activate my recovery cd "windows xp"?

Question

i have a pentium 4 p.c (3.2ghz) and i wish to restore it again(this will be the secomd time)and i am worried that i wont be able to activate windows!
i am restoring it with the recovery cd that came with the system so in theory i should be able to activate windows again as restore means the condition it was when i got it out the box
if i cant activate it ,have i the right to ask for another recovery cd as it is still under warranty?
any answers will be great

Answer 1

Activation requires either an Internet connection or a phone connection. If you can't activate by Internet, you will get a phone number you can call to activate your copy.

You need not worry about activation if this is only the third time you are activating the product, provided you have not made significant hardware changes.

Answer 2

I know what you're talking about. As long as you are installing it on the same PC you should be OK. Your PC has to connect to the web and basically it lets Microsoft know how many times you've installed that software. After two times it won't let you install it anymore. Some friends of mine have had trouble regarding this with Microsoft Office products. From what they told me, they had to call Microsoft and let them know that they had to install it on the same computer more than twice. From what I understand, Microsoft is supposed to let you install it more that two times on the same computer as long as you install it on the same computer each time. After two times you have to call them to have them OK it, so you can install it a third time.

You do know that you don't need to use the recovery cd to restore your computer unless you just totally want to erase everything from the hard drive...right? You can restore your computer to a previous date that it worked correctly in Windows XP. It's listed under the Control Panel. I've used it a number of times, especially after installing a program that messed the computer up.

Answer 3

If you're restoring it onto the same hardware platform it was previously on, you'll be able to activate it. If you're trying to restore it to other hardware, you'll have to contact Microsoft and as long as they can verify that the product is actually registered to you, they'll give you a new product ID key. I've had to do this before.

Good luck.

Answer 4

If it doesn't activate, you can call Microsoft and get them to either give you a new number, or send you a new disk. In my experience of recovering I have only had a problem one time, and called Microsoft and the fixed the problem over the phone, (I don't remember exactly what they did.)

Answer 5

Yes. You should be able to activate it on the same PC unlimited times.

If you do have problems contact support for your PC and they will assist.

The activation is intended to prevent one copy of Windows being propogated throughout the Western hemisphere... not to prevent you using your legitimate, paid for equipment.

Answer 6

Or why not choose now to try something different such as a Live Linux OS instead. Some are installable now.