Reformatting, and reinstalling XP

[blue60007]

OK, I'm thinking about reformatting and reinstalling XP (right now XP is pretty clogged up, etc etc, and a fresh install won't hurt). I read that you can skip activation after a reformat (with the same exact hardware) as described here. That involves copying the files "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl" onto a disk before reformatting, then copying them over after reformatting. They say this works with reformatting and repair installs, but other places say it only works with repair installs. Which is it?

Actually now that I think about it, it's probably just reinstall, because reformatting changes the HDD's volume ID, which is one of MS's WPA factors. Which probably explains why the above method doesn't work with reformatting because technically the hardware hash is changing because of the reformat. Now I also read there is a program that can change your Volume ID, so could I restore my HDD's volume ID back to what is now after reformatting? And would that bring my hardware hash (after reformatting) back to what is currently, and allow that method above to work?

Thanks

[EzyStvy]

Why are you wanting to go to all this trouble when you can simply reactivate Windows?

To change the volumn id you need a hex editor and info on where the ID is located...

[blue60007]

Well from what I've heard, after reformatting, to activate you have to call tech support and talk to some guy in east timbuktu and tell them that you reformatted, then they give you the activation code...I really don't feel like doing that...

[Panama Red]

If you have a legal copy of XP and it's been over 120 days since your last activation, it should reactivate online without difficulty. If it's been less than 120 days, the phone call is short and painless - much less work than what you're setting yourself up for. Unless of course, you're trying to circumvent the activation process because you're using a pirated copy of XP.

[bailey]

you could also just do a system restore to a date when it was in good shape. there really is no reason to do a format, xp has so many features that will correct many problems its self.
doing any of the things you want to do will require that all updates must be reinstalled,, to me that would be more work than a simple phone call that takes less than 3 min.

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by Panama Red If you have a legal copy of XP and it's been over 120 days since your last activation, it should reactivate online without difficulty. If it's been less than 120 days, the phone call is short and painless - much less work than what you're setting yourself up for. Unless of course, you're trying to circumvent the activation process because you're using a pirated copy of XP.

OK good. the last time it was activated was Dec 2004 so....It's a legal copy of XP, but why I'm worried is I think I'm technically using it illegaly, it's a Dell OEM version, on a non-dell computer which died, and moved the salvagable parts to a new computer. It's on the same hard drive that came with the dell. It activated once after reformating after the reconstruction, but I'm worried about pushing my luck.

[bailey]

that may be part of your problem, that version will only work properly on the dell, but I suppose I could be wrong.

[blue60007]

From what I've heard, some versions are just standard OEM versions with a Dell label slapped on it (it does have some dell things on the CD though), others are locked with the system BIOS and wouldn't work at all in another computer. My thinking is, it worked once, it should work again.

Btw, the Dell was a Dimension 4600