Windows activation

[Guest]

When I first loaded windows I had to activate it, does my pc store the code
received from microsoft to activate windows, if so ,where is it?

If I have to reload windows due to a hard drive crash, I reckon I am going
to need this code to reactivate windows, is this correct?

TIA

John

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

When I first loaded windows I had to activate it, does my pc store
the code received from microsoft to activate windows, if so ,where is
it?

If I have to reload windows due to a hard drive crash, I reckon I am
going to need this code to reactivate windows, is this correct?

Yes. You should have the product key from the place where you got it the
first time, but if you need to find it, you can find the Product key with
any of these:

ViewKeyXP www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe (for Retail versions only,
and for pre-SP2 versions only)

ProduKey http://nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

Everest http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1

Magical Jellybean www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com/free_download.html

 

[Jan Alter]

Yes. You should have the product key from the place where you got it the
first time, but if you need to find it, you can find the Product key with
any of these:

ViewKeyXP www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe (for Retail versions
only, and for pre-SP2 versions only)

ProduKey http://nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

Everest http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1

Magical Jellybean www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com/free_download.html

That's an excellent question. I've always wondered about it myself.
I think you are misreading into what John is asking. The product key is
already entered when John does the installation of the OS. He is using the
25 character product key enclosed with the disk.
What John, I believe is asking, is where the key is that MS supplies to
allow the OS to stay activated after the 30 day period of installation when
MS is called for registration and activation. I imagine that's a registry
entry, but where to find it and what its unique characteristics are I would
like to know as well.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You don't backup the activation, you hold onto the installation Product Key
and use it to reactivate if you should have to reinstall.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Peter Foldes]

You are not able to use that same Activation key that was given when you originally activated Office again. Each activation needs another new activation key.Apart from this that activation key is immediately redundant when used to activate. MS was mart enough to protect piracy.(vbs)

Some people think that they can activate Office or Windows by using the same key that was given to them when they activated theirs.

 

[Cliff Wild]

You are not able to use that same Activation key that was given when
you originally activated Office again. Each activation needs another
new activation key.Apart from this that activation key is immediately
redundant when used to activate. MS was mart enough to protect
piracy.(vbs)

Some people think that they can activate Office or Windows by using
the same key that was given to them when they activated theirs.

Is it true that your system is monitored at windows update and can tell if
you have to be activated or are running the same OS on more than one
computer?

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

When I first loaded windows I had to activate it, does my pc store
the code received from microsoft to activate windows, if so ,where is
it?

If I have to reload windows due to a hard drive crash, I reckon I am
going to need this code to reactivate windows, is this correct?

TIA

John

More info on XP activation.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Glen]

Windows update will only update critical security updates on unactivated
computers. As far as I know it doesnt monitor if its installed on more than
one computer it just looks to see if its activated or not.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Is it true that your system is monitored at windows update and can tell if

you have to be activated or are running the same OS on more than one
computer?

No, it's not.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Patty]

In

More info on XP activation.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

Thanks, I found this info very helpful in explaining the activation
process. I do have a couple questions. I downloaded and ran the XP-Info
program cited on the website and saw that, in my instance, RAM and SCSI
host adapter were unchecked. I don't really have SCSI, but I installed a
copy of Daemon Tools which uses a SCSI emulator, is that why this is
showing a change? Also, I did update my RAM recently so I understand why
that was unchecked. All the rest were checked. So, I can assume that if I
make enough changes within 120 days so that less than seven items are
checked, I will have to reactivate? Does everything reset itself after 120
days and then you start the count over? Thanks so much, it's nice to
understand what to expect when making hardware changes.

Patty

 

[Guest]

Thanks to everyone who has answered my query, I have a better understanding
of the situation now.

thanks

John