Thread: Avoid Win XP Re-activation during Re-installation

The time may come that you'll need to reinstall your Windows XP. It could happen. Maybe you'll add a new motherboard or hard drive. Maybe you'll get constant errors and problems that just won't go away. Or perhaps you're a neat freak who wants to rid yourself of clutter and start fresh with a clean operating system. If you do reinstall Windows XP, then you'll need to re-activate it too—that is, unless you keep this tip handy ;-)

See, the first time you activated XP it created a file called "wpa.dbl" that lives in the WINDOWS\system32 folder. By creating a backup of this file on disk, you can simply put it back into the folder after reinstalling XP and avoid the whole re-activation hassle. Here's how...

xp.jpg

Go to My Computer then select your Hard Drive (usually drive C). Go to the WINDOWS\system32 folder and scroll way down until you find the wpa.dbl file.

Right-click and choose "Send To" then either Floppy Drive (make sure you have a disk in) or CD-R/RW.

Now, when you reinstall Windows XP you'll come to the activation screen—decline to activate and let the install finish.

Restart your computer in Safe Mode (keep hitting F8 at start-up then when the Advanced Boot Options menu appears arrow down to Safe Mode).

Find your way back to the WINDOWS\system32 folder. It's a good idea to rename the wpa.dbl file you're replacing just in case you run into problems, so call it something like "wpa.nothing".

Get the backup disk and copy the old wpa.dbl file back to the WINDOWS\system32 folder and reboot.

There you go—XP is up and running again.

P.S. Your wpa.dbl file might NOT work on another computer.

Ya this method is pretty much a time saver.
And as u mentioned it will not work on any other computer.

Great post, thanks ShAdOwCoN
It really is a time saver, and the fact that M$ people think that all people that are using Windows are some kinda terrorists until they activate their Windows license makes me dislike M$ :2guns:...but I do like Windows tho, only for running games and developing

Do you mean the subscription model being introduced by M$. I heard apart from Office even Windows 7 will be introduced in Subscription model as well.

You guys should try out the student edition of XP...No activation, no validation, no hassles.
Works like a charm !

Originally Posted by powerdoc

You guys should try out the student edition of XP...No activation, no validation, no hassles.
Works like a charm !

Does it have all features of Prof edition or is it similar to starter edition

I have never heard of Windows XP student edition.

Originally Posted by Archer

I have never heard of Windows XP student edition.

me neither too

Student edition is nothing but a form of corporate edition. Student Edition is a gem for all people annoyed by those notices about illegal copy of your Windows - there’s no WGA or update controlling so far, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Together with all updates from Microsoft, this is a really powerful combination!

But it's bound to have a catch...this is MS that we're talking

this is an exception...it has no catch I know of.
I can't post a link here...do a google search & you'll find lots.

Originally Posted by powerdoc

this is an exception...it has no catch I know of.
I can't post a link here...do a google search & you'll find lots.

Interesting , I'll have a look

Is it a legal release ?

Originally Posted by Archer

Is it a legal release ?

Seems to be so... look here

Originally Posted by newprouser

Seems to be so... look here

wow, that looks cool, at least M$ has a soft spot for students lol

Originally Posted by Archer

Is it a legal release ?

Yes, even most hardware manufacuter use this trick to save activation

Originally Posted by newprouser

Seems to be so... look here

I was thinking that why i was not aware of this earlier, i checked the link and found that first of all XP Student is nothing but XP Pro, you just get a discount if you're a student in the UK.

^MS student edition was released in india,its a basic version of xp .... ^ this might be another offer of MS

AFAIK, Window Xp is not legally sold through retail channels. its sales have been stopped.

Originally Posted by Gary4gar

AFAIK, Window Xp is not legally sold through retail channels. its sales have been stopped.

The nearest computer shop has loads of genuine XP still unsold with him along with Windows Vista. I think they can sell all these extra copies of Win XP legally.

BTW most of the people use corporate version of XP which does not require activation...

Originally Posted by cool_techie_tvm

The nearest computer shop has loads of genuine XP still unsold with him along with Windows Vista. I think they can sell all these extra copies of Win XP legally.

They back-date these sales, as MS has increased the self life of WIndow xp.