can you use the same licence code twice on xp. Because my old 1 got a virus. So can i use the 1 i used before?

Question

and dvhrm can u tell me what esaclyy do u mean be hardware changes

Answer 1

If you reinstall your OS, you use the same license key to reinstall Windows XP.

So long as you have not made significant hardware changes since you first installed XP, your copy of XP should again validate as genuine and allow you to download updates / extra software direct from Microsoft.

Answer 2

Your question is unclear but here goes an answer. If you had to tear down and reimage your machine to an infection AND the License Key is NOT running on any other machine there is no problem with that install. Installs in which the same Liscense is running on two different machines simeltaneous are a red flag to Mr Gates and Microsoft. It is also my understanding you may install a used license key on a new machine as long as it has been removed from the old machine. Bascially its a one to one relationship. On a side note, its my understanding the Micrsoft utilizes your hardware profile to determine whether the same Key is running on different machines simeltaneously.

Answer 3

Yes, if you have the CD and you are installing on the same computer.

Windows XP Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/activation.mspx

MS Product Activation – install more than once

Product Activation works by validating that the software's product key, required as part of product installation, has not been used on more PCs than is allowed by the software's end user license agreement (EULA). In general, Windows XP can be installed on one PC and Office 2003 or Office XP can be installed on one PC and the laptop computer used by the user of the one PC. (For specifics, please see the EULA accompanying your product.) Product key information, in the form of the product ID, is sent along with a "hardware hash" (a non-unique number generated from the PC's hardware configuration) to Microsoft's activation system during activation. In Windows XP SP1, the product key itself is sent in addition to the product ID. Activation is completed either directly via the Internet or by a telephone call to a customer service representative. Activations on the same PC using the same product key are unlimited. Product Activation discourages piracy by limiting the number of times a product key can be activated on different PCs.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx

Install Windows on Multiple Computers with only One CD


Let me quote from the WindowsXP Gigabook, by Peter Weverka.

"Windows installer makes you type the unique 25-character code that's printed on the case of your Windows XP CD. Later, the Product Activation programs looks at various serial numbers inside your PC - the processor, network card, and disk drives, etc. -- mixes them together, and produces a second 25-character code that identifies your PC. Those 50 characters, taken together, are called the installation ID.

When you activate Windows XP, you give Microsoft the 50 character installation ID.

I'm going to skip some information here -- to continue -- every time WindowsXP starts, it recalculates the 25-character code that's based on the various serial numbers inside your PC. If the recalculated 25-character code doesn't match your original code, the activation time clock starts over and it continues to remind you relentlessly, etc. etc.

All this and much more is covered in Chapter 2.

I bought this $35 book for $3.50 and shipping at www.amazon.com as a used book.

Answer 4

You know what? You'd have to ask Windows or someone who works there. But i do think you could. Sorry I wasn't a real help. Also what computer did you ask this on? you needed another license code so where did you ask this? School, work, the library?