XP Pro Upgrade On A Formatted Machine

[Aamir]

Guys: I got an XP Pro upgrade for my laptop which has the
home edition on it. I know that when I install the upgrade
I will have to register it with MS.

If I reformat my drive and need to reinstall it will it let
me, even though it has been registered once already?

This, admittedly, does sound like a stupid q.

Thanks.
Aamir.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Aamir.

For the official explanation, read this:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

In general terms:

Registration is optional; it gives MS your name and address.

Activation is not optional. It knows nothing of you personally, but it
knows about the computer on which it was activated. Unless that computer
changes significantly, you can reinstall it and reactivate it on that
computer as often as you like. Minor changes - like reformatting your
existing HD - won't trigger the reactivation; a single major change - like a
new HD - probably won't; a major change - like a new
motherboard/CPU/chipset - probably will, if made within 120 days of the
prior activation. But reactivation is usually painless, involving no more
than a 5-minute toll-free phone call.

RC