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Do I need to re-register my copy of windows?

18 years ago

I swapped hard drives out yesterday and it works fine but I get this message that says I have three days to re-register my copy of windows because my hardware has changed.

I bought the computer that had the original copy of xp at a sale and I don't have the original install disc. Do I really need to re-register because when I went through the online process it said It could not make a connection even though internet is working fine.

Should I use the code it gave me and just call or what? To me this is a hassle for something I own.

Anybody have any good ideas for me?

Thank you, Neal

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Comments (7)

mikie_gw
18 years ago
Might want to read ....

Here is a link that might be useful: http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php
indy452
Original Author
18 years ago
I re-installed the hdd back into the original computer but I still get the message.

Thanks for the link but too much reading to tell me I have to re-register to continue to get updates etc.

I'm sort of peeved right now, If I am not able to register I just lost out of a good computer OS for nothing.

This is one reason I'm using ubuntu on another computer right now. The politics of MS.

Neal
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owbist
18 years ago
Neal I would suggest you telephone MS and explain the situation. They changed the rules maybe 2 years ago now making moving an OEM OS to another computer a no no. This is/was particularly true with factory built machines where the OEM OS was tied to a particular motherboard. Even swapping to a new motherboard caused problems that most users simply accepted. Those who took the trouble to fight won in a couple of cases I knew about. But you need to be persistent and if necessary ask for a supervisor to resolve the issue.

Get all your ducks lined up so you can answer all the questions, good luck. Let us know please because this is interesting stuff that could well affect others and your experience might be useful to others. Plus I would like to know LOL

Yes, that does seem unfair but since when has anyone considered MS to be fair?
randy_ca
18 years ago
Should I use the code it gave me and just call or what?
Neal,
Call the number, it's an automated process where you put in the code numbers and they'll give you the activation numbers.
If there are to many hardware changes, you may have to wait to talk to a real person.
A motherboard change is considered a new computer.
They've always been pleasant to me, but keep it simple, such as a new Harddrive on the Original Computer with Original Product Key from the sticker on the case with the Original OEM Windows Disk that came with the computer.
jerry_nj
18 years ago
I install a larger HDD in my 5 year old HP Laptop and when I went on-line with my OEM reload of Windows XP SP1, Windows update gave me something like: 50 updates, then on the next connect another update for SP2, then on another connect another 40+ updates. There was never (yet) any objection or question about a change in the size of the HDD, change in MFG too.
mikie_gw
18 years ago
He replaced his hard drive with one out of another computer that had all the programs on it so win authorization is seeing the same old hard drive , but with new everything else... new motherboard, new graphic card, etc.
jerry_nj
18 years ago
Well, that's a big difference from what I did, in fact it is the converse/reverse, and from the MS point-of-view much more suspicious, if not explicitly disallowed.

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