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Hey everyone. Recently my computer has slowed down quite a lot, and I figure its just time for the seasonly reformat. Anyways, since I got a new computer with XP on it, and it was preloaded, I have never had to install it before, and dont know how the whole "registration" thing works. So if I just format the drive and re-install, will I be able to use the computer without having to call MS and tell them and whatnot? Thanks.
Unless things have changed I don't think you have to call them no. This computer I'm using now came preloaded with Windows 98 and with a recovery disk and I've reinstalled alot. I'm assuming yours came with a recovery disk also and that's what your going to use to install. Goodluck.
I've got the plain operating system disk, not the recovery) which I was wanting to use, since it wont add all that preinstalled stuff (im not even sure if there is a recovery disk that came with it, might be though).
I just noticed in the little XP booklet that it says "You can only use Windows for 30 days before activating it...". I really dont want to install it then have it say "you have already activated this program, get a new copy".
This is interesting,and will solve your problems
And simply put, just format and activate over net. It seems you sometimes need to, others not. It never expires, if you need to ring you just read out a long number and they give you another long number to type in.
That is of course if you have the official disc AND an official key.
Thanks for the info. Anyways, when I got this computer a while back, we ordered two identicle ones, so I've got 2 XP discs, not sure which ones which though. The computers also have a sticker on the bottom with some different numbers, so thats probably the key?
If the sticker has the MS logo, then yes, it is your key.
But wait, don't reformat yet. It may be that Windows Defragmenter really sucks, I use something called DiskKeeper and it works quite well. Try that first, then check what services might be running, including the regsitry Run key. If those fail, then reformat; and remember to save all of your programming work.
Hey Xei. I've been using Diskkeeper for a while now, doesnt seem like its making a tremendous difference though,
Activation is quite painless, esspecially if you haven't changed anything on your PC. All you have to do is hit a little button that will dial up MS and send your info. If you have changed a significant amount of hardware, or if for some reason you can't activate online, then you can dial up a toll free number. You will talk to an automated person thingy who will take a 60 (?) digit code from you and spit out a 36 (?) digit code that you enter. It's really pretty simple, and can be done in less than 5 minutes.
Oh, and I've tried the thing Fountain posted a number of times, and it has never worked for me.
Thanks for the info. I'm trying to format the drive now, but it wont let me since "other processes are using the drive"...etc. How would I go about formatting since there's no "restart in MS-DOS mode" option in XP? I was going to use XP's own 're-installer' thing, but it was giving me some problems, and I'd rather do a normal format. Thanks
Change bios to boot from cd. Stick XP disc in and reboot. Follow instructions on screen, for a NEW installation, and it will ask you if you wish to format everything etc etc.
And if you plan on ever dual-booting, split into at least two partitions when you format. Even if you aren't going to dual-boot in a long time or something, or you are unsure, you can still access the second partition from windows. It'll save a lot of headaches in the future. Partitioning is nice anyway, I have two partitions for windows, one for regular stuff, and one just for my programming work.
PS: If you don't know what partitions are, they basically split your harddrive into smaller "harddrives". Basically, it allows multiple filesystems to be on your one harddrive. Your partitions work just like you had two harddrive instead of one (except if you are using Linux or BSD or something like that)
Here is a bootdisk that is good, and allows you to boot to DOS 7.1: www.ebcd.i-am.ru