Formatting and reinstalling Windows XP without having to call and get an activation code...

[tornadobox]

I just find this very interesting, and would love to know if anyone else has had this same experience.

I bought an OEM version of Windows XP home a little while back, and since my first installation, I have now formatted and reinstalled this same copy of XP 2 more times (total of 3 installations). Each time I am prompted to activate my copy of Windows, and I do, and not once did it say that my copy had already been activated, and not once did I need to call Microsoft for an activation key. All 3 times I was able to activate XP online in seconds.

I thought this wouldn't happen in XP? I by no means have the Corporate edition (and I don't even think XP Home Corporate exists), so why is it that I haven't had to call Microsoft about reinstalling the same copy of XP?

Has anyone else either formatted and reinstalled and HAD to call Microsoft, or has formatted and reinstalled and NOT had to call Microsoft (please don't say you have not had to call Microsoft if you have the Corporate edition...I know it doesn't need to be activated!)?

Thanks.

 

[Compellor]

My understanding is that as long as you haven't changed any kind of hardware configuration in your PC, you can reinstall and activate as many times as you want without a problem. The problem with Microsoft's activation scheme is that if you were to make major changes to your system--or try installing WinXP on differently configured system--it won't let you activate. In the case of changing hardware, you can make some changes without it being a problem. I think after 120 days the activation will reset and you can then install it again without a problem.

 

[Athlon4all]

Yea, it all has to do with how much hardware has changed.

 

[tornadobox]

heh ok cool for a minute there i thought i had a "magic" copy of XP...heheh just wishful thinking!

 

[esun]

Somehow I recall reading about a registry key that microsoft included purposely that allowed BETA testers to turn off product activation...I dunno if this was included in the final version, but if so, that key could be quite valuable

 

[Woody419]

I have read that product activation makes the file wpa.dbl. Save it and put it back after a format.
Check out the article at The Register, then do a search on Google for wpa.dbl for more info.