Windows XP Activation Scenario

[Markel]

I'm in the process of moving from my old (XP Pro) system to a new one (Athon 64 from the recent deal with the ASUS K8V Deluxe SE). At this point I've installed XP Pro on the new system (on a spare 80GB drive) but haven't activated it yet (I've kept an extra XP Pro product key from the great $40 deals when XP was first released). I also built an SATA raid-0 set that I intend to use as my primary drive on the new system. Now, I've got tons of stuff on my old system that I don't want to give up, and reconstructing it all on the new system would be a major pain. So here's what I want to try:
1) Ghost my old hard drive (actually a raid-0 set) and restore it on the new raid set. (Of course, XP fails to start.)
2) Do an XP repair (including new raid driver and new XP product key) on the new system.
3) New system now boots XP, but as soon as I log on it forces me into the activation screen. Online activation won't work (new network drivers not installed yet), so it wants me to activate over the telephone. So far, I haven't yet.

Supposing that I go though with the activation and find that the system is still too screwed up to work, I may end up biting the bullet just doing a fresh XP install on the new system. I would rather not have to deal with MS trying to re-activate the same product key. Do you think that if I save the WPA.DBL (and .BAK if present) from the first registration , and restore it after a fresh installation, that XP will be satisfied? Saving and restoring the WPA.DBL/.BAK file(s) is a way to get around having to re-activate if you are re-installing XP on the same hardware, so I'm guessing that this should work (as long as XP is looking at the hardware, and not what's working at the time of activation).

Note: I don't want to just transfer my product key from the old to the new system, as I intend to keep the old system running for a while.

[DarkFury]

Honestly, as soon as XP sees all that "new hardware" it's gonna require re-activation...

Generally, there is no way around that. I've had mine ask for reactivation after switching out a few components in my box...

[Fas-ligand]

Why can't you reactivate over the phone?

[Markel]

Honestly, as soon as XP sees all that "new hardware" it's gonna require re-activation...

Generally, there is no way around that. I've had mine ask for reactivation after switching out a few components in my box...
I realize all that. What I'm wondering about is if I save the "authorization" file (wpa.dbl) from the time I first activate with the new key (on top of the restored ghost image on my new system), will the same wpa.dbl be "accepted" by XP if I end up doing a clean install (on the same new hardware).

[_=DeltaForce=_]

Just re-active over the phone unless u got a pirated edition... Then crack it.. J/k

[Bires]

I realize all that. What I'm wondering about is if I save the "authorization" file (wpa.dbl) from the time I first activate with the new key (on top of the restored ghost image on my new system), will the same wpa.dbl be "accepted" by XP if I end up doing a clean install (on the same new hardware).

Most likely no, since the hardware code that is transmitted to MS depends upon what is inside. Give it a try though.

(I'm guessing that MS figured we would try something like that and someone would make a authorization file edittor)

[Markel]

Most likely no, since the hardware code that is transmitted to MS depends upon what is inside. Give it a try though.

(I'm guessing that MS figured we would try something like that and someone would make a authorization file edittor)
But I'd be using the identical hardware both times. All that would be different is that the first activation would be from a partially non-working restoration of the image from my other system. If I end up wiping that out and doing a clean install (on the same hardware), I'm thinking that the "hardware hash" that XP creates (to match the activation with the hardware setup) would still be the same.

Saving the wpa.dbl (and wpa.bck) files before re-installing XP, then copying them back into the system32 folder in safe mode after the reinstall, is the known way to get around having to re-authorize your XP in such a case. Nothing illegal - you're keeping the same XP key on the same hardware. It just saves the hassle of having to hassle with MS.

[DarkFury]

Honestly, it really isn't that much of a hassle... most times, you don't even have to make the call (you get so many "grace authorizations" direct online and then you have to make the call)

Sounds like you are going through alot of trouble to avoid the re-activation. :shrug: :D

[SmokeyDP]

You said that you are using Windows XP Professional? Professional does not have to be activated, only the Home edition....

[DarkFury]

You said that you are using Windows XP Professional? Professional does not have to be activated, only the Home edition....
I disagree...

You don't have to REGISTER your software.... it still has to be activated.

After so many re-activations, it will shut down and require a phone code to be reactivated. I have already had to go through this once (because I have redone my main PC box several times over.)

[billxp]

Its the WinXP Pro Corp version that doesn't require activation.

Activation in a corporate setting I guess would be a pain.

[LPMiller]

Its the WinXP Pro Corp version that doesn't require activation.

Activation in a corporate setting I guess would be a pain.

Guess nothing, it would be a nightmare. Especially since on the smaller mini atx desktops, users with busy hands frequently destroy the windows key sticker.

[Markel]

Just to follow up on this. I activated the restored ghost (using an unused XP Pro key) by phone. After that, with a bit of grief, I was able to get all the new drivers up and running smoothly. I think XP has made the "don't restore a system hard drive onto a different computer" wisdom a bit outdated, as XP is pretty good at recognizing hardware and reloading correct drivers. I'm now the happy driver of an Athlon 64 3200+ on the ASUS K8V Deluxe SE (again, thanks to the deal posted in the deals forum), two 200GB Seagate SATA drives (thanks to the Dell deal posted on the deals page) on Raid-0, 1 GB DDR Ram (low latency), and a Chaintech FX 5700 256MB (425MHz core clock, 550MHz memory - kinda the weak link on the system, but I'm not a big gamer). This system ought to last me a few years (with perhaps a video card upgrade as the new cards drop the prices of the current ones).