Retail version of XP Pro - Rebuilding PC?

[Edward]

For reasons I'm not going into, I am going to completely dismantle my
parent's PC and rebuilt it from scratch. New board, new hard drive you
name it.
So, with the RETAIL version of XP, can I just fzero out the drive and
install from the original CD?
Do I have to call Microsoft and have them reset anything?
Do I have to give some Desi a handjob?

 

[JS]

If it a full version and not an upgrade there should be no problem. Just
make certain you install the motherboard/chipset drivers and other drivers
(Video, sound, etc.).

XP activation is over the internet by default.

JS

 

[Bruce Chambers]

For reasons I'm not going into, I am going to completely dismantle my
parent's PC and rebuilt it from scratch. New board, new hard drive you
name it.
So, with the RETAIL version of XP, can I just fzero out the drive and
install from the original CD?
Do I have to call Microsoft and have them reset anything?
Do I have to give some Desi a handjob?

Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not legitimately
transferable), simply remove WinXP from the computer it is currently on
and then install it on the new computer. If it's been more than 120
days since you last activated that specific Product Key, the 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

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[Edward]

If it a full version and not an upgrade there should be no problem. Just
make certain you install the motherboard/chipset drivers and other drivers
(Video, sound, etc.).

XP activation is over the internet by default.

Now if I have an AMD Athlon 64, I would need the 64 bit version of
WindowsXP to take full advantage of the CPU, correct?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Now if I have an AMD Athlon 64, I would need the 64 bit version of
WindowsXP to take full advantage of the CPU, correct?

Yes and no.
Just having the 64 bit OS won't help if all you have is 32 bit applications.

Not to mention that the drivers for many hardware components (internal and
external) either do not exist or are not as robust as their 32 bit
counterparts.