Windows XP

[derringer3]

Windows xp legal way after third activation.:

If the reason of the reinstall is due to bad hardware. For example your hdd died. Then call your local m$ hotline and explain the situation. They will give you a new key.

Of course they will not check if your hdd really died.  :-D

[amigakid]

Actually if you get XP Pro with an Educational lisence, they have no limit on the amount of installs (not the student lisence,but the actual educational).

[twizzle]

you can re-install as many times as you like.
but only 3 times in a 150 period.
and if you phone up ms head office and tell them your xppro disc has got corrupt,
you can buy a replacement discs for £16.82, i know as i have done it :-D

[orange]

but, why do you bother with WGA anyway? as I understood, its used just to update Windows with patches, right? If you got a decent firewall and take care what you install/use, you need not worry about patching. besides, they just open new security holes. I installed SP1 only because its needed for USB2.0

[whiteb]

There are hacked WGA DLL's out there that are still working.

At least till there is until a new version is put out.

[whiteb]

orange wrote:
 besides, they just open new security holes. I installed SP1 only because its needed for USB2.0

SP1 also is needed for greater than 128GIG HDD (I think)

[meega]

orange wrote:
but, why do you bother with WGA anyway?

If you want some software, you must let WGA check your system. Say no to the check, and you can't have the software. Simple.