On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:28:21 +1000, Julie wrote:
> http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/10...n_to_bit-tech/
>
> Referring to this article, I'd like to know if someone could clarify one
> part for me... I like to format my PC every now and then, like many others.
> My question is, if my HD is the same, but I am reinstalling it, wouldn't
> that mean I'd have to reactivate it? I would think that when the HD is
> formatted and a fresh install existing, it would not remember that I
> previously activated it.
>
> Unless the MS server has my HD ID and compares it on fresh install?
>
> Anybody know?
First off that article isn't accurate, this is some flat out wrong info in
there. Second, the EULA for Vista has been updated since that article was
published, so some of the information that was correct at the time it was
published is no longer correct.
But your question is still valid. If you format your drive and reinstall,
you will need to reactivate. But since you are reinstalling on the same
machine it will activate automatically over the internet. This is possible
because unique, but irreversible, information about your hardware
configuration is sent to MS activation servers when you activate.
Activating again on the same hardware will cause the same information to be
sent.
--
Tom Porterfield