Reinstalling Windows XP

libra10

I recently read in a magazine that if you do a reinstallation of XP that you now have to phone Microsoft to verify the registration key numbers, rather than just type them in.

Has anyone done a reinstallation recently and just typed the product key numbers in? Iwas thinking of doing this but am now unsure whether to go ahead.

Thanks for any advice

Redders_2

You only have to do this when you install XP home, even then I think you are allowed to install it around 4 or 5 times within a 12 month period before it makes you call them to activate it.

If you are running XP professional you do not need to call Microsoft at all no matter how many times you install/reinstall it.

DVB_3

Windows XP activation is a process by which a copy of Windows gets assosiated with a particular set of hardware components. As such, you are allowed to install XP as many times as you like, provided you do it on the same PC. You can install XP twice on different hardware platforms and have it activated online. However, third and every consequent installation will require a phone call to Microsoft. If I'm not mistaken, the maximum number of installations allowed on different hardware platforms is 6. Still, this limit is there for a reason - sometimes XP would ask for reactivation without reinstallation. This would happen if any of the six primary hardware components has been changed. For instance, it could happen if the size of the memory has changed significantly, network card has been replaced, etc.

In your case, provided you (re)install on the same PC, and no additional or replacement hardware is in place - you shouldn't experience any problems.

NellyLock

Redders wrote:

You only have to do this when you install XP home, even then I think you are allowed to install it around 4 or 5 times within a 12 month period before it makes you call them to activate it.

If you are running XP professional you do not need to call Microsoft at all no matter how many times you install/reinstall it.

hrmmm i run win xp pro and have had to call to get key, but i believe this is because i changed my system build a few times at the start ie was building changing h/ware and reinstalled a few times. plus i like to format and restart a few times (havent done recently) - i ALWAYS have to ring to register when reinstalling - and i have also had to ring sometimes when ive modifiied regi/software for some reason

libra10

Thanks everyone for your help.

Think I may risk reinstallation, but wait until the Easter holidays have finished

aliasojo

Don't ask why (it's a long story :rolleyes: ) but I took delivery of a new computer about a month ago and reformatted the thing several times over a 3 day period.

It's running XP Pro and I had to phone to activate at one point as Windows had been reinstalled several times, (3 or 4 at a guess, at that point.) No hardware had been changed to prompt this.

Anyway, I was given a number to type in and assured that I could reformat and reinstall to my heart's content should I want to.