Replacing a Hard Drive with Windows XP

[Bob Clark]

I need to replace my hard drive. I have XP installed on
the old one. Can I install the same one on the new hard
drive? I know you have to register it and you can only
have one registration per product number. What do I Do?

 

[Chris Lanier]

The best way to do this is to just copy your old drive to
your new one. most software that comes with the new drive
will let u do this.

 

[James]

You will need to call microsoft to reactivate the product
and explain to them what happen and they will give you a
new number. I have done it many times as I am replacing
HD in customer computers all the time.

 

[John Barnett - MVP]

Before you remove your old hard drive reformat it to
remove Windows XP. Next install your new hard drive and
then install XP onto the new drive. Because you have
changed your hard drive you may not be able to activate
your copy of XP via the internet. This isn't a problem.
If you try to activate via the web and activation is
refused you will be given a free phone telephone number
to call for activation. This is normal practise, so there
is no need to worry. Just telephone the free phone
activation number and give them the code number xp
generates. All you need do is explain that you have
changed your hard drive and that you have removed xp from
your old drive. There should then be no problem
activating.
Now if you have a dial up internet connection and are
unable to use your telephone for outgoing calls, you can
still call the activation centre. What you need to do is
this:

1/ Click the Start button followed by All
program/Accessories/System Tools
2/ In the system tools menu click Activate Windows
3/ Follow the wizard instructions
4/ During the process XP will create a unique code
number. You need this to actiavte and you will need to
give the number to the activation person.
5/ Keep the activation screen open and then dial the free
phone number
6/ Explain that you have changed your hard drive etc
7/ Give the unique number to the activation operator
8/ You will be given a new number which you need to type
into the space provided on the activation screen
9/ After the number has been inserted windows xp should
activate.


You may find, however that you can actiavte over the
internet if yopu haven't changed any hardware or
reinstalled your copy of xp on your machine for 120 day
or so.

Hope this helps

John Barnett - MVP
Associate Expert

 

[I'm Dan]

Funny, I interpretted the original message as Chris has -- OP wants to just
upgrade the HD in an existing XP system, a relatively simple task that
doesn't require reinstallation and reactivation. Everyone else seems to
have read it that OP wants to reinstall XP anew, so maybe Chris and I read
it wrong.