Re: How many times can i install XP on same computer

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

In <Bqqfe.8996$GQ5.4991@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Steve N." <me@xxxxxxxx> writes:
>Bruce Chambers wrote:
>
>> johnsuth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My experience is that you are allowed perhaps 2 or 3 Activations
>>> before you are refused. I phone to get the key (the boxes are not on
>>> line), and after the first refusal I feigned ignorance and pleaded
>>> extenuating circumstances to get an extra activation.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> That's incorrect.
>
>It happens Bruce. WPA is flawed and Windows itself lies to people saying
>it has been activated too many times when online activation fails for
>whatever reason. Then people have to call in and explain to some
>stranger their situation and sometimes try to prove they are not guilty
>of software piracy. If the stranger on the other end doesn't like their
>explanation then activation can be refused.
>
>>
>> There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
>> activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
>> charge. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation
>> license) ever expire. If it's been more than 120 days since you last
>> activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to
>> activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you
>> might have to make a 5 minute phone call.
>>
>> Here are the facts pertaining to activation:
>>
>> Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
>> http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/
>>
>> Windows Product Activation (WPA)
>> http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm
>>
>
>Those are the Micorsoft version of the facts. That's the way MS _hopes_
>it works but the facts as experienced by end users are often at variance
>with what MS says should happen. I have personally experienced some
>pretty wierd things with WPA. For example, after a clean re-install to a
>new hard drive within a week of the original activation it tells me to
>call MS to activate but the next day it activates online with no problem.
>
>Now with MS disabling valid OEM keys used for mass installations brand
>new machines won't activate out of the box unless you change the key and
>pray it works. No wonder people are confused.
>
>Steve
>

I value Bruce's contributions here and don't want to see him looking silly because he did not have the full facts, so here they are:-

Itook over responsibility for a cluster of computers which came with a cluster of OEM Re-installaion CDs for XP Home. I keep one CD in my toolkit with a list of the MS keys on the boxes. I have used the one CD and the first key on the list for I think four installs, the last one requiring the pleading phone call.

One install was where a user had left the organisation and taken the password with him. I realise now that there may have been a more elegant solution, but I did not know that then. I do anticipate finding boxes where the user has put a password on the safe mode owner. The naive purchaser was not aware of that issue.

I tried to install XP over a failing Me but it refused. Me failed to detect that the hard drive was the problem but a third party utility did. I bought a new drive and installed XP.

I rarely use Windows at home, but the new job brought the need for a test box at home, so I installed XP on a 98 box and it went in beside 98, giving me a choice of boot.

That 4GB drive was too small for the job so I bought another drive and installed XP again.

I can find no disks for computers bought within the last year. Are they not supplied anymore?

Yes we are short on licences but I will recommend that we correct that by getting a site licence and bringing all boxes up to the same OS.



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Upcoming Hard Drive Failure?
    ... It's an ACER Aspire ... Recently I've had a lot of problems with applications ... > installations on the system, but at around the same time, I have ... what you have done to the system since you bought it. ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage)
  • Re: Vista Home Premium Activation Issue
    ... Trial installations are always full ... Your upgrade product key therefore will not work. ... You will have to reinstall Windows to use the upgrade edition product key. ... Use Windows Easy Transfer to save your files and settings. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup)
  • Re: Vista Home Premium Activation Issue
    ... Only Win2000 and later qualifies for upgrade to Vista. ... Since the tech did not enter a product key when installing Vista, the installer loaded a full edition. ... While that can be done on the desktop of the trial version already installed, MS does not support that use of an upgrade edition product key and there is some risk that MS will take steps to void the activation of such installations at some time in the future. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup)
  • Re: How can I determine the product key?
    ... I hired a guy to do the installations. ... with the product key stickers on the back. ... Use Belarc Advisor, http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: How can I determine the product key?
    ... I hired a guy to do the installations. ... with the product key stickers on the back. ... Use Belarc Advisor, http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)