XP Activation

[MorseLady]

I activated a copy of XP Home on my spare (dual boot)computer a few weeks ago but now may need to take it off and reinstall it but I am not sure if it will run or whether I have to phone MS?

How much new hardware can I install? I need to install a NIC and graphics card in my spare dual boot ME/XP machine (soon to be tri boot with W2K Server) and I also want to upgrade my hard disk. Can I do this without losing my XP activation?

[NooNoo]

Originally posted by GranGeek
I activated a copy of XP Home on my spare (dual boot)computer a few weeks ago but now may need to take it off and reinstall it but I am not sure if it will run or whether I have to phone MS?

How much new hardware can I install? I need to install a NIC and graphics card in my spare dual boot ME/XP machine (soon to be tri boot with W2K Server) and I also want to upgrade my hard disk. Can I do this without losing my XP activation?

There is no limit to the number of activations you can do... and you dont have to activate immediately. I have done my xp box 3 times so far - activated happily each time.

The hardware is based on a kind of points system... although it is doesn't always work according to the way ms says it will. If you want to do this in one hit, put all your upgrades in and then format and install and just activate the once.

I know you are concerned about phoning MS but if the machine is connected to the net - or has a modem with dialup it will do it for you without a problem (most times - remember not everything goes to plan!)

You bought the XP licence - you should not be afraid of using it.

[MorseLady]

Thanks Noo Noo. Yes, the other machine has got a 56k modem and is fully configured for the net same as this new XP box. One of the reasons I want to put a NIC in it and this one is because my ISP has a good 128k broadband offer going. The other is of course so I can form a little network at home to help my studies. I have some old W98/95 boxes too.

I originally activated the other machine by using the Internet and good to know I can do this again because I am very hard of hearing and using the phone is a problem - my course tutor makes sure I understand things I don't always hear and I have a workstation very close to his desk.