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    XP and Vista Reactivation: How many hardware changes?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by hendra, Feb 23, 2009.

  1. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    How many hardware changes can I make to my system before XP or Vista needs to be reactivated?
     
    hendra, Feb 23, 2009
    #1
  2. MaXimus

    MaXimus Notebook Deity

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    3..........correct meh if !m wrong but thats according to my experience
     
    MaXimus, Feb 23, 2009
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  3. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    If I replace 4GB RAM with another 4GB RAM but with a different brand and speed, will it count as a change? How about moving or resizing a partition, will that count too?
     
    hendra, Feb 23, 2009
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  4. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    ^^ nope!

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Feb 23, 2009
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  5. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    This is usually what Windows check before triggering the WPA (Windows Product Activation), give or take a few :D

    # Display Adapter
    # SCSI Adapter
    # IDE Adapter (effectively the motherboard)
    # Network Adapter (NIC) and its MAC Address
    # Processor Type
    # Processor Serial Number
    # Hard Drive Device
    # Hard Drive Volume Serial Number (VSN)


    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Feb 23, 2009
    #5
  6. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Thanks. Does the counter of changes reset itself after a certain period of time? If I make 2 changes today and another 2 changes 1 year later, will that exceed the 3 changes limit?
     
    hendra, Feb 23, 2009
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  7. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    well it depends on the changes. Some changes have no influence, in order to trigger the WPA mechanism.

    And no, there is no such things as time/period limit; it is a timeless counter dingy :D

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Feb 23, 2009
    #7
  8. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Vista Product activation only activates if you change the HD and one other item in the list qhn provided.

    You can change the display adapter, CPU and RAM without having to activate.
     
    flipfire, Feb 23, 2009
    #8