How to beat activation

OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).

The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have
activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set number
of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of ringing tech
support and giving them my code number then they read me one back etc etc.

Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"
then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for
activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the
windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here
http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy

I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do) then
this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and
formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing on
it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of xp
about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just bare
partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as
mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something
like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.

The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting up
windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install was a
different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome any
feedback from anyone.

I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do
anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have
posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see this
elsewhere.

Jim

MULTIPLE POST.

"Anteaus" <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:22B6BC59-51AA-402A-AC4A-17546DDC67AB@microsoft.com...
>
> MULTIPLE POST.
>
>
Cor your helpfull ain't you?
Read the end of my post and you'll see i say that if you have nothing decent
to say then say nothing.

"Jim" <luckyjim2000_2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:CcGdnXo9auLFLfbVnZ2dnUVZ8tPinZ2d@giganews.com ...
> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).
>
> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have
> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set
> number of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of
> ringing tech support and giving them my code number then they read me one
> back etc etc.
>
> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"
> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for
> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the
> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here
> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy
>
> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do)
> then this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and
> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing
> on it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of
> xp about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just
> bare partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as
> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something
> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.
>
> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting
> up windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install
> was a different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome
> any feedback from anyone.
>
> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do
> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have
> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see
> this elsewhere.
>
> Jim
>

If it's over 120 days since you last activated you can reactivate on-line
with no problem.

One doesnt "ring tech support" for activation,you simply dial 888571 2048
Give the nos listed in the failed on-line wizard,a new number is given...How
often & how much time does that take (5-8 minutes),with the research &
time youve spent on the subject one could have activated xp a 2 lifetime
amounts...

"Jim" wrote:

> OK first of I do own a legal version of XP Pro SP2 (Retail).
>
> The reason I'm trying to get round activation is in the past I have
> activated allot online, when I didn't know you could only do it a set number
> of times before you have to keep going through the hassle of ringing tech
> support and giving them my code number then they read me one back etc etc.
>
> Now I have read that if you back up 2 files called "wpa.bak" and "wpa.dbl"
> then once xp is reinstalled go into windows as normal and when asked for
> activation just reboot in safe mode and copy these 2 files back into the
> windows/system32 folder overwriting what might be there, as described here
> http://tinyurl.com/5zmqqy
>
> I have also read that if you format the hard drive (which I want to do) then
> this will not work, but (please bear with me) when I partitioned and
> formatted my drive I took an image of just that, so the image has nothing on
> it just the 2 bare partitions then I went about installing my copy of xp
> about 7 months ago, now I have gone back on that old image (of just bare
> partitions) and installed a fresh copy of XP and tried the trick as
> mentioned above with the 2 files but it failed to work, it said something
> like "I need to activate before logging in" so it didn't work for me.
>
> The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is when setting up
> windows it asks/gives the computer a name I "think" the fresh install was a
> different name so I'm guessing this could be the problem but welcome any
> feedback from anyone.
>
> I have to stress I'm not trying to screw the activation process up or do
> anything illegal I just want to save the hassle as mentioned above, I have
> posted to a few groups that I think may be relevant so sorry if you see this
> elsewhere.
>
> Jim
>
>
>

"Jim" <luckyjim2000_2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:hu6dnZAiSISgSfbVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> "Anteaus" <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:22B6BC59-51AA-402A-AC4A-17546DDC67AB@microsoft.com...
>>
>> MULTIPLE POST.
>>
>>
> Cor your helpfull ain't you?
> Read the end of my post and you'll see i say that if you have nothing
> decent to say then say nothing.
>

No, you didn't say any such thing. What you DO need to do is learn the
difference between multiposting and crossposting. You did the former, which
"ain't helpfull". Anteaus was merely alerting us to the fact.