Windows XP question.?

Question

If I was to build a computer system from scratch and buy either a full or OEM version of Windows XP, what would happen if at a later point after the installation I needed to reformat? After the license key has been activated is it impossible to reactivate my current copy? do I have to buy a new license from Microsoft? I've been wondering about this for a while.

Answer 1

No, you can reinstall. If it won't register you call Microsoft and then tell them you reformatted.

Answer 2

Yeah, we have done this about 500 times. As long as it is the same computer with the oem license (around $170). Otherwise, with an upgrade license ($90-200), it is rather portable (fro one comp to another). a full product purchase ($360) is completely portable to any comp. Just tell them (India activation support) you are only using one comp.

They get millions of calls a day and don't hassle you too much. It must be reactivated every times 3 things are changed on your hardware which signifies a potential piracy (board, ram, etc).

Buying a comp with XP is going to be far cheaper than building one. All comps are obsolete in 2 months anyways. So buy a blowout they overstocked. Equipment changes weekly, and by the time it arrives from China it is old. Most really good comps run $800. To build is a minimum of $1000 + $360 for windows. Don't forget the monitor. Of course if you are game freak...you are looking at alienware anyways (and $3k)..even though it is owned by Dell now.

Answer 3

After you have Windows XP on your computer you can do a hard recovery. One keeps the data files and the other Hard recovery will erase "everything" and put your system back to factory specs or the Windows XP settings you had after formatting windows xp on the computer.. But, if you mean to reformat, I think you would be able to use the same key. But when you reformat for the windows xp it will tell you about this. One key same computer. Else call microsoft for help. Also, you could take the hard drive out and tell Micro you had problems and had to switch hard drives and threw the bad one away. You could actually reinstall the hard drive you took out with windows on another computer. I know first hand.

Answer 4

I have reformatted the same computer many time with one XP licence.

The only thing is, after a certain number of hardware changes you need to call MS and reactivate over the phone, but it's not a big deal.

Answer 5

The license stays with the owner and can be applied infinitely against the same hardware in Windows XP. That said, if you change the hardware down the road 'enough' you'll have to CALL microsoft to re-install. They will ask if the NIC card, the CPU, the video card, etc have changed. Mostly the changing NIC card will start the process to manually re-authenticate the license.

IGo ahead and install. If the license works now, it will continue to work if/when you need to re-install.

(This changes with VISTA, but for WinXP you are all set)

Answer 6

I update my computer with new parts quite a bit with new components. Each time I updated the motherboard I had to do a repair install of XP. On the third upgrade when I tried to reinstall, when it came time to enter the CD Key it wouldn't accept it and it gave me a number to call microsoft to get a new confirmation number, It's a pain in the butt, but wasn't any problem. At least it is an 800 number.

Answer 7

No problems, you can reinstall the same copy over and over again, and if you ever have a problem you just call Microsoft in your area, tell them you just formatted and it wont let you reinstall, then they will ask for you activation code and then give you a new one. This happened to me once I did exactly that and they gave me a new code over the phone I punched it in and away it went. It;s all good.

Answer 8

You will be able to use the same license key if you reformat.

Answer 9

you can reinstall with one license, it's good for one compuiter not one installation.