related with specific position of those files on
that partition, but...)

When you format a drive or partition, you basically wipe it clean so the
wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files aren't going to be accessible to the new
installation. (A format doesn't actually remove the old data and it can
be recovered with special techniques, but for simplicity's sake you can
consider it gone.)

Malke

 

[Michal Kawecki]

When you format a drive or partition, you basically wipe it clean so
the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files aren't going to be accessible to the new
installation. (A format doesn't actually remove the old data and it
can be recovered with special techniques, but for simplicity's sake
you can consider it gone.)

Wait. One can copy those files to a floppy and then restore them into
new system. As described in
http://is-it-true.org/nt/xp/atips/atips13.shtml, this procedure should
work after reinstallation of Windows XP on the same hardware (I think in
this case it means format plus clean install). Michael Stevens wrote it
will not work if one had formatted the partition before the system was
installed. My question is simple: why?

 

[Alex Nichol]

Is it possible to backup my Windows XP license so I don't have to
re-activate after I format? I am using Windows XP Pro OEM.

No. While you can back up the data (windows\system32\wpa.dbl and
wpa.bak) against damage, or so you could unwind a hardware change that
had pushed you over the edge, doing a format and fresh install is a new
'instance' of the system, with a new start date, and those files will
not work. But you have 30 days again - and it only takes 30 seconds to
be on the net and run
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Activate Windows,
taking the activate on the net now.

See the Hint in 'Format a hard drive' at www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm on
conserving one 'vote' in the matter, if you have made a lot of changes.
And be sure to turn the firewall on *before* you get on the net at all,
so as to protect against the Blast worm before you have time to get the
patches.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Yes, it is possible.
http://is-it-true.org/nt/xp/atips/atips13.shtml

Which does *not* work after a reformat. As stated to me by Microsoft,
and tested in practice.

 

[mrtee]

Because the Volume Identification Number of the HDD changes when the disk is formated. The VID is in the hardware hash code.

--
Just my 2c worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
| Malke wrote:
| Wait. One can copy those files to a floppy and then restore them into
| new system. As described in
| http://is-it-true.org/nt/xp/atips/atips13.shtml, this procedure should
| work after reinstallation of Windows XP on the same hardware (I think in
| this case it means format plus clean install). Michael Stevens wrote it
| will not work if one had formatted the partition before the system was
| installed. My question is simple: why?
| --
| M.
| /when replying replace px to pl/
|

 

[Alex Nichol]

Because the Volume Identification Number of the HDD changes when the disk is formated. The VID is in the hardware hash code.

The Volume Serial number is part of the initial record of the partition
- you get it if you do a VOL C: command for example -, and can be
restored after a new setup - see Hint at www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm to
conserve that 'vote' in the activation records.

The reason that backing up the wpa files is ineffective if you format
and do a new setup is that they contain information relating to the time
at which the setup was done - which can't be replicated. So the system
would look and say 'huh, this doesn't belong'

Backing up those files is useful in two circumstances:
If they get damaged (and they would be a target for malware) so you can
only do a safe boot with warnings about activation; or a case where
experimenting with hardware :had: pushed things over the top.

Unwind the final hardware change if that was the problem, restore them
from a copy on a floppy and , then do a system restore to a time before
the problem arose.

With SP1 installed though, giving you three days normal operation, it
would be easier just to get on the net and activate on the net once
more. If it was not a hardware change matter that will go through - and
with as much hardware change as you like if there has been 120 days
since the last time.

 

[mrtee]

Thanks for the info Alex. I couldn't get that hint to work for me last year. Now I use TrueImage and have no problems doing a restore to where I want the system to be.

--
Just my 2¢ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
|
| The Volume Serial number is part of the initial record of the partition
| - you get it if you do a VOL C: command for example -, and can be
| restored after a new setup - see Hint at www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm to
| conserve that 'vote' in the activation records.
|
| The reason that backing up the wpa files is ineffective if you format
| and do a new setup is that they contain information relating to the time
| at which the setup was done - which can't be replicated. So the system
| would look and say 'huh, this doesn't belong'
|
| Backing up those files is useful in two circumstances:
| If they get damaged (and they would be a target for malware) so you can
| only do a safe boot with warnings about activation; or a case where
| experimenting with hardware :had: pushed things over the top.
|
| Unwind the final hardware change if that was the problem, restore them
| from a copy on a floppy and , then do a system restore to a time before
| the problem arose.
|
| With SP1 installed though, giving you three days normal operation, it
| would be easier just to get on the net and activate on the net once
| more. If it was not a hardware change matter that will go through - and
| with as much hardware change as you like if there has been 120 days
| since the last time.
|
|
| --
| Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
| Bournemouth, U.K. (e-mail address removed)8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)