Anilrgowda

if you wish to avoid Win XP activation after a repair install >>>> here is how you can do it >>>> but it must be set-up or prepared prior to the actual install


How to avoid a Product Activation request after a reinstallation of Windows XP
The Windows Product Activation (WPA) requirement in Windows XP is turning out to be less of a problem than was anticipated. Not many people can afford or will make the six hardware changes within 120 days that are supposed make a Product Re-Activation necessary. But what will happen if, after a system crash, you have to reformat the HDD and reinstall Windows XP - on the same computer without having the option of restoring a lifesaving backup of the system? (Restoring a back-up would make the system work as before the crash.) - Will you have to reactivate XP? - Yes, because it will be like the initial installation. XP cannot know that it has been installed on a previous occasion.

When you use the WPA wizard, a WPA.DBL file is created in your System32 folder. Use Winzip to back up this file to floppy disk(s), copy it to another hard disk drive, network drive, etc., on a regular basis. Now, whenever you have to reinstall Windows XP on the same computer, you should be able to avoid the WPA process by copying WPA.DBL back to the System32 folder.

This process should work as long as you haven't changed the computer's hardware too drastically since the WPA.DBL file was created. Just make sure that you are using the most recent copy of the file, otherwise you could find yourself having to telephone Microsoft in order to obtain a new Product Activation key. For your information, Microsoft apparently does not ask too many questions before it complies with your request.

The best way to avoid having to use this method of restoration is to make regular hard copy back-ups of your whole system to good quality CD-R disks on a CD R/RW drive. However, to restore a system back-up, you would still have to reinstall Windows XP to a folder with a different name from Windows during the setup process in order to be able to run the back-up program's Restore option. The back-up program will restore Windows to the Windows folder. You can then delete the folder containing the interim installation of Windows.

This method of legitimately avoiding having to reactivate Windows after a clean, full reinstallation with a new Product Activation key will not work if you try using the WPA.DBL file in a different computer, so it cannot be used for software piracy.