WinXP Activation Limit?

[db ´¯`·.. >]

unfortunately, for you it is no
longer an issue regarding windows
security feature, but a debate
on who is smarter, you or
the microsoft employee who
answers the 800 number that
the o.s. provides when it will
not activate automatically any
more.

i'm not interested in debating
with this with you.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I just recently reformatted my HDD which had WinXP Home SP2 on it and put
Win98 instead. I just want to make sure that I can activate WinXP again in
the future. It's the 2nd time I activated it (I tend to switch back and
forth.. I know it's ia major hassle but my CD burner is giving me problems
under WinXP).

If the CD burner is giving you grief... .new ones are under $50 and are
trivial to install. I would suggest replacing malfunctioning hardware,
as it won't heal and you may find that the discs you burn are unreliable.

HTH
-pk

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

How old is this burner? Any burner that does not support XP in firmware has
to be pretty old.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Or, to rephrase, "it would take ten reactivations to trigger required phone
reactivation."

 

[User]

If the CD burner is giving you grief... .new ones are under $50 and are
trivial to install. I would suggest replacing malfunctioning hardware,
as it won't heal and you may find that the discs you burn are unreliable.

HTH
-pk

I don't *think* that the burner itself is malfunctioning. Works perfect in
Win98. It seems it's incompatible with XP. I think I need a firmware update
for XP.

 

[User]

How old is this burner? Any burner that does not support XP in firmware has
to be pretty old.

The burner, like the rest of my rig, is over 6 years old (Samsung SW-408B
BS02). I know burners are cheap nowadays but I'm strapped for cash.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Is there a limit on how many times Windows XP Home Edition SP2 can be
activated?

TIA

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:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I don't believe it either, but I was explaining the interpretation of
activations and reactivations and, whatever the number is, how they relate.

 

[Alias]

Actually, the only change one needs to make is to reinstall the OS
cleanly or change out the HD, then reinstall XP.

This is because the local Activation record is kept on the HD, and
when it is formatted, the record is deleted, so it MUST be
reactivated.

My point wasn't that it didn't need to be reactivated but that if you
reinstall on the same computer that hasn't had any hardware changes, it
will reactivate on line without the necessity of using phone activation.

Alias