Windows XP reactivation

doctorfish wrote on 10/30/2003, 6:57 PM
I got XP in February and have been quite happy with it. However, my computer has been a little sluggish of late what with all the upgrades, installs, uninstalls, demos, trials and what not I've had on the computer. So I've been thinking to do a fresh reformat of my C drive and a clean reinstallation of XP. My question is regarding XP activation. I've heard so much about the Spartan nature of this that I wanted to see if anyone else has done this and what, if any, problems they had.

I already have all my drivers and everything so I'm ready in that regard. I'm just curious if Microsoft will give me any hassel about reactivating XP, especially since some of the hardware has changed (namely more ram, a different CD-RW drive, and a new video card).

Thanks,

Dave

Comments

MJhig wrote on 10/30/2003, 8:39 PM
It's all here, Windows Product Activation . Follow it exactly, in fact add this site to your favorites. Anyone who runs Windows should, MVP's have the answers to all your Windows questions, just look.

MJ
planders wrote on 10/30/2003, 11:07 PM
You probably won't have any problems at all, since over 6 months have passed since you last activated XP. The OS activation database appears to discard records after 6 months (confirmed by MS several times, though I don't have a reference handy), so the only "private" information you'll need to provide will be your country.

All things considered, I have to take the rather unpopular view that of all the activation schemes I've had to put up with in recent years, the Microsoft one has proven to be the least troublesome by far--even with the large number of hardware changes I make to my computers. I won't deny that I've had to call MS once (I built a new replacement PC and installed the same copy of XP on it, just a week or so after installing it on the machine I then replaced, which then went back to 2000), but the call was quick and easy--the rep was polite, asked no questions, and had me set up in perhaps three minutes.

I hate to say it, but I've run into much bigger headaches with the SoFo/Sony activation system, which gets a new computer ID for every reinstallation of Windows on the same PC running Windows 2000 or XP (this didn't seem to happen on Win98, where the same activation code worked every time on the same computer). Thus, I've had to contact SoFo several times to get my activation count extended. They've also been very good about it, I just wish I didn't have to go through this at all.

Incidentally, the only reason I tend to hit my activation limits fairly regularly is that I tend to reinstall everything on my computer on a fairly frequent basis--for the usual no good reason. It's nice to pretend to have a brand new computer once in a while...
Foreverain4 wrote on 10/31/2003, 8:21 AM
"I hate to say it, but I've run into much bigger headaches with the SoFo/Sony activation system, which gets a new computer ID for every reinstallation of Windows on the same PC running Windows 2000 or XP (this didn't seem to happen on Win98, where the same activation code worked every time on the same computer). Thus, I've had to contact SoFo several times to get my activation count extended.'



i agree. i own pretty much all of SF's products, so, any reinstallation is a BIG hassle for me. especially the last couple months as i have done several reinstallations for various reasons. i found keygenes on kazza for all the versions that i have purchased, and i am using them now instead of reregistering EVERY time i reinstall something. kinda funny eh?!
doctorfish wrote on 10/31/2003, 7:24 PM
Mjhig, thank for the link. A wealth of useful information there.
planders wrote on 10/31/2003, 10:42 PM
I'll second that, I just had a chance to look. It tells me nothing new, but it's refreshing to hear it coming from someone other than Microsoft!