xp activation code

[fred45]

i'd like to re-format and install a fresh copy of xp pro on my pc.

is there a way to check the registry or somewhere on the hardrive for my current activation code, so i can write it down before re-formatting, all so i don't have to call microsoft again for it ?

there's absolutely no hardware changes to be made to the system, i just want a clean install, so my guess is the activation code should just be the same as before.

any suggestions ?

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy Fred:

It isn't anywhere on there.. Do you think Microsoft would be that simplistic to allow the code to be placed anywhere on the system??

If they did something like that, you could simply transfer the code to any system and have it work as long as you used the same XP cd..

You are going to have to call Microsoft.. NO way around it !!

Murray

 

[linney]

Are you talking about the 25 digit product key?

If you haven't got it written on your CD, look on the packaging the CD came in originally, or try this utility.

ViewKeyXP.exe

http://www.bagpipes.net/files/xp-utilities/

Are you talking about Activation in an unchanged machine?

You can copy the file x:\windows\system32\wpa.dbl to a floppy disk or cd. You can then restore it back to that same computer after re-installing windows xp (you will not have to activate again) The file will only work on the computer that file was copied from.

 

[fred45]

to SESaskDFC,

yes, i do think microsoft would be simplistic enough to place the activation code somewhere on the system.
as far as i understand, basically the code is derived from some algorithm that checks all major hardware of the system, so, if i reinstall back onto the exact system, the code should remain the same and i just have to re-enter it(or as linney said, just copy that file)


to linney,

i do have my cd-key, it's on the xp packaging.
thanks for the info on the "wpa.dbl" file. that's exactly what i'm looking for. i'll check later to see if your advice works!


one final note, let me see if i got it right...
all xp does if looks for the "wpa.dbl" file to determine if it's activated? (assuming that file contains the specific activation code for that machine)

does that mean if i delete that file anytime, xp would resume asking me to activate?

on a non-activated xp os, does the "wpa.dbl" file exist initially or is it only created upon activation?

 

[Enkrypted]

You can retrieve the product key for an XP machine, however it will NOT work for another machine as your product ID is specific to a &quot;hash&quot;<as Microsoft likes to call it> of hardware for that particular system. When you enter the product key it gathers specific hardware information about you computer. Then when you go to activate it, it gathers even more information, making your Product Key unique to that specific computer. If you want to view more information about it, check out this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/piracy/productactivationfaq.asp

Enkrypted
A+

 

[linney]

After further research I think I was wrong about copying the wpa.dbl file. This procedure will only work if you don't reformat and clean install XP. It seems only to work on a repair installation. Sorry for the misleading advice.

http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm

http://groups.google.com/groups?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q="wpa.dbl"+windows+xp

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q="wpa.dbl"+windows+xp

On a clean install of XP the wpa.dbl file is created but is then updated upon activation.


On a side note I have reformatted and re-installed XP several times (same machine and hardware, or same machine and a new harddrive) and activation has taken place each time automatically (over the internet) without any drama or problems. You shouldn't have any problems either.

 

[fred45]

thankx for the update linney,

 

[cdogg]

Just to add more insight...

The activation code is always going to be unique. Even if you have multiple pc's configured with the same hardware, you'll need a separate activation code for each. fred45 touched on this a bit by mentioning the &quot;algorithm&quot; derived from the various components in the system. However, this algorithm is advanced enough to create a unique code each time it is run, regardless if the components are the same each time.

As long as you realize that the product key and activation code are two &quot;very&quot; different concepts...


~cdogg

&quot;The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.&quot;
- A. Einstein