Installing XP on a new HD

[mrreizor]

I have a new 300GB drive that i want to make my primary drive. There's a 120GB drive in my box now that has XP home on it now. I tried slaving the drive with 2 different programs and they both fail midstream.

To save time, I just want to install XP on my new drive and be done with it. Since i'm using the SAME hardware save for the HD, will XP detect this to be a pirated copy? Will XP care that I swapped HD's since i have the other same hardware. They're both WD drives by the way...

What's the best way to handle this?

 

[greylica]

Reinstall, XP hard drive signature can assume that you pirated it if you clone the hard drives. A clean install will require activation, probably you have to call Microsoft to say to them what you are doing in your computer. This way they can liberate a new key and activate. If you are lucky, the system may activate without problem.

Course, depends on the moon cicle... .

 

[mrreizor]

Originally posted by: greylica
Reinstall, XP hard drive signature can assume that you pirated it if you clone the hard drives. A clean install will require activation, probably you have to call Microsoft to say to them what you are doing in your computer. This way they can liberate a new key and activate. If you are lucky, the system may activate without problem.

Course, depends on the moon cicle... .

My key is legit so calling Microsoft is no issue. What do they normally ask so I can at least be prepared?

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: greylica
Reinstall, XP hard drive signature can assume that you pirated it if you clone the hard drives. A clean install will require activation, probably you have to call Microsoft to say to them what you are doing in your computer. This way they can liberate a new key and activate. If you are lucky, the system may activate without problem.

Course, depends on the moon cicle... .

I cloned my 40 gig drive to an 80 gig drive for my laptop and no activation was required. Just a hard disk swap shouldn't prompt a reactivation.

greylica is an anti microsoft zealot here...

If you are going to do a clean install, remove the old drive, install the new 300 gig drive and install XP, activation will be required. Then slave the old drive in the system to get your data off and wipe out the old installation of XP etc...

pcgeek11

 

[mrreizor]

When you say "activation is required", does that mean I'll need to call Microsoft and explain what i'm doing?

 

[greylica]

Some time ago, some OEM factory´s ( like Metron in Brazil ), was loaded with Windows XP software ( All original ) that present the consumers with the problem of not being able to switch HDD. And sometimes tghe hash generated by the software is not equal to the hash with the older hard drive. If you use OEM, a hash is generated to activate your copy of Windows. Microsoft stores that hash to verify if you are not pirating OEM software. When you do a major change in your computer, you have to reactivate. Sometimes it´s not dificult, the process of activation is simple and easy. But sometimes ( I call the Microsoft Lottery ), the hash is not accepted, and you have to call them and ask to a new key, course you have to explain the changes to them. Sometimes they not ask you what you did. ( Once again, the lottery ).

It´s simple and easy, depends of your lucky day. But they normaly activate without problems. ( At least that´s what the people say )

I cloned my 40 gig drive to an 80 gig drive for my laptop and no activation was required. Just a hard disk swap shouldn't prompt a reactivation.

greylica is an anti microsoft zealot here...

You have a lucky day my friend, it´s not everytime this occurs, and we have a lot of history telling the reactivation is needed.

Zealot -> WAW ! I like it, we will call this to be the insurrection of the Israeli Jewel forces against Evil Roman´s Emperor again.

STOP PAYING ABUSIVE TAXES TO THE ROMANS !!!
AN PAGAN EMPEROR IT´S NOT ABOVE GOD !!!
KILL THE PAGAN O.S. !!!


Hehe, I love it. It´s funny to tell.
I´m thinking if romans will crucify me too ...

 

[greylica]

The most lovable things about revolution is the bit of craziness that you have to have. And the Real liberty is to have choices.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: mrreizor
When you say "activation is required", does that mean I'll need to call Microsoft and explain what i'm doing?

If you haven't reinstalled in recent history (the last few months) you probably will not need to call microsoft. If you do just follow the instructions that will be displayed on the screen. There will be a long number to read to the tech and then they may ask what happened you explain etc... new hard drive was installed for an upgrade etc in the original PC etc... installed on only one PC etc... They will then read you a number that you will enter into the activation window, press enter and you're done. Easy as pie! Really!

I have done it many times.

For a cloning option to avoid activating again try Acronis Trueimage or Migrateasy to image the old drive and then reimage it back onto the new drive.

Trueimage Trial Version:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/download/trueimage/

Migrateasy Trial version works for 15 days:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/migrateeasy/

pcgeek11

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: greylica
The most lovable things about revolution is the bit of craziness that you have to have. And the Real liberty is to have choices.

Dude you have got the crazy part covered and then some.

pcgeek11