Activating XP after a reinstall

[jojo]

Really not sure if this post will violate CIT's rules. If it does, then please delete.

I have found this information in several places on the web. If you are using XP, it's worth knowing. These two files can be kept aside in an legally activated system and used for a reinstall.

Double-click My Computer.
Double-click on the "C" drive.
Go to the C:\Windows\System32 folder. (You may have to click on the link that says "Show The contents of this folder.")
Find the files "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" and copy them to a safe location. You can copy them on a floppy drive or burn it onto a CD or DVD.
After you have reinstalled Windows XP on your reformatted hard drive, click "No" when asked if you want to go ahead and go through the activation process.
Reboot your computer into SafeMode.
Double-click My Computer.
Double-click on the "C" drive.
Go to the C:\Windows\System32 folder. (You may have to click on the link that says "Show The contents of this folder.")
Find the file "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" (if it exists) and rename them to "wpadbl.new" and "wpabak.new."
Copy your original "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" files from your floppy disk, CD or DVD into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Restart your system.

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

Similar here: news.softpedia.com/news/Manually-Activate-Windows-XP-without-Ever-Having-to-Connect-to-Microsoft-59142.shtml

A google of wpa.dbl showed this in several sites. But it is hacking and as I said, if it violates CIT rules, then please delete.

[vikingken]

If its a legal installation, why not just activate it? When people start going round about routes, I'm always suspicious of why. If it tells you its been activated too many times, just phone the free number they give you. Much easier than messing around changing files only to find it doesn't work.

[jojo]

There is a question of whether M$ will activate.

However, after some more research I discovered claims that this will only work if the hardware is unchanged. Not sure if that's an absolute, which will make it impossible to reinstall after replacing the HD, for example, or if it's just a principal. The only way to know is to try it.

There seems to be several methods of getting round the activation. Many claim to be able to activate Vista and W7 as well. But this seem to be the only one which didn't involve any particularly underhanded behaviour. Simply taking a precautionary copy of something legally obtained and reusing it.

Personally, I have taken an image with Macirum, using this as a belt and braces thing. Like everyone else, I don't expect any problems. Though I do have an unusable copy of Vista, after installing it more than 5 times. For those who may have spent a bundle on what looks cool, may I assure you, an unusable copy is about as uncool as me.

I posted this because a poster elsewhere claimed he couldn't get M$ to activate his product.

[vikingken]

I always said I had to change a motherboard or CPU, and they never refused to activate and sometimes they dont ask. I use Paragon images myself and rarely have to activate. Windows 7 uses a different method of activation and XP is the only touchy one. As XP is no longer supported, I dont think you should have to activate it anyway. However I think most of XP is OEM and a huge percentage of Windows 7 is retail and the rules are different.

[jojo]

Understand. Mine is retail, though I appreciate the OEM position. I honestly don't know the position regarding activation, only that one person, I know of, complained they couldn't.

I appreciate your point about activation after major upgrades. I have only used my copy on this machine. While I haven't needed to replace the MB, the sound, video cards have as well as the PSU and HDs.

I seem to recall, the reason I chose Macirum was, it was recommended by Majorgeeks. But I know Paragon is equally good. It seems to me that the ability to take a copy and use it elsewhere, bypassing activation, kinda negates the point. Perhaps M$ really is past their best.

I took a copy when XP was first installed, just before the beginning of the end-times.

I just so wish someone in the Linux community would get their act together. Linux could easily consign M$ to history if someone would just clean up the bugs. It's hardly rocket science, yet it may be easier convincing an Elvis fan that he really is dead. Or perhaps it's actually true and none of them really do understand it either?

[vikingken]

If you put an image on a different machine, you will have to change the activation key to a new  valid one. If you haven't got a valid license, it will stop working. You cant have the same key on 2 machines at the same time. You can reuse a retail copy of Windows, but only if the first machine is  scrapped. You can only reuse an OEM, if you tell them you have had to change the motherboard. If its another machine, your  not really telling any lies. The previous machine must be scrapped, their new method tells them if 2 machines have the same number. With Windows 7 you can use anybodies installation disk to install, as long as you have a valid license of your own and put your activation key in after installing.