How many times can you activate Windows?

[Mrvile]

I know there's a limit to how many times you can activiate windows (before you need to call in for a new CD key), does anyone know what the limit is? Thanks.

 

[Megatomic]

You'll never need a new CD key. You may have to call to get them to reactivate Windows though. It used to happen once every 5 installs for me, but when they finally understood that I am a beta tester they stopped forcing me to call to reactivate.

 

[CreativeTom]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
I know there's a limit to how many times you can activiate windows (before you need to call in for a new CD key), does anyone know what the limit is? Thanks.

I hope you are doing this all on the same machine. You can usually do it two times before you need to call, and what time limit do you speak of?????? you mean if you don't activate it???? it's 30 days then.

 

[indianduddawg47]

just use linux. no activation. http://www.debian.org

 

[Mrvile]

Hmm, I had an old Windows XP CD that I borrowed from my dad's work before I got my own, and after two installations of that it told me I had activated it too many times and needed a new CD key, and gave me a number to call. But that was a Compaq OEM CD, maybe there's no limit on these regular windows CDs...

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: CreativeTom

Originally posted by: Mrvile
I know there's a limit to how many times you can activiate windows (before you need to call in for a new CD key), does anyone know what the limit is? Thanks.

I hope you are doing this all on the same machine. You can usually do it two times before you need to call, and what time limit do you speak of?????? you mean if you don't activate it???? it's 30 days then.

Every 2 times?! Hrmm... i've installed XP at least 10 times on my rig and only had to call once, and that was after changing mobo+cpu out.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: indianduddawg47
just use linux. no activation. http://www.debian.org

I wish I knew how to use Linux

 

[theMan]

ive used my win2000 cd like, 15-20 without problems. it is pirated though, so i dont know if that effects it.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Hmm, I had an old Windows XP CD that I borrowed from my dad's work before I got my own, and after two installations of that it told me I had activated it too many times and needed a new CD key, and gave me a number to call. But that was a Compaq OEM CD, maybe there's no limit on these regular windows CDs...

Unless you were installing that verison of WinXP on another HP computer that's why you were told you'd need a new CD key. It is not the number of times that key's been activated but the fact that in Microsoft's database that key belongs to an HP machine.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Hmm, I had an old Windows XP CD that I borrowed from my dad's work before I got my own, and after two installations of that it told me I had activated it too many times and needed a new CD key, and gave me a number to call. But that was a Compaq OEM CD, maybe there's no limit on these regular windows CDs...

The activation key is different from the CD key. Normally you can activate your copy of Windows online, but if you make a significant hardware change or activate too often using the same CD key, the online activation may fail, and you'll need to call Microsoft to get an activation key.

That said, you should only be using a single CD key on ONE computer. Installing Windows with the same CD key on multiple computers is a violation of the license agreement, and Microsoft will not help you out if you get activation errors.

If you need to call Microsoft for an activation key and you are not installing on multiple computers, it's a painless process. Their number is available 24/7 and you should have no trouble.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Hmm, I had an old Windows XP CD that I borrowed from my dad's work before I got my own, and after two installations of that it told me I had activated it too many times and needed a new CD key, and gave me a number to call. But that was a Compaq OEM CD, maybe there's no limit on these regular windows CDs...

The activation key is different from the CD key. Normally you can activate your copy of Windows online, but if you make a significant hardware change or activate too often using the same CD key, the online activation may fail, and you'll need to call Microsoft to get an activation key.

That said, you should only be using a single CD key on ONE computer. Installing Windows with the same CD key on multiple computers is a violation of the license agreement, and Microsoft will not help you out if you get activation errors.

If you need to call Microsoft for an activation key and you are not installing on multiple computers, it's a painless process. Their number is available 24/7 and you should have no trouble.

Ok. Although I have been installing this copy of XP on my comp a lot recently, I don't think I should have any problems. And if I do need to call in that'll be no big deal (I have already called in to activate once when my internet was down).

 

[MrChad]

I should add that there are some exceptions to the activation rule. Some OEMs (I know Dell does this) have special XP install CDs that do not require activation. These CDs read the computer's BIOS (I believe) to ensure that they are installed on the original system that shipped with the CD. This means that a Dell XP CD will install easily on a Dell PC, but will refuse to install on a non-Dell machine.

 

[Leros]

Ive installed this copy of win xp OEM about 20 times. The first time i activated it online. The next 10 or so times, I was forced to call in. But Ive been able to activate around these last ten times over the internet. Go figure.

 

[Philippine Mango]

I don't because I've got corperate edition.

 

[bendixG15]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I don't because I've got corperate edition.

Show Off..(LOL)

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I don't because I've got l33t h4x0r version.

Fixed

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I don't because I've got corperate edition.

Diito here! Although I had to reactivate once after changing a lot of HW in a short period.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I've never had issues with getting a new activation key with an XP OEM CD (other than the workers at the MS call centers in India can be a bit difficult to communicate with sometimes). I have, however, had one issue with reinstalling Office Pro 2003 (after an XP reinstall), and had to be somewhat persistent getting a new key (they told me the license had expired, though I know it's legit because I bought it new and have been the only user).

It's annoying but no real concern.

 

[hopejr]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I don't because I've got corperate edition.

haha, I did when I was living in asia.

To the OP: You can activate windows as many times as you like on the some computer, whether you have to ring up or not. When I used to have windows boxes, I'd do it all the time, and when I had to ring up I'd say I'm a developer (I'm a member of MSDN Connection, so that's true). They didn't mind then.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: MCrusty

Originally posted by: CreativeTom

Originally posted by: Mrvile
I know there's a limit to how many times you can activiate windows (before you need to call in for a new CD key), does anyone know what the limit is? Thanks.

I hope you are doing this all on the same machine. You can usually do it two times before you need to call, and what time limit do you speak of?????? you mean if you don't activate it???? it's 30 days then.

Every 2 times?! Hrmm... i've installed XP at least 10 times on my rig and only had to call once, and that was after changing mobo+cpu out.

Crap, I have to call EVERY damn time I reinstall.

 

[SilentZero]

About every 3 times for me, but a call always fixes the problem.

 

[bjc112]

Every 2 times?! Hrmm... i've installed XP at least 10 times on my rig and only had to call once, and that was after changing mobo+cpu out.

Me too, I have done numerous installs and hardware exchanges without ever needing to call.. Mobo/CPU or even entire new setups..

It's a OEM XP Pro copy
from Newegg..

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I don't because I've got corperate edition.

You could at least spell it right if you are going to to be a pirate.

"Corporate"

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Originally posted by: bjc112

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I don't because I've got corperate edition.

You could at least spell it right if you are going to to be a pirate.

"Corporate"

Isn't admitting to illegal activities an invitation to a ban? Jeez.
What happened to the thieves skulking in the corner with shifty eyes?
Now they just say, "I steal." Where have all the "respectable" discrete thieves gone. :laugh:

Edit: For very tired eyes not spotting the atrocious misspellings (I hoped misspelling isn't misspelled, LOL)

 

[Dubb]

not everyone with a volume licensed XP is a pirate...many universities let students in on their VLKs for free or cheap.

<----- doesn't know what he's going to do when longhorn comes out and he won't have a VLK any more....