Stupid Windows Activiation
 

After reformatting/reinstalling XP Home on my machine, my old activation code doesnt work, and the ones off the Internet won't work, and I dont want to call M$ and deal with their crap.

So, I have a 5GB partition on my 40GB HDD and a 35GB partition,
the 5GB has the OS and the 35GB all the games and stuff.

Question: After my 30 days are up, can I just reinstall XP on the 5GB partition and still use/keep all the programs on the 35GB partition?

Thanks in advance.

Some games / programs will work, others you will have to reinstall. For instance MSoffice needs to be Reinstalled whereas Photoshop 6 does not. Now, the ones that do not need to be installed usually dont work to there full capability, because the registry settings are not all there. The best plan for someone in your situitation is to actually Call MS and just get another activation key. Shitty, I know, but they got us legit people by the balls here. That is unless you are willing to do soemthing shady, but we will not get into that on this forum ;)

I've been through three motherboards in three months, guess how many times I've had to call Microsoft...

Its just something you have to deal with I guess, it only takes ~10 minutes.

If it's a legal copy of windows just call microsoft and activate...it only takes about 5 minutes..i've done it many times......next time ghost :)

just like merk said, just call microsoft. You won't be dealing with any "shit". They are very fast and friendly.

That is, if you're using a legal copy :rolleyes:

...or just use an illegal serial number. You've got the right to use the damn program, no matter the code IMO.

And kick yourself when service packs won't install.

Thats why you install the service packs first. :)

Actually I don't have a whole lot to add other than I got a computer preloaded with XP Home. Hardrive failed and I had no way of reinstalling XP Home.

I tried to 'acquire' it and it ended up being in another language. Doh!

Actually, there are ways to get the service packs to install on an illegal serial number. Trust me on this, I've done it repeatedly. :)

Uhh, just call and ask. My girlfriend's roommate lost her CD-Key for XP and Microsoft gave her a new one for free.

-Lasereth

Not to start a war here or anything, but technically you do not have the "right" to use the program. You did not purchase the software. You purchased a license to use the software in accordance with the end user license agreement.

You should have received a recovery CD from the laptop manufacturer. If not, call and complain and they should furnish you with one.

here's a great idea.....switch to mandrake linux 9.2. it's incredibly user friendly, almost **NOTE THE ALMOST** as easy to use as windows, free, and way fucking better

Mandrake 9.2 doesn't support some things though. One would be the ATi Radeon 9800 or maybe thats just me...

I would switch to linux in a second if my uses for computers changed. I have 4 comps
1) Digital Video Editing comp - Linux = SHIT for this.
2) Gaming comp - Linux = Not as much support as windows
3) Laptop - Linux = VB.net no worky *yet*
4) Spare for my Bro - Linux = Yeah right, he dont know windows yet.

So as of now my hands are tied LOL, next year we are getting into linux at school so then I will move my laptop to her then. Probably Mandrake, but I might go with the new SUSE that novell is messing with. That might be an interesting OS.

I wouldnt use linux if I were given a million dollars.
I cant say I hate it, it does its job, but it just isnt for me.
Quote a WinXP review from Newegg:
"...And this is what the linux snots are NOT telling you:
You still have to use the arcane Unix-style command line to fully use the OS..." (or something like that)
I tried to set up a redhat server on my rig here, guess what:
it crashed my machine and I had to reinstall XP home and all my games (:P) and so here I am.

Last time I had to call microsoft to active XP, it went through completely unattended, I spoke, the computer responded and I was done in 7ish minutes. If you need to change your product key, thats when you may run into trouble.

Please, let's refrain from stuff like this. People don't like having every Windows question answered with "switch to Linux!" If it's a REASONABLE suggestion, fine, but a simple problem with a legally bought version and its activation code is hardly something to warrent suggesting changing the entire OS someone uses.

Now that that tangent is closed, let's get back on the topic of this thread:

I'd just call MS. It's rediculous that they treat everyone like criminals this way, but not much you can do at this point. You paid for it, so you might as well do what you can to easily continue using it until you upgrade or decide to change OS's. Feel free to let them know what you think of the fact they assume everyone is a criminal by forcing you to do this though. Only way anything is going to change is if people start taking charge and speaking out about these things.