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Re-install limit in XP?
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| Synchronicity |
Recently my computer has been acting up a bit. When I start up applications wont run for the first 5-10 minutes. Also since upgrading to a new soundcard media players and audio in general is a bit unstable.
Since I have quite a lot of apps installed, and have uninstalled quite a few over the last couple of years I think a repair or re-install is due. Hopefully this will clean up the registry, get rid of old uninstall remnants and driver remnants.
Now, I'm sure I remember seeing somewhere that there is a limit to how many times you can re-install XP (3), and that changes to hardware affect this. I read this article:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php and I get what he's saying but there is no mention of a re-install limit. Is that because there isn't one? My copy of XP is OEM, not cracked or anything. I think I've re-installed twice now.
Also, would a repair be ok for my situation or should I go the whole hog and re-install? I'm sure I don't have a virus and, like I said before, I think it's bad uninstalls/ driver clashes and registry problems causing system errors. If I were to repair, are there any things I can do in advance to make it all run smoothly? Will I have to re-install and activate all my software?
Cheers |
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| echosystm |
| Theres no limit on the one computer |
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| DjConfessions |
i've re-installed XP home on my old laptop several times, shared the serial to 2 of my neighbor's desktops as well as my own desktop, all which have gone though Validation and being declared "Genuine" when updating Direct X.
good stuff? |
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| Synchronicity |
| quote: | Originally posted by DjConfessions
i've re-installed XP home on my old laptop several times, shared the serial to 2 of my neighbor's desktops as well as my own desktop, all which have gone though Validation and being declared "Genuine" when updating Direct X.
good stuff? |
Dunno how you got away with that one. Maybe there isn't a limit then, it's really bugging me though because I could have sworn I saw it mentioned somewhere. Anyway, I'll just give it a go.
Cheers |
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| sw1 |
| I think you can install it up to 4 times per year on the same computer hardware setup. If any of your hardware has changed since the initial activation, then your newly installed Windows XP will require you to call Microsoft to activate the fresh install. |
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| LiquidNitrogen |
| quote: | | i've re-installed XP home on my old laptop several times, shared the serial to 2 of my neighbor's desktops as well as my own desktop, all which have gone though Validation and being declared "Genuine" when updating Direct X. |
I don't think it's possible. Serial number is stored at Microsoft, against your machine's hash. Any time machine hash changes re-registration would fail. Irrespective what no two machines can have the same hash.
Synchronicity: what has happened with you is very common. You can call Microsoft Help Desk and tell the whole story. They will get you the new number (You'd have to authenticate yourself though with old registration details etc).
In vista this would be a major problem as every reinstall would cost you. There was an article on bbc or some place (sorry i don't remember the URL) a few days back on this. |
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| DjConfessions |
Well that was my experience with my XP Home Serial which has been on at least 2 computers since 2 years ago when i updated by old win98 laptop with Home using the serial from my desktop. All the computers with my serial since then are pretty much always on, always on wi-fi, sending requests to Automatic Updates.
I just figured their EULA was a "gentlemens" agreement and their Validation was for "honest" users to tell their pirating friends about, scare them off or whatnot. |
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| Synchronicity |
| quote: | Originally posted by sw1
I think you can install it up to 4 times per year on the same computer hardware setup. If any of your hardware has changed since the initial activation, then your newly installed Windows XP will require you to call Microsoft to activate the fresh install. |
Hi sw1, where did you hear about the 4 times per year limit?..... |
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| _Ocean_Drive_ |
I didn't think there was a reinstall limit, but having just assembled a new PC, it appears there was. I used another genuine XP key I had, but it still takes the biscuit.
Failing that, ring up Microsoft... |
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| babyvsrhino |
| quote: | Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_
I didn't think there was a reinstall limit, but having just assembled a new PC, it appears there was. I used another genuine XP key I had, but it still takes the biscuit.
Failing that, ring up Microsoft... |
I don't think the limit is purely reinstall based, it's more on hardware changes, for instance, if you get a new motherboard, you have to activate again because its picked up as a major hardware change. |
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| _Ocean_Drive_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by babyvsrhino
I don't think the limit is purely reinstall based, it's more on hardware changes, for instance, if you get a new motherboard, you have to activate again because its picked up as a major hardware change. |
And I thought the hardware change thing was only in Vista, but didn't realise it applied to XP Pro. All these things do is just sting the genuine user. The real (and half-tempted, despite what Microsoft say)) pirates will get round it. |
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