Reinstall Windows XP Professional

[Dave Filchak]

I realize that this is not exactly the right forum to ask this question but I thought that perhaps someone would know the answer to this. I need to re-format and re-install the system one of my production machines which has Windows XP Pro on it. I have heard that there is a way to deactivate the install key so that you do not lose the install and can reinstall once the drives are clean using the same CD install key.

Anybody know the story on this?

Cheers

Dave

[Pat]

Hello, Dave,

View Donal's response on this thread -

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=715198

Some use this utility to copy the product key then print for safekeeping.

http://pcsupport.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=pcsupport&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.magicaljellybean.com%2Fkeyfinder.shtml

Pat

[Dave Filchak]

Hi,

Thanks for the response. I know about the CD Key recovery tools. However, I understood the process as when you install the OS for the first time, and then register with Microsoft (time limited) that install key will show up with Microsoft as a used key. If you reformat and try to use it again, it will error out saying that the key is already used or not valid. I understood that you had to deactivate the key so you could reuse the same key again without the Microsoft register servers complaining that the key has already been used.

Dave

[Pat]

Maybe this will help -

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/cryptfs.mspx

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;259732&sd=tech

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328874

Pat