How many times can you install Microsoft Windows XP Professional? I’m talking about on one computer of course like if you crash. The last time I checked it was 6 times per year. But I can’t find anything about on the Microsoft web site.

Computer professional of 23 years!

you can use the disk as many times as you want but it is the serial number that has a limit i think it is still 6 if the serial stops working then contact MS and they should be able to reactivate the code or give you a new one not sure if that will cost or not

David Shires

www.trustnetworks.co.uk online support you have a problem we will do are best to solve it

Why would you want to install the same OS on the same computer six times a year?

If it is crshing out to such an extent that it becomes necessary then you have some serious problems that should be sorted out.

Twice a year is once to often as far I am concerned.

Stuart

I'm not installing it 6 times a year. I just wanted to know if Microsoft still gives 6 installs a year. I don't personally crash. I had to reinstall once because certain aspects of my Norton Systemworks stopped working and reinstalling Norton didn't work. It was related to some Windows files that got replaced by Netsonic and made Norton Win Doctor & One Button Checkup stop working. Some so called network administrator said that you can only install Windows XP Pro only once and if you crash you have to buy another one.

Computer professional of 25 years!

After 120 days you can reinstall Win XP with no hassles, no phone calls are needed...

Quote: Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!

Seriously, does M$ really police how many times you can install XP?

No one outside M$ really knows. The following answer is quoted in part from this article by John C. Dvorak a well known PC guru with PC Magazine:

Over the past year, the Microsoft Product Activation procedure, which seeks to police how many times an operating system can be installed, has triggered continual controversy and lots of misunderstanding. Looking back, I realize that very few facts are known about the activation policy. Also, Microsoft's Web site and rhetoric are vague on this topic. We really don't know how many times you can install Windows XP.

Hope this settle the question once for all.

i_XpUser

>> Some so called network administrator said that you can only install Windows XP Pro only once and if you crash you have to buy another one. <<

Thats the biggest load of garbage I have ever read. I have re-installed this version of XP Proff numerous times on this computer and have always re-activated via the Internet. That includes changes of hardware including CPU, memory, NIC, and hard disk - not all at the same time though. The only original component is the motherboard.

The 120 days mentioned by Wombat is what makes all the difference. You can even reinstall and activate within the 120 days via the Internet if there has been no change in the hardware.

This applies to retail versions. OEM versions may be slightly different as they are often tied to a particular manufactures hardware.

Stuart

Now I remember that we had discussed the "120 day" in this thread earlier this year.

The WPA.DBL resets itself every 120 days. In other word, eery 120 days, WPA will audit the hardware listed above and generate a new HWID. Effectively this resets the changed hardware count to zero and creates a new baseline.

all about the "120 day."

i_XpUser

Everyone,
Ah, check out the sig. klasickumputer's sig that is.

"Computer professional of 23 years!"

Enough said, well here anyway
:-)

Oh Damn it thanks Crazyone ... how sad we were taken for a ride! Next time I will pay close attention to user signature and read between words & sentences!

i_XpUser

XpUser,

Not quite what I meant. But, oh well, things can be taken, in all ways :-) To each their own, I guess ;-) If I were to read between lines;
Hello XpUser :-)
I wouldn't respond, probably at all. Or, wouldn't have to respond, but once. Wouldn't that be real nice. ya right, like that's going to happen alot.... yes reading between lines ;-)

I don't know what is meant by my sig or reading between lines. I’m trying to find a definitive answer on the install limits of any version of Windows XP. Getting an answer from MS is vague at best. I had found out by a former M$ employee that you get 6 installs or reinstalls if you will, per year. I’m 34 and started with computers at 10. I have 12 desk tops & 4 lap tops. Some guy claiming to be an IT pro/Sys Admin etc said NO you get one install PERIOD. And if you crash you have to buy a new license. I though this was dubious at best. So I wrote here since I could not find anything on the MS web site.

Computer professional of 25 years!

Go here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307890&sd=techh

and here:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation.mspx

and also here:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx

Quote: Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!