Windows XP Activation

[Guest]

I just bought a OEM version of XP Home Edition off E-bay (probably a big
mistake as I didnt realise the disadvantages to a OEM, I just wanted to save
some money).But anyway I have activated it but I just wondered what happens
if I need to completely re-format the hard drive & re-install XP, can I
re-activate it again without it telling me this key has been already
activated. And what happens if the hard drive dies does that mean I have
wasted all that money on a copy of XP that I can never use again.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You can activate again. The OEM version is tied to the machine, meaning the
license does not allow you to move the OS to a different computer. Even if
you activate several times, the worst that can happen is that you have to
call the activation number. They always activate in your situation.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I just bought a OEM version of XP Home Edition off E-bay (probably a big
mistake as I didnt realise the disadvantages to a OEM, I just wanted to save
some money).But anyway I have activated it but I just wondered what happens
if I need to completely re-format the hard drive & re-install XP, can I
re-activate it again without it telling me this key has been already
activated. And what happens if the hard drive dies does that mean I have
wasted all that money on a copy of XP that I can never use again.

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

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

So is it the actual P.C you have to keep that copy of XP in or the Hard
drive, what if the hard drive died or I wanted to get a bigger one what would
happen then, could I still get another hard drive & put it in that
particular P.C, because if you completely format it is basically the same as
putting it on another hard drive, there's no difference. This is more of a
moral issue isn't it, not a it is impossible to do issue.
Thank you for your replies it has been helpful.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It is the PC. The activation software calculates a hardware value based on
the motherboard, cpu, cpu ID, hard drive, NIC, and so on. Formatting the
hard drive will not cause reactivation. Replacing it won't either unless
you have made other hardware changes in the last 120 days. As long as seven
of the ten hardware items used to calculate the value have stayed the same
you should be able to reactivate over the internet without problems. Some
of the hardware items are counted more than once in the calculation, so it
is difficult to predict if a phone call will be necessary.

The hard drive is not as big a factor as you seem to think. The motherboard
and the NIC play the largest role. What you are activating is Windows XP on
a specific computer, not a specific hard drive.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, That has definately helped, it makes sense now.

It is the PC. The activation software calculates a hardware value based on
the motherboard, cpu, cpu ID, hard drive, NIC, and so on. Formatting the
hard drive will not cause reactivation. Replacing it won't either unless
you have made other hardware changes in the last 120 days. As long as seven
of the ten hardware items used to calculate the value have stayed the same
you should be able to reactivate over the internet without problems. Some
of the hardware items are counted more than once in the calculation, so it
is difficult to predict if a phone call will be necessary.

The hard drive is not as big a factor as you seem to think. The motherboard
and the NIC play the largest role. What you are activating is Windows XP on
a specific computer, not a specific hard drive.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

So is it the actual P.C you have to keep that copy of XP in or the Hard
drive, what if the hard drive died or I wanted to get a bigger one what
would
happen then, could I still get another hard drive & put it in that
particular P.C, because if you completely format it is basically the same
as
putting it on another hard drive, there's no difference. This is more of a
moral issue isn't it, not a it is impossible to do issue.
Thank you for your replies it has been helpful.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You're welcome.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Thank you, That has definately helped, it makes sense now.

It is the PC. The activation software calculates a hardware value based
on
the motherboard, cpu, cpu ID, hard drive, NIC, and so on. Formatting the
hard drive will not cause reactivation. Replacing it won't either unless
you have made other hardware changes in the last 120 days. As long as
seven
of the ten hardware items used to calculate the value have stayed the
same
you should be able to reactivate over the internet without problems.
Some
of the hardware items are counted more than once in the calculation, so
it
is difficult to predict if a phone call will be necessary.

The hard drive is not as big a factor as you seem to think. The
motherboard
and the NIC play the largest role. What you are activating is Windows XP
on
a specific computer, not a specific hard drive.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

So is it the actual P.C you have to keep that copy of XP in or the Hard
drive, what if the hard drive died or I wanted to get a bigger one what
would
happen then, could I still get another hard drive & put it in that
particular P.C, because if you completely format it is basically the
same
as
putting it on another hard drive, there's no difference. This is more
of a
moral issue isn't it, not a it is impossible to do issue.
Thank you for your replies it has been helpful.

:

arts216 wrote:
I just bought a OEM version of XP Home Edition off E-bay (probably a
big
mistake as I didnt realise the disadvantages to a OEM, I just wanted
to
save
some money).But anyway I have activated it but I just wondered what
happens
if I need to completely re-format the hard drive & re-install XP,
can I
re-activate it again without it telling me this key has been already
activated. And what happens if the hard drive dies does that mean I
have
wasted all that money on a copy of XP that I can never use again.


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

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH