Motherboard Upgrade & Windows XP Registration

[xane]

Going to go for a mobo upgrade tonight. but I am worried if this causes Windows XP to determine a "significant" hardware change and asks me to re-register.

If so, can anyone say what actually happens ?

 

[Jonty]

Hi xane

According to Microsoft you are allowed to change six significant pieces of hardware before WindowsXP determines that it may be running on a different computer. Some people have encountered trouble below this level, some say they have been able to exceed this limit.

Whatever the case, it's thankfully very easy to rectify if WindowsXP does decide to kick up a fuss. All you have to do is ring up Microsoft on a number provided (freephone, I believe), answer a few questions, and they'll sort you out with the information you need to fix the problem. I've heard it's all very simple and sorts everything out within minutes of calling.

Kind Regards

Edit ~ You've asked this question before, hehe. Nevertheless, product activation details from Microsoft make it sound like you'll be fine . . .

Microsoft

Scenario A - PC One has the full assortment of hardware components listed in Table 1 above. User swaps the motherboard and CPU chip for an upgraded one, swaps the video adapter, adds a second hard drive for additional storage, doubles the amount of RAM, and swaps the CD ROM drive for a faster one.

Result - Reactivation is NOT required.

 

[xane]

Yes, I did ask before I have gone and got an A7N8X Deluxe and its ready to go in.

But this number you phone for re-activation or whatever, is it 24/7 ? It's likely I may be doing this into the early hours.

 

[Jonty]

Hi xane

I've just spoke to (Shovel) who recently phone-activated his copy of XP. He believes he rang around 8pm, so if the lines aren't 24/7, then they're certainly outside the usual office hours.

Kind Regards

Jonty

P.S. Big thanks to (Shovel) for this information

 

[Embattle]

It is very easy to get re-activated via phone

 

[Clowneh!]

you can reactivate by phoning microsoft
(so i've heard)

 

[xane]

yes, yes, yes, but can you phone at, say, 1am or something ?

 

[Cdr]

I had to do it once, I think I phoned around 12 at night.

 

[xane]

Okay I got the damn thing installed, but it bluescreened on startup, I had to repair Windows though using the CD-ROM, a bit frightening as it went through 40 minutes of "install" and I didn't know if it was happily overwiting my existing setup.

Thankfully no, here I am happy, a few minor niggles.

Yay Microsoft !


Urgh !

/me starts using FreeBSD for next few days to purge oneself of the wicked wicked admiration of His Billness.

 

[kameleon]

can i make a suggestion?


dont bother with XP home go and spend 80 quid on the pro edirion, its much friendlier if you are using networks and there is no reactivation bollocks.

 

[xane]

It is XP Pro

 

[kameleon]

no problem then

 

[xane]

So, all this worry about reactivation and it doesn't occur with XP Pro ? That's new to me.

The "re-install" did actually ask for registration (not reactivation), but I skipped that seeing as I don't want another bunch of newsletters from Microsoft.

Thank you to everyone for making this a painless (but consideribly nail-biting) experience

P.S. This mobo is excellent, the sound quality is perfect considering it's built-in, Creative can go boil its Audigy bottom.

 

[xane]

Just a footnote to say that last night I also upgraded to 1GB PC2700 RAM, and guess what, the damn thing asked for re-activation !

Go figure, I change the mobo, sound, LAN and add a heap of other stuff, and nothing. I slip in some RAM sticks and bang, suddenly I have a new machine !

Okay, maybe I "tipped the scales" with the RAM upgrade

Anyhow, re-activation was painless, it came up at first before the machine logged me in, when the LAN internet connection was not available. But after I logged in I was able to run the re-activation sequence again and it was done completely automatically over the net.

So there you go