Computer Problems? Computing.Net has over 1,000,000 posts about all things technology related! Over 90% answered within 24 hours! Click here to start participating now! Also, be sure to check out the New User Guide.
XP Activation - CD
Name: Andy11 Date: September 6, 2004 at 16:57:37 Pacific OS: XP SP2 CPU/Ram: P4 3gHz, 512MB RAM
Comment:
I recently purchased a new laptop, which came preinstalled with XP SP1. I have the full XP SP1a original CD from HP - an OEM CD. Well, my question is - when I formatted my laptop and reinstalled XP SP1a from the HP OEM CD, I didn't have to activate at all - when I checked to see what the activation status was, it said, "Already activated." Since this was from the CD, I'm assuming it's already activated on the CD, if you know what I mean. So, can I reinstall XP from that CD as many times as I want without having to re-activate Windows? Or is there a certain limit?
Name: per Date: September 6, 2004 at 17:06:14 Pacific
Reply:
Hi Andy. As far as I know you can reinstall on the same machine as many times as you want to. It's only when XP doesn't recognize the hardware any longer you get a problem.
0
Response Number 2
Name: Andy11 Date: September 6, 2004 at 17:08:52 Pacific
Reply:
Per,
I'm actually talkin' about a full reformat.
And, I didn't have to connect to the Internet or anything to activate. Heck, my Internet wasn't even on - and yet Windows was already activated right after I reinstalled it.
So... what does that mean?
anDrew
0
Response Number 3
Name: per Date: September 6, 2004 at 17:11:53 Pacific
Reply:
If it say's no activation needed I wouldn't worry about. I am on a corp. licence so not really familiar. Wait for another reply.
0
Response Number 4
Name: teri Date: September 6, 2004 at 17:19:22 Pacific
Reply:
To the best of my knowledge the only time you do noy have to activate XP is if you install a corporate copy of XP. They are under a blanket license and of a home user cannot legally own such a copy. If anyone else has any suggestions I would love to hear them.
0
Response Number 5
Name: hankisourcat Date: September 6, 2004 at 17:20:22 Pacific
Reply:
per is correct. HP activates their pc's by a unique value based on system-board and nic mac address. As long as you use the cd on the same pc it will always be identified as activated. But, don't make major changes to hardware or try the cd on another pc. The activation will fail.
0
Response Number 6
Name: per Date: September 6, 2004 at 17:22:36 Pacific
Reply:
Thx for the clarification hankisourcat.
0
Response Number 7
Name: Andy11 Date: September 6, 2004 at 17:37:31 Pacific
Reply:
Okay, thanks a million everyone. =)
anDrew
0
Response Number 8
Name: LEXX Date: September 7, 2004 at 09:54:02 Pacific
Reply:
Dosnt matter what the XP CD is they are the same. The secret is the CD key. If you have a corp key thats why you dont have to activate.
0
Response Number 9
Name: firoz16 Date: September 7, 2004 at 19:47:48 Pacific
Reply:
hey i know how to active of xp through phone(actually u don't need phone).let meknow if u want it(i activated my xp home sp1 by this process)
Summary: I was trying to fix some problems with a friends computer by doing a repair install using an XP Home cd that I have, I've done this before and am sure I said Repair not fresh install but later it aske...
Summary: hi all, i have 2 HDDs. The first one has XPHomeSP2 loaded on it......i use this for internet connection, games, normal PC work. XP on this HDD is currently ACTIVATED with Micro$oft. i have a spare HDD...
Summary: you can use a standard issue XP OEM cd with a hp cd key. You just have to call microsoft for activation and tell them why you had to reinstall. The cd key will work during the installation but not in ...
0 
