If I mirror my boot drive onto a larger drive (using ghost or some
drive manufacturer util) and then make that my boot drive is windows
going to insist on reregistering? If so does it just do it or does it
need me to re-enter the registration key? I don't think the person who
originally had this laptop gave me a windows cd or certificate with it.

Thanks,
Tom

Yes, you'll have to reactivate Windows XP. If you did
not receive all the proper Windows XP licensing materials,
i.e. Product Key, Certificate of Authenticity, documentation
and original installation CD, you do not have a valid
license to use Windows XP and you'll have to purchase
and install your own copy.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"njem" wrote:

| If I mirror my boot drive onto a larger drive (using ghost or some
| drive manufacturer util) and then make that my boot drive is windows
| going to insist on reregistering? If so does it just do it or does it
| need me to re-enter the registration key? I don't think the person who
| originally had this laptop gave me a windows cd or certificate with it.
|
| Thanks,
| Tom
|

Dear Carey Frisch,

I'm sure you're just reiterating the company line as you have been
instructed but perhaps you can appreciate how that grates on a
customer? If Dell or a similar outfit shipped me a unit with XP already
installed, perhaps only existing on a "reload" partition, and just a
certificate, or if I got a unit from a previous owner who had simply
lost track of the certificate or re-install cd, and if my hard drive is
now insufficient and I need to replace it with a larger one, I'm stuck
with having to buy another copy of XP. It's not as if one copy is being
used in two places. The old owner probably has lost it or forgotten it
in some desk drawer some place. Or it may be nothing but a certificate
that is who knows where. And for the grievous error of not having that
I should fork out hundreds more dollars to keep a laptop alive that was
only $700 when new and probably only worth a couple hundred if I tried
to sell it. It is informative of you to point out that I will need the
CD or certificate in order to make this upgrade. To go further and make
a point of telling me I'm not entitled ("licensed") to use a product
that has already been paid for is hardly a winning way to deal with
customers.

Is there any recourse if I and the previous owner cannot find a CD or
certificate? Or does it look like this unit is destined to become a
Linux unit?

Thanks,
Tom

If you would have mentioned you had
a Dell computer to begin with, I could
have originally provided a better solution.

If you have a Dell computer, you need to
contact Dell support and request a Dell
Windows XP Reinstallation CD. You'll
need the Dell Service Tag number which
is affixed to the bottom of your Dell laptop.

Welcome to Dell Support!
http://support.dell.com/support/inde...=19&l=en&s=dhs

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"njem"wrote:

| Dear Carey Frisch,
|
| I'm sure you're just reiterating the company line as you have been
| instructed but perhaps you can appreciate how that grates on a
| customer? If Dell or a similar outfit shipped me a unit with XP already
| installed, perhaps only existing on a "reload" partition, and just a
| certificate, or if I got a unit from a previous owner who had simply
| lost track of the certificate or re-install cd, and if my hard drive is
| now insufficient and I need to replace it with a larger one, I'm stuck
| with having to buy another copy of XP. It's not as if one copy is being
| used in two places. The old owner probably has lost it or forgotten it
| in some desk drawer some place. Or it may be nothing but a certificate
| that is who knows where. And for the grievous error of not having that
| I should fork out hundreds more dollars to keep a laptop alive that was
| only $700 when new and probably only worth a couple hundred if I tried
| to sell it. It is informative of you to point out that I will need the
| CD or certificate in order to make this upgrade. To go further and make
| a point of telling me I'm not entitled ("licensed") to use a product
| that has already been paid for is hardly a winning way to deal with
| customers.
|
| Is there any recourse if I and the previous owner cannot find a CD or
| certificate? Or does it look like this unit is destined to become a
| Linux unit?
|
| Thanks,
| Tom

In news:1140537660.819180.45590@g44g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com,
njem@direcway.com <njem@direcway.com> replied with a ;-)
You won't likely need to activate when you image to a larger drive. The hard
drive usually comes with software to do the cloning. If not you can get it
from their web site.
I recently cloned a laptop hard drive to a larger drive and did not trigger
activation. If you are requested to activate, just say you moved XP to a
larger hard drive.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ou...snewreader.htm

njem@direcway.com wrote:
Well, I cloned a 40 GB boot drive to a 200 GB hard drive and then put
the 200 GB drive in boot position. There was no re-register triggered.

Good luck, jimbo

In news:FK-dnaaIde8Z6WHeRVn-iw@comcast.com,
jimbo <jimbo62@spamex.com> replied with a ;-)
Registration is optional, Activation is mandatory. I believe you meant to
say you didn't have to activate.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ou...snewreader.htm