XP Registration ?????????

[moosey]

I know that with XP, each code can only be used on one machine. How does this work and is it possible to use the same key for more than one of your machines? Also, if I format my hard drive after I installed XP, and have to use my same reg. key again for the same machine, can I do so or will it say that it has already been used? Is the cd key issue the same for office xp? Also, "johnlog" replied to this thread with a good question (scrool down). Anyone know the answer to that?


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[vaughanie]

it is illegal to use your key on more than one computer, hence the idea of the WPA.

when you activate the product a hardware hash will be created and sent to micro$oft. as long as the computer is virtually identical after formatting, you can re-activate quite easily. apparently you can do this up to 4 times. M$ has also said that they are considering a fair bit of leniancy to begin with.

to my knowledge, the office XP keys are different to winXP keys.

hope this helps,

 

[flipdon]

i know there's TONS of people out there using the same serial number. you're just SUPPOSED to only use one serial per computer....but some people take that to mean differently

 

[johnlog]

>>> know there's TONS of people out there using the same serial number. you're just SUPPOSED to only use one serial per computer.... <<<

I know you can but if you do not register each copy of Win XP installed can you still log onto the MS web site for free updates? We all know there will be a lot of updates coming in the next few months as problems are found and updated.

 

[moosey]

vaughanie, so are you saying i would only be able to reformat 4x??????????????????

 

[Spike]

with the beta copies, you could do two registrations per copy even if the machines were totall different. I don't know if this will be the case with the regular copies, but it does seem like they may allow 2 machines on the same number.

 

[SaturnX]

AFAIK, you can still log onto Windows Update. Registration and Activation are two completely different processes, registration is completely 100% optional. However, back to Windows Update, the release of XP that "everyone" has is the corportate release, which doesn't need Activation, therefore, people using the illegally accquired can in fact still use Windows Update.

--Mark