WinXP Validation Questions I Can Find No Answers To Anywhere

[Steven Stringer]

WGA Tool won't validate my install of WindowsXP Pro. I am willing to
pay the $149 to correct this but I have a couple of questions that I
can't find the answers to:

1. Once I get the XP CD, will I have to do a complete HD format and do
a clean install?

2. Can I use the CD I get to do fresh installs on new machines I build
for myself, retiring the old one(s) of course.

Thanks in advance for any help on these issues.

Steve

 

[Jerry]

1. You can boot from the XP CD and do a repair install over the existing
copy.

2. One copy of XP per machine. If you have multiple machines you must buy
multiple copies - or get a license for multiple machines using one CD.

 

[paulmd]

WGA Tool won't validate my install of WindowsXP Pro. I am willing to
pay the $149 to correct this but I have a couple of questions that I
can't find the answers to:

Befoqre you buy, do you have a valid COA (sticker) on your computer
already? Or is this really a pirated copy? If it's the former, there
may be an issue with WGA that you can resolve.

1. Once I get the XP CD, will I have to do a complete HD format and do
a clean install?

No. But you may have to do a "repair" install.

THere are a number of programs that claim to do this without the even
doing that.

This will change your product key. I've not tried this one. But it was
rated better than 9/10 FWIW.

http://downloads.vnunet.com/download/windows/windows+xp+product+key+modifier/_305.html

2. Can I use the CD I get to do fresh installs on new machines I build
for myself, retiring the old one(s) of course.

Depends on what you buy. If this is legal.

 

[steam3801]

WGA Tool won't validate my install of WindowsXP Pro. I am willing to
pay the $149 to correct this but I have a couple of questions that I
can't find the answers to:

1. Once I get the XP CD, will I have to do a complete HD format and do
a clean install?

2. Can I use the CD I get to do fresh installs on new machines I build
for myself, retiring the old one(s) of course.

Thanks in advance for any help on these issues.

You can do an "over" install with the new CD - it will rename the
existing Windows directory Windows.old and install the new version.

However, you finish up with 2 Windows directories, one of which is
taking up unnecessary space on your hard drive.

Ideally, a "clean" install is the most desirable. Unfortunately, you
have to have some means of backing up all your documents, photos, etc.
You will lose all your settings, and have to re-install all your
software.

To me, the advantages of having a brand new, cleanly installed
computer f-a-a-a-a-a-a-r outweigh the disdavantages and nuisance value
of having to (re)setup your computer again.

(Just as a matter of curiosity, if you do decide on a clean
(re)install, go to My Computer, right click your hard drive ->
Properties, and note the amount of HDD used and unused. Then when
you've finished re-installing everything, and your computer is back to
as near as identical as it was, re-check the HDD capacity. I guarantee
you'll be staggered at how much space you've recovered (i.e. how much
space was previously taken up with unused and unseen crap, built up
just through the normal day-to-day computer use)

 

[kurttrail]

WGA Tool won't validate my install of WindowsXP Pro. I am willing to
pay the $149 to correct this but I have a couple of questions that I
can't find the answers to:

1. Once I get the XP CD, will I have to do a complete HD format and do
a clean install?

2. Can I use the CD I get to do fresh installs on new machines I build
for myself, retiring the old one(s) of course.

Thanks in advance for any help on these issues.

Is you copy a legit copy to you knowledge? Because WGA is known to not
validate known legit installs.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Kerry Brown]

WGA Tool won't validate my install of WindowsXP Pro. I am willing to
pay the $149 to correct this but I have a couple of questions that I
can't find the answers to:

1. Once I get the XP CD, will I have to do a complete HD format and do
a clean install?

2. Can I use the CD I get to do fresh installs on new machines I build
for myself, retiring the old one(s) of course.

Thanks in advance for any help on these issues.

Steve

Many people have answered #1 but only vaguely #2. If you buy the retail
edition of Windows XP it may be transfered to a new computer if you erase it
from the old computer. If you buy the OEM version of Windows XP it should
not be transfered to a new computer even if erased from the old computer.
Many retail stores sell the OEM version so be careful what you buy if you
intend to transfer it from machine to machine.

 

[kurttrail]

Many people have answered #1 but only vaguely #2. If you buy the
retail edition of Windows XP it may be transfered to a new computer
if you erase it from the old computer. If you buy the OEM version of
Windows XP it should not be transfered to a new computer even if
erased from the old computer. Many retail stores sell the OEM version
so be careful what you buy if you intend to transfer it from machine
to machine.

Quite frankly, since it is for personal use, MS really has no business
dictating specific machines, and PA has no way of stopping anyone for
doing it.

The commercial use terms of licenses have to be weighed against the
rights of the individual, and when seen in that light, MS's petty BS
rules be damned!

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Kerry Brown]

Quite frankly, since it is for personal use, MS really has no business
dictating specific machines, and PA has no way of stopping anyone for
doing it.

The commercial use terms of licenses have to be weighed against the
rights of the individual, and when seen in that light, MS's petty BS
rules be damned!

I was very careful to use may and should instead of can and cannot. Ethics
is a personal choice.

 

[kurttrail]

I was very careful to use may and should instead of can and cannot.
Ethics is a personal choice.

LOL! And either choice in this case can be quite ethical.

I know my own personal choice about not conforming to the arbitrary and
legally unsubstantiated whims of a proven IP infringer and predatory
monopolist is the most ethical choice I could make.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."