Reformatting my HD--how do I save my Windows Activation?

Yes, I've backed up everything I need, and all I need to do now his hit the button to reformat and partition my Hard Drive. I've got everything stored on my cool new LaCie 300GB HD Firewire 800/USB.

The problem is, after I install Windows XP Pro, I do not want to have to call Microsoft so they can reactivate Windows for me. I was was reading somewhere a long time back on the net that there is some file(s) that you can backup (registry?) and replace it, and then bam! you don't have to reactivate Windows! So do any of you know where the step-by-step process is listed?

It might also help for Office XP. I don't want to have to reactivate that either. So please help me out when you can. Thanks.

 

It would have to be registry stuff you backup. Of course doing it would be considering hacking and MS isn't a big fan of that. Also it would take more effort to make that work then it would to actually phone MS and activate. The processes was designed so that you'd have to reactive if you did something like this.

 

Ya. And why not just activate it over the Internet? Even on dial-up, it takes maybe 30 seconds for each product to activate.

 

Well thanks for the replies guys, but I'm a bit shocked how this can be considered hacking. I mean, here I have a legal copy of Windows XP Pro, and simply because I want to format my Hard Drive, I have to call Microsoft to get the permission to do so? Obviously, if you were even able to save your Windows Activation in the first place, it means you must have had your legal copy in the first place before you reformatted! This doesn't make any sense.

I had to call in Microsoft one time after reformatting a while back. I didn't like it at all. I told her I had to reformat my HD, and she acted all suspicious, and asked me ENDLESS questions...all sorts of questions that wasted my time. Finally she gave it to me. To this day I have no idea why she acted so strange. So that is why I'd rather avoid the hassle and save my already legalized Activation, if you know what I mean.

 

If it has been more than 120 days since your last activation, you should have no problem reactivating it online. Less than 120 days, you'll have to phone it in. MS only keeps the activation info for that long, then they clear it out.

 

Try this,
First, your hardware between reinstalls must NOT change..

XP keeps the activation information in a file named "wpa.dbl", which can be found in _:\WINDOWS\System32\

After your activating Windows XP, back this file up to a floppy or some other type of media.

Now, if you ever need (or want) to reinstall Windows XP, go through the whole procedure as you normally would. Once you get into Windows itself, copy the file from your media back into _:\WINDOWS\System32\... You may need to be in safe mode to do this, however.

 

Dealing with a M$ suspicious person is a hassle and i speak from experience. However doing it on the net immediately after installation takes seconds so i would do it on net. The backup mentioned above also works also with XP but not sure about Office.
In the case of Office I installed Version 2003 over 2000 a couple of days ago and it took less than 20 seconds to activate it so on the net is the way to go. Far as i know you are allowed a few reinstalls anyway before it becomes a hassle with M$ within the 120 day period.
Cheers
Robert

 

I saved the WPA file, reformatted HD, booted in safemode, droped the WPA file in the Windows/System32 directory, it asked me if I wanted to replace the current one, I said yes.

I reboot, and it tells me I have to Activate windows (it killed the 30 days it originally gave me). So I just activated it with my DSL connection in seconds.

It was very easy to activate windows, and I don't mind anymore. But I'm still wondering why dropping that WPA file in the Windows/System32 directory never took care of it like you guys said it would...

Oh well.

 

I think you needed to save the wpa.bak and the wpa.dbl both. But it's so easy to to activate why bother.
Den

 

Yeah, I guess I'm remembering the days when I hadn't installed a phone jack yet upstairs where this comp is. Had no internet to even activate.

But no guys, I have not removed or added any new hardware. I've had this exact hardware in for about a year. So there must have been something else I did or didn't do for that wpa file to not work.

Even though it was easy to activate....you know how it goes....curiousity.

*me always will be scratchin' me head wonderin' what I dids wrong*