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XP Pro repair mode - activation needed?

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by kenlea1

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Anyone know if using an already-activated WinXP Pro as a repair disk (when the client's own disc is not to hand)runs foul of Activation? I.e., if used as you can use a Win2000 CD to rerun Setup to repair an installation without overwriting it - by selecting Repair from the install options - since the serial no. of the 'new'XP CD doen't match the already-installed no.,is there an activation problem at the end of setup? Does it look for a serial/activation code based on the original CD installation, or one based on the 'repair' CD? Which amounts to saying: is the origibal XP CD any use in repairing other installations, or is this something else closed off by activation issues? Since I haven't actually done this yet - except on my own system -(and would know the answer if I had), I'm just trying to see what options there may be.

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by thechas

As long as this is a REPAIR and not a clean re-install you should not have a problem "IF" both XP CDs are the same general release.

Remember, there are at least 12 releases of XP and likely a few pressing releases that use different product codes.

Home, Pro
Retail, Upgrade, OEM
Gold, SP1

On a repair, the product key and activation don't become an issue as the original product key and activation files are on the PC and intact.

It's been a while, but I recall that even on a full re-install I did not have to go through activation.

Only when I formatted a drive and installed XP clean did I need the product key and activation.

Chas

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