wanna reformat but how to keep windows registered?

[DiddlySquat]

I have a question. I need to reformat my HD but if i try to reinstall my windows it will say "this product had been registered more than once..." blah blah blah....Is there any way to transfer my windows registration junk over to another hard drive then install from that registration later?

[Crazy Horse]

You've already registered once you shouldn't have to do it again. I've reformatted many times and never had to re-register.

[notbob]

even if you have to call redmond, who cares?

i've called redmond to reregister office xp oh--i'd say 7 times

you bought the program--they can act all suspicious, but they are just call center people who couldn't give a shit whether you paid for it or not or how many times that you reregister it

you get your 45(?) digit number, and you're good to go until your next format

[DiddlySquat]

Ok, well in XP it says that you have to get new numbers (which is uber-gay!)

[phalkon30]

What OS do you have?

If its XP, it should just give you a phone # to call, then you straighten things out with MS, tell them your hard drive got wiped by a virus, they give you an activation key, and you're set

If its any other OS, then who cares, you don't have to register

EDIT: oops, took too long to post there..

[notbob]

you don't have to call until your 3rd install

otherwise it'll do it automatically online (with or without your consent)

[bigwilly949]

i'm running w/o sp1, is there still a limit on reformats?

[notbob]

you can reinstall as many times as you want--the big hassle with calling redmond didn't kick in until the 3rd reinstall

[DiddlySquat]

man....i'm too lazy to call. But im probably gonna have to....stupid microsoft....So, if i say that a virus wiped out my system then they'll just give me a new product id?

[DigitalJunkie]

Get XP Corp. instead of XP Home version, it does not requires you to reactivate to reinstall or after 5 or more hardware changes on your system!

[MediaMogulLITE86]

has anybody hacked XP? if so, where can i find it? (besides p2p, most software on there is corupted!)

[ryan2_2]

theres a feature in Tweak-XP Pro that lets you save your product activation details.

How to create a backup of your Windows XP activation file:

1. Insert a blank floppy into the floppy diskdrive

2. Click the 'Backup Windows XP Activation file' button

3. Browse for your floppy disk

4. Tweak-XP Pro saves your activation file onto the floppy disk


How to restore a saved Windows XP activation file:

1. After reinstalling Windows XP onto a clean harddisk, you're required to re-activate Windows.

2. As long as you did not change significant components of your hardware, you can re-activate your Windows with your previously saved activation file

3. Start Windows XP to 'Minimal Safe Mode' - this is very important

4. Start Tweak-XP Pro

5. Insert the floppy with your activation file

6. Click the 'Restore Windows XP Activation file' button

7. Browse for your activation file

8. Tweak-XP Pro will restore your activation file

9. Restart your system and Windows XP will be re-activated


The activation file will not re-activate your Windows XP if:

* you've formatted your harddisk before you installed Windows XP

* you changed a couple of your hardware components

* you changed the harddisk size, or FileSystem



Copied from the Tweak-XP Pro Help file

[DiddlySquat]

ok im gonna try the Tweak XP floppy disk thing.....ok here's my plan of action....Im going to switch to NTFS. After i save my registration info i will reinstall windows onto my old HD. After i format my new one. ill clone the OS over to the new one and erase my old HD....sound good? will that still work with the tweak xp thing?

[ryan2_2]

it should work. i would recommend using the old hd for win xp and the new one for everything else (including the swap file).i would partition the new 1 (but not the old 1), if you're up to the task. two drives can come in handy. :tilted

here are the partitions i would make :

- a swap file partition. it should be twice the size of your ram.

- a partition for your documents

- and finally a partition for your downloads

I recommend partitionmagic. but what ever u do don't use FDISK :fire

[DiddlySquat]

I'm gonna get started so if i screw this up you guys may not see me for a day or two....lol AND if it doesnt work there will be HELL TO PAY! *points at ryan* lol j/k wish me luck cuz im guessing that it wont work lol