Windows Activation

I've formatted my computer 7 times, i like to keep things fresh, and im
about to again on monday. Somone told me that I can only activate windows
with my product key 10 times. Everything's legit so I figured I should be
able to install windows on this machine as many times as I want. So is it
true? are they right and I can only activate windows 'x' number of times?

"Sir_Civik" wrote in message =
...
I've formatted my computer 7 times, i like to keep things fresh, and =
im
about to again on monday. Somone told me that I can only activate =
windows
with my product key 10 times. Everything's legit so I figured I =
should be
able to install windows on this machine as many times as I want. So =
is it
true? are they right and I can only activate windows 'x' number of =
times?
=20


You were told worng, as you can install it as many times as you wish. If =
your XP disk is OEM, then it stays on that PC no matter, and dies with =
that PC. if the disk is retail, it can be installed on any PC, as long =
as it doesn't exist on another (IOWs, it can only be on oen PC at any =
one time).

By the way, formatting and installing a great deal is not a good thing. =
There are better ways at maintaining a good running operating system, if =
that is what you're implying that you need when you want to keep things =
fresh?

Hi

You should be able to activate as many times as you like - so long as yo=
u haven't drastically changed the hardware on your PC.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups
"Sir_Civik" wrote in message news:us8MSeMcEHA.2468@=
TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
I've formatted my computer 7 times, i like to keep things fresh, and i=
m
about to again on monday. Somone told me that I can only activate win=
dows
with my product key 10 times. Everything's legit so I figured I shoul=
d be
able to install windows on this machine as many times as I want. So i=
s it
true? are they right and I can only activate windows 'x' number of tim=
es?

Greetings --

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. If it's been more than 120 days since you last activated
that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to activate via
the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you might have to
make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH


"Sir_Civik" wrote in message
...
I've formatted my computer 7 times, i like to keep things fresh, and
im
about to again on monday. Somone told me that I can only activate
windows
with my product key 10 times. Everything's legit so I figured I
should be
able to install windows on this machine as many times as I want. So
is it
true? are they right and I can only activate windows 'x' number of
times?

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 18:09:23 +0200, "Erland Andreassen"
wrote:


"You were told worng, as you can install it as many times as you wish. If
your XP disk is OEM, then it stays on that PC no matter, and dies with that
PC. if the disk is retail, it can be installed on any PC, as long as it
doesn't exist on another (IOWs, it can only be on oen PC at any one time).

Thats bull. I got WinXp Pro OEM, and I have upgraded my computer several
times since I first bought it, new cpu, motherboard etc. You will run into
problems when you alter the hardware configuration on the computer major.
Like replacing cpu, motherboard. If you then do a fresh install on a new
disk and try activate through the net it will give you some boggus message
about your Key is registered to many times or something like that. A quick
call to activate manualy through the phone fixes that. And that applies to
wether you got OEM or not. Just because you bought OEM doesnt neccesary
mean you aint allowed to upgrade your computer doh! ;-)

He doesn't say that you can't upgrade. He just says that it stays with
that machine.

Cheers,

Cliff

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 18:09:23 +0200, "Erland Andreassen"
wrote:


"You were told worng, as you can install it as many times as you wish. If
your XP disk is OEM, then it stays on that PC no matter, and dies with that
PC. if the disk is retail, it can be installed on any PC, as long as it
doesn't exist on another (IOWs, it can only be on oen PC at any one time).

Thats bull. I got WinXp Pro OEM, and I have upgraded my computer several
times since I first bought it, new cpu, motherboard etc. You will run into
problems when you alter the hardware configuration on the computer major.
Like replacing cpu, motherboard. If you then do a fresh install on a new
disk and try activate through the net it will give you some boggus message
about your Key is registered to many times or something like that. A quick
call to activate manualy through the phone fixes that. And that applies to
wether you got OEM or not. Just because you bought OEM doesnt neccesary
mean you aint allowed to upgrade your computer doh! ;-)

He doesn't say that you can't upgrade. He just says that it stays with
that machine.

Cheers,

Cliff

"XS11E" wrote in message =
.. .
"Tom" wrote in
:=20
=20
=20
"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .=20
=20
the sections of the EULA dealing with this
problem are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed to=20
death elsewhere.=20
=20
Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.
=20
reading and doing what you like is basically saying the EULA means
nothing, I disagree!=20
=20
Then you'd be mistaken, no rule, law, EULA, etc. is meaningful unless=20
it's enforced. =20

HUH? You didn't read my post at all! and the rest of what you posted is =
about what i stated.!

"Tom" wrote in
:


"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .
"Tom" wrote in
:


"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .

the sections of the EULA dealing with this
problem are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed
to death elsewhere.

Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.

reading and doing what you like is basically saying the EULA
means nothing, I disagree!

Then you'd be mistaken, no rule, law, EULA, etc. is meaningful
unless it's enforced.

HUH? You didn't read my post at all! and the rest of what you
posted is about what i stated.!

Read every word you wrote and, no, it isn't.

"XS11E" wrote in message =
.. .
"Tom" wrote in
:=20
=20
=20
"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .=20
=20
the sections of the EULA dealing with this
problem are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed to=20
death elsewhere.=20
=20
Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.
=20
reading and doing what you like is basically saying the EULA means
nothing, I disagree!=20
=20
Then you'd be mistaken, no rule, law, EULA, etc. is meaningful unless=20
it's enforced. =20

HUH? You didn't read my post at all! and the rest of what you posted is =
about what i stated.!

"Tom" wrote in
:


"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .
"Tom" wrote in
:


"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .

the sections of the EULA dealing with this
problem are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed
to death elsewhere.

Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.

reading and doing what you like is basically saying the EULA
means nothing, I disagree!

Then you'd be mistaken, no rule, law, EULA, etc. is meaningful
unless it's enforced.

HUH? You didn't read my post at all! and the rest of what you
posted is about what i stated.!

Read every word you wrote and, no, it isn't.

Now your OEM, I would venture to say that you broke the EULA by still
using it, if you replaced your MOBO, unless your EOM came with the
hardware that still exists on that PC.

Probably he didn't. The OP never stated he replaced his motherboard.

Some year ago I bought parts to build a computer, with this winxp pro OEM. I
had to reinstall xp a few times, and every
times I needed to activate it, it worked flawless. It wasnt before I changed
significant hardware CPU/Mobo in an upgrade
(some month or so ago), that I got problems activate it again, and as said
in other post that was fixed easy through
doing manual activation through the phone. The support person I got to talk
with in the other end had a clear understanding of
my problem, and did initiate the activation from their end. If I in the
future want to upgrade mobo/cpu again I would assume I had
to go through he same process, at least if I want to do a clean install. Oh,
and even after this I had to reinstall winxp pro yet again
due to some blue screen errors (that in the end seemed to be caused by a PSU
that didnt gave enough juice). This time the
activation worked flawless, no need to talk with any support person. So I
guess when you activate, your activation info or whatever
get stored in some database someplace and this info tells what hardware you
got, and when activating in the future again, it will be checked
up towards to see if it match.

As for anyone else, the sections of the EULA dealing with this problem
are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed to death
elsewhere.

Well, Im not a native English speaking person, but I think the EULA is quite
clear on this:
-------------------------------

Mandatory Activation. THIS SOFTWARE
CONTAINS TECHNOLOGICAL MEASURES THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO PREVENT UNLICENSED OR ILLEGAL USE
OF THE SOFTWARE. The license rights granted under this EULA
are limited to the first thirty (30) days after you first run
the SOFTWARE unless you supply information required to
activate your licensed copy in the manner described during the
setup sequence (unless Manufacturer has activated for you).
You can activate the SOFTWARE through the use of the Internet
or telephone; toll charges may apply. You may also need to
reactivate the SOFTWARE if you modify your HARDWARE or alter
the SOFTWARE. MS, Microsoft Corporation and its subsidiaries
will use those measures to confirm you have a legally licensed
copy of the SOFTWARE.


If you had to activate by phone with your OEM, then you must have
been still using the hardware the OEM came with.

Why on earth would you think that?

Well you still get the error on activation with new hardware, but you get to
talk with a support person that can help you further.
(maybe he didnt get the later part).

"XS11E" wrote in message =
.. .
"Tom" wrote in
:=20
=20
=20
"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .=20
"Tom" wrote in
:=20
=20
=20
"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .=20
=20
the sections of the EULA dealing with this
problem are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed
to death elsewhere.=20
=20
Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.
=20
reading and doing what you like is basically saying the EULA
means nothing, I disagree!=20
=20
Then you'd be mistaken, no rule, law, EULA, etc. is meaningful
unless it's enforced. =20
=20
HUH? You didn't read my post at all! and the rest of what you
posted is about what i stated.!=20
=20
Read every word you wrote and, no, it isn't.

Well, then I suggest reading comprehension courses for yourself. As I =
can see how you debate my words that essemtially said the same thing you =
did!

"Tom" wrote in
:

Well, then I suggest reading comprehension courses for yourself.
As I can see how you debate my words that essemtially said the
same thing you did!

Sorry, it appears you are the one who needs a reading comprehension
course.

Bye.

well i thank you all for the help but this wasn't ment to become a war. i
mean, im lazy, if it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't i don't have
the patients to call MS to get a number, that involves doing stuff. i just
wanted to basiclly know if my product key was gunna work again or if i had
to download a keygen and a crack before formatting which is much less time
consuming


"XS11E" wrote in message
.. .
"Tom" wrote in
:

Well, then I suggest reading comprehension courses for yourself.
As I can see how you debate my words that essemtially said the
same thing you did!

Sorry, it appears you are the one who needs a reading comprehension
course.

Bye.

"Tom" wrote in
:

Now your OEM, I would venture to say that you broke the EULA by still
using it, if you replaced your MOBO, unless your EOM came with the
hardware that still exists on that PC.

Probably he didn't. The OP never stated he replaced his motherboard.

As for anyone else, the sections of the EULA dealing with this problem
are vague and contradictory and this has been discussed to death
elsewhere.

Read the entire thing and do whatever you think is right.

If you had to activate by phone with your OEM, then you must have
been still using the hardware the OEM came with.

Why on earth would you think that?