Re: Backing Up Software Licenses - Reinstalling Windows
- From: "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 19 May 2007 08:55:16 -0700
ObiJuan78 wrote:
I have a PC with Windows XP Pro and a ton of legally purchased
software (such as MS Office). I am in the process of upgrading my PC
with a new motherboard and video cards, and I would like to reformat
the hard drive and reinstall Windows XP Pro., and then reinstall the
software that is on the 'C' drive. But I am afraid that I would get
hit with error messages indicating that my license has already been
used at another computer.
First, you need to know whether your version of Windows XP is retail or OEM
If it's a retail copy, there's no problem. But if it's an OEM copy (for
example, if it came with your computer), its license restricts it to the
first computer it's installed on and it can never be moved to another.
What constitutes a different computer is a can of worms, and the license
doesn't spell it out. Some people here will tell you that a new motherboard
makes it a new computer, and cite a Microsoft web site (not available to end
users) stating that. However, it's the EULA you agree to, not some web site
you can't even access; the EULA does not say that. But be aware that if you
have to activate by telephone, rather than over the internet (and if it's
been fewer than 120 days since last activation, you will), some Microsoft
employess may deny you activation, claiming that changing the motherboard
makes it a new computer.
By the way, most of the application software is in a second hard disk
which I do not intend to reformat. But I am also concerned that when
I reinstall WinXP Pro on the 'C' drive, that the new registry will
not recognize the applications installed in the other hard disk.
That's correct. Installed applications have many references to themselves
within Windows, in the registry and elsewhere. If you reload Windows, you
have have to reinstall your applications. That's the reason why the practice
that many people have of separating their applications on a separate
partition or physical drive really makes no sense.
Ideally I would like to:
1. Reformat the 'C' drive,
2. Install the motherboard's programs
3. Reinstall Windows XP Pro
4. Reinstall any application that were in the 'C' drive
5. Plug in the second hard disk (the one that has most of the
application software)
and
6. Restore the licenses for these applications (for the new WinXP Pro
to recognize them).
How can I save/backup my software licenses and restore them back for
the above scenario?
You can not. You will have to reinstall all your applications. There may be
an occasional tiny app that is self-contained, but that occurs seldom enough
that for practical purposes, you can forget about it.
Also note that step 1 above (Reformat the 'C' drive) is not required. It's
done as part of the WIndows clean installation. Just boot from the Windows
XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if necessary to accomplish this) and
follow the prompts for a clean installation (delete the existing partition
by pressing "D" when prompted, then create a new one).
You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
or here http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm
or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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