Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc
- From: Peter <Peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:25:01 -0700
Hi Duke, Thanks for your speedy reply.
I can see now I've asked to many questions at once.
I have activated the New WinXP Home & am using it now. At that time I didn't
know about the Original Product Key on the side of my computer. I have learnt
alot since then. Looks like I've learnt the hard way.
Peter.
"duke" wrote:
Okay, I think I understand your questions:.
If you have NOT yet activated the new XP version with Microsoft, for
all intent and purposes Microsoft is not aware of your installation.
The activation process when completed, associates the 25 character
product key that YOU ENTERED AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, with several
hardware identities, and the resultant hash is stored in Microsoft's
database.
If you want to go back to the old Product Key that is stuck to the
case of the computer, you will have to reinstall XP again, this time
enter the old product key on the case so that the hash generated will
be based on the old product key.
Any subsequent reinstall of the same product key will attempt to
associate the hardware identities to generate the same hash as is
stored in their database. If there is a mismatch, it would indicate
that some/all of the components have been changed, therefore the
reactivation MIGHT NOT be allowed, as it could be concluded that an
attempt is being made to install it on another computer which violates
the purchase agreement.
Note that I said "might not be allowed" as the process is designed to
allow some changes to occur as replacing / adding components (ex: disk
drives, network cards etc.) is quite common. Should a legal automated
activation process fail, you can still call Microsoft to plead your
case.
Hope this helps
Peter wrote:
Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please.
This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it.
Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any
virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's.
So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed
it & its all working great (much better than my Win98).
But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this.
I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to
re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this
area).
Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the
computer is still useable on the Acer Computer?
I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used
limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board).
Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key
on the side of the Acer Computer.
Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I
have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for
6 months now - has Win 98 on it)?
If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other
computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now
& can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people seem
to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the
Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would
it work for me?
I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm
doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer
computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please
guide me on the right path.
Peter.
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