If you have to reinstall Windows XP you normally will have to reactivate too.Not anymore. Just copy wpa.dbl after you activated the first time. It is located in the WINDOWS\system32 folder. Now if you reinstall Windows XP just copy the file back and you're up and running again.

Does this still actually work?

I thought this method stopped working after SP2?

Another method you can use (On Royalty OEM machines) is the OEMScan method.

It will make sure that the proper oembios.* files are copied to your system during the windows setup stage and preactivate windows for you.

http://www.msfn.org/board/OEMScan-Automate...&hl=oemscan

I use this method all of the time. What is nice is you can make an xp install disk with many different manufacturer oembios.* files. Sony, HP, Dell, Gateway and so on...

Does this still actually work?

I thought this method stopped working after SP2?

Another method you can use (On Royalty OEM machines) is the OEMScan method.

It will make sure that the proper oembios.* files are copied to your system during the windows setup stage and preactivate windows for you.

http://www.msfn.org/board/OEMScan-Automate...&hl=oemscan

I use this method all of the time. What is nice is you can make an xp install disk with many different manufacturer oembios.* files. Sony, HP, Dell, Gateway and so on...

Useful stuff, will post that on our forum

No it will not activate.Before activation the size of the file is about 2kb and after activation about 14kb.There are some programs which will back up and suggest restoration ib safe mode.Even then it won't work.I have tried several times and could not succeed.

Edited February 12, 201114 yr by babu