Upgrading Hard Drive in Laptop after installing XP

[Guest]

I recently installed Windows XP on my laptop but I desperately need a Hard
Drive upgrade because I have no space left. From reading other posts I am
getting the feeling that since my copy has already been activated, I can't
re-install from the same CD with the same product key. I did read one
article saying that a call to Microsoft can transfer my activation to the new
system, however. Does anyone know anything more about this so I don't screw
myself over? Also, any instructions on exactly HOW to upgrade my hard drive
would be greatly appreciated, I've never dont this and I don't want to mess
it up! Thanks!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I recently installed Windows XP on my laptop but I desperately need a Hard
Drive upgrade because I have no space left. From reading other posts I am
getting the feeling that since my copy has already been activated, I can't
re-install from the same CD with the same product key. I did read one
article saying that a call to Microsoft can transfer my activation to the new
system, however. Does anyone know anything more about this so I don't screw
myself over? Also, any instructions on exactly HOW to upgrade my hard drive
would be greatly appreciated, I've never dont this and I don't want to mess
it up! Thanks!

There are three ways to transfer a laptop system to a new disk:

a) Give it to an expert

b) Boot the machine with a Bart PE disk, copy the laptop disk to
a networked PC, install the new disk, copy things back again
and restore the boot environment.

c) Buy a $5.00 adapter that lets you install the laptop disk as
as slave disk in some WinXP/2000 PC, then do the same
thing as under b).

The solution obviously depends on your level of expertise.
Neither b) nor c) are for beginners in PC maintenance. Post
again if you require further details.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

I recently installed Windows XP on my laptop but I desperately need a Hard
Drive upgrade because I have no space left. From reading other posts I am
getting the feeling that since my copy has already been activated, I can't
re-install from the same CD with the same product key. I did read one
article saying that a call to Microsoft can transfer my activation to the new
system, however. Does anyone know anything more about this so I don't screw
myself over? Also, any instructions on exactly HOW to upgrade my hard drive
would be greatly appreciated, I've never dont this and I don't want to mess
it up! Thanks!

For some more details please have a look at
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxMove.htm.

Hans-Georg

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I recently installed Windows XP on my laptop but I desperately need
a
Hard Drive upgrade because I have no space left. From reading other
posts I am getting the feeling that since my copy has already been
activated, I can't re-install from the same CD with the same product
key. I did read one article saying that a call to Microsoft can
transfer my activation to the new system, however. Does anyone know
anything more about this so I don't screw myself over? Also, any
instructions on exactly HOW to upgrade my hard drive would be
greatly
appreciated, I've never dont this and I don't want to mess it up!
Thanks!

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

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having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Richard Lewis Haggard]

What $5 adapter would that be? I'd certainly like to have one in my kit for
the next time I have to perform major surgery on one of my laptop
mini-drives.
===
Richard Lewis Haggard

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You need to ask your computer dealer. It's a small adapter that
has a standard 40-core plug on one end and a minidisk plug on
the other end. There are no electronics involved.