windows is acting up

[Chromepro]

Hey guys.

Ever since I got my new hard drive, I emulated an image and burned my windows on it. My Windows does not recognize the hard drive as being installed but it works and all and I have windows on it. Also whenever I start up my comp I get the hardware installation box for my hard drive (hdc). Also I get a series of error windows saying things like "Windows cant find blah blah" something about the desktop and my documents and things like that. It makes that error noise and there is about 6 of them I just hit enter 6 times and everythign is back to normal.

Also last thing, When i reformat my hard drive do I have to re-install Windows??

I do have a legit windows disc with a serial key but i have no idea if I can use it again. Can someone clarify if it will work more than once, or can someone guide me in the direction of how to find if it does?? Thanks a lot guys.

[Dencandy]

Hey guys.

Ever since I got my new hard drive, I emulated an image and burned my windows on it. My Windows does not recognize the hard drive as being installed but it works and all and I have windows on it. Also whenever I start up my comp I get the hardware installation box for my hard drive (hdc). Also I get a series of error windows saying things like "Windows cant find blah blah" something about the desktop and my documents and things like that. It makes that error noise and there is about 6 of them I just hit enter 6 times and everythign is back to normal.

Also last thing, When i reformat my hard drive do I have to re-install Windows??

I do have a legit windows disc with a serial key but i have no idea if I can use it again. Can someone clarify if it will work more than once, or can someone guide me in the direction of how to find if it does?? Thanks a lot guys.

Can't answer the first set of queries. But, yes, you will need to re-install Windows if you re-formated your HD (i.e. deleted all the system directories). You will also need to re-install any other software you had on the same drive or partition.

Once you've re-installed Windows you will need to re-activate it as genuine. Unless you've installed some new hardware, this will be automatic the first time you want to download a Windows update. If you have installed new hardware, Windows update may conclude that you are using a counterfeit version (because the computer now has a different configuration), in which case you will be asked to re-activate Windows. How that works out depends upon what exactly you changed. Just follow the on-screen directions. If you get the option to re-activate by phone, I suggest you use that option. I did this recently and it only takes a few minutes and went completely smoothly. The MS staff here in Sri Lanka were very helpful with their advice on this.

[Chromepro]

Thanks for the response. What I changed is the CPU basically and also I might want to install a fan controller. Doesn't Windows have some kind of thing where you can only use the same serial key a few times? That is what i am asking about. What if MS concludes that my serial key won't work one more time, then I am screwed with an invalid copy of Windows XP. BTW the reason I want to reformat because everything is going screwy right now on my computer (in first post)

[Alan2273]

If you have a full copy of XP you can change your hardware and reactivate a fresh install as often as you like.

With an OEM version it is supposed to be limited to the origonal hardware, however I have changed the motherboard and processor on an OEM XP and had no trouble reactivating it although technically you are breaching the the EULA.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

"Windows cant find blah blah"

That really doesn't tell us much. If you give us the full and exact error message (or screen shot), then maybe someone can help you get rid of these messages.

Also last thing, When i reformat my hard drive do I have to re-install Windows??

After you [re]format your HD, there is nothing on it, so logically you will need to reinstall Windows. However, I think a repair install may cure all its current ailments; repair install can be started from the Recovery Console.

[Dencandy]

After you [re]format your HD, there is nothing on it, so logically you will need to reinstall Windows. However, I think a repair install may cure all its current ailments; repair install can be started from the Recovery Console.

And repair installation doesn't require re-activation. But it may not solve all the problems.

There's no limit to the number of times a serial key can be used on one computer after uninstalling & re-installing it by the legal owner, so far as I can recall. You can even transfer it to a new computer or sell it to someone else just like a second hand car. Read through the EULA which should be on your computer if you are still in doubt - or phone MS.

If you have trouble reactivating, just phone the number that appears on the screen or phone your nearest MS office. That's what I did after having a new motherboard & processor installed & it all went smoothly (although the process is quite complex).