XP licensing issues

[pong]

My C drive crashed on me yesterday and it doesn't seem like i can fix it at
all. I plan to get a new hard drive and install the xp all over again. Could
i still use the same windows xp key for this new install since it's
technically still the same computer?

 

[David B.]

Absolutely.

 

[PaulM]

I don't see why not.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Yes sure. The only thing is you may be required to use the phone method to
activate your XP especially if you are going to use the CD supplied by your
computer maker when you bought it. There is no problem at all in using the same
serial number attached to your system when using the CD that came with it or
with your computer.

 

[Big Al]

My C drive crashed on me yesterday and it doesn't seem like i can fix it at
all. I plan to get a new hard drive and install the xp all over again. Could
i still use the same windows xp key for this new install since it's
technically still the same computer?

Yes. You are just reloading the system. Just because you changed
drives is no factor.

 

[Anteaus]

From a legal point of view, yes no problem.

The practical aspect is that you will need a copy of the install-files
(normally in the 'i386' folder on the HD if no CD was supplied.) and this
must be for the same type of install (OEM/Retail/Corporate) and Service Pack
level as the key.

 

[David B.]

Actually your incorrect on one point, if he's using a recovery type
installation provided by the mfg it is very likely he will not have to
activate at all, most are pre-activated and using them on a new hard drive
is no different then using them on the original hard drive.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My C drive crashed on me yesterday and it doesn't seem like i can
fix it at all. I plan to get a new hard drive and install the xp
all over again. Could i still use the same windows xp key for this
new install since it's technically still the same computer?

If you have said installation media (or a generic installation media of the
same type) - your product key and license should work fine.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

He won't be able to use "recovery type installation" because his HD is "crashed
on me yesterday and it doesn't seem like i can fix it at all." We have to
trust him what he says. The recovery type installation is normally in a
partition of the HD but as soon as you remove the HD it is gone. KAPUT.

In fact if he uses recovery type installation then he may not even need a
Windows Key but this is all academic for this purpose.

 

[David B.]

Not 100% true either, we have no idea of the age of this machine, it's only
been recently that OEM's have stopped including recovery disks, your making
assumptions.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

I am, not making any more assumptions than you are. Are you saying that he
would be able to make "recovery type installation" despite damaging his HD? I
doubt it specially when he is likely to install a new HD.

His only option is to clean install from a proper genuine OEM OS CD that came
with his computer and activate the installation like anybody would. There are
no short cuts and Microsoft's anti piracy measures are pretty robust to stop
casual copying and installation of its flag-ship operating system. Professional
pirates may have a way to do but I have no knowledge of any such tricks.

Hope this ends this topic here. USA lost to England earlier today.

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7420122.stm>

 

[Daave]

David B. is correct. You don't know that the OP doesn't have a recovery
disk (not to be confused with an installation disk). Although newer PCs
tend to have hidden recovery partitions on the hard drives, there are
still a good many that instead come with recovery disks.