Computer Hope
Other => Software => FAQ solutions database => Windows => Topic started by: dl65 on June 14, 2006, 02:20:10 PM
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How to reinstall Windows without reactivating
Need to format your hard drive and reinstall XP, and don't want to have to go through the product activation process again? You can save the activation status info and then restore it after you reinstall the operating system, as long as you haven't made any changes to the hardware. Here's how:
1...... Before formatting , in My Computer , double click on the drive letter
that has XP installed on it and navigate to Windows/System32.
2...... Click "Show the contents of this folder" if necessary.
3...... Copy the following files to a floppy , USB drive , Cd/DVD or network
location: wpa.dbl and wpa.bak .
4...... After formatting and reinstalling XP , select NO when asked if you
wish to activate windows now.
5...... Reboot into "Safe" mode .
6...... Go to "My Computer", and oppen WINDOWS/System32 folder and
rename the existing wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files ( if the exist )
7...... Now copy the old wpa.dbl and wpa.bak which you saved to the
WINDOWS/System32 folder.
8...... Reboot your machine and you should not be requested to activate again.
This only works if you are reinstalling Windows on the same machine
and the installed hardware remains the same.