WinXP Reactivation and Reformat

[eggrolls]

So I've replaced the hardware in my computer gradually and activated XP over the internet many times with no problems. Today, I replaced my cd burner with a dvd burner (which makes my hard drive the only thing unchanged since initial activation), booted up XP, and it complained about significant hardware change and gave me 3 days to reactivate (never seen this before). I thought I had to call Microsoft this time, but surprisingly internet activation worked.

Now my computer is in its "final" form, and I don't plan to make any more upgrades. I want to reformat, install everything properly, activate Windows, and make a bootable dvd w/ hd image with Acronis. How long should I wait before I activate again? I read somewhere that Microsoft's system is pretty picky when the same product key is activated more than once within a short period of time.

Thanks

 

[cubby1223]

Just do whatever you want. If internet activation doesn't work, just call them up & have a rep give you the activation code.

 

[jadinolf]

You don't have a problem. Proceed.

 

[coolpurplefan]

I was wondering about the same and when I typed in "windows activation" in Google, the second link on the list brought me to another article which describes how to reformat XP without re-activating XP (although it may be an old article so maybe it's not guaranteed to work now).

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/windowsxp/qt/aaqtwinxp0829.htm

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: jadinolf
You don't have a problem. Proceed.

yep - if it doesn't activate just call Microsoft