Deactivate XP... Is this possible?

[LandRover]

I have a retail install of XP Pro on a machine. I'm most likely going to sell the PC minus XP.
The OS has been "activated". If I'm selling it and want to use the OS myself... What do I need to do? Just call MS when I install it on another machine?

Thanks 🙂

 

[OrangeParktech]

Just format the Hard Drive before you sell it.

I may be mistaken on this, but if it has been 3 months since your last activation, just install it on your new PC and it will activate over the net.

Worst case is you have to call MS, but im guessing in your case you will not have to. Either way, you dont need to do anything but format that other drive and turn it back off.

 

[imverygifted]

i believe this works to deactivate your copy of windows. make a new file in notepad and paste

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents]
"OOBETimer"=hex:ca,82,b8,55,d4,04,b5,cf,cc,5b,24,00

then save it as a .reg file and run it
then to reactivate it you need to run this shortcut
C:\WINDOWS\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe
you can run it after you deactivate it just to see if its deactivated

 

[FreakyGuy]

If it is a legitement key that you are using you should have no problem activating it. If there is a prompt to call the toll free number then do so. I've activated XP Pro many times after upgrading my hardware every few months.

 

[LandRover]

Thanks for the info. That's what I needed to hear. 🙂

 

[Zucarita9000]

Just search for "wpa.dbl" in your WINNT dir. This is the reg file that Windows creates when you activate Windows. You can simply put that file back after a re-install and your OS is fully re-activated without contacting MS.

I'm assuming that if you remove it, Windows will de-activate, although I'm not 100% sure of that.