How does microsoft work out activation for reinstalls?

jak731 · 6 Jan 2011 at 18:29

I bought W7 when it first came out and I'm still using that same install but about to reinstall onto an ssd.

When an os drive is formatted and then reinstalled how does microsoft know to allow the reinstall to be activated as the code has been used to activate previously? Do they wait a couple of weeks and if they don't see the previous install come online allow the recent install to activate? In that case you could install on one machine, let it activate then remove it from the internet and install on another till that activates and then have them both activated and online.

SiriusB · 6 Jan 2011 at 18:36

Windows scans the hardware and generates a big long code. If you change hardware the code changes. Depending on the type of Windows install [OEM vs Retail] the OS decides if the hardware change is big enough to prompt for reactivation.

You can't run it on two machines as checks are made fairly regularly. Activating one machine would cause problems with the other the next time it's used. I believe Windows 7 also wants reactivating if it hasn't been online for some time - but that could just be a rumour.

jak731 · 6 Jan 2011 at 18:41

So if you wanted to reinstall W7 without changing the hardware at all (perhaps because your winsxs folder has become bloated from installing/uninstalling loads of stuff) it wouldn't activate? Or are you just referring to the fact that oem won't allow you to change the motherboard?

I shouldn't have any problems with just adding an ssd should I? (I've got a retail version btw).

robinbredin · 6 Jan 2011 at 19:23

jak731
So if you wanted to reinstall W7 without changing the hardware at all (perhaps because your winsxs folder has become bloated from installing/uninstalling loads of stuff) it wouldn't activate? Or are you just referring to the fact that oem won't allow you to change the motherboard?

I shouldn't have any problems with just adding an ssd should I? (I've got a retail version btw).

You should have no problems with just a HD change, using a retail version of windows.

kae2 · 6 Jan 2011 at 19:30

No problems at all, you may have to complete phone activation instead of the online automation, but that's it.

SiriusB · 6 Jan 2011 at 19:36

kae2 said:
No problems at all, you may have to complete phone activation instead of the online automation, but that's it.

Very unlikely on Retail with a HDD/SSD change.

mick4545 · 6 Jan 2011 at 19:47

I clean re-instal regularly, you can re-instal many times before having to phone. Even then its no problem.

Edit: as you have the retail version, change of components doesn't matter. You can instal to a completly new machine. (Povided it is removed from the old one of course.)

jak731 · 6 Jan 2011 at 19:50

Cheers guys, most informative.

Meridian · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:19

Just about the only single component that triggers problems is the motherboard. It used to be a points system, with something one point each for CPU, HDD, GFX, sound, chipset, etc etc. Motherboards cause issues because they count as about 4 or 5 points, which over the threshold. But a HDD->SSD should only be one point.

M

metalmackey · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:33

What is changed when windows is activated? I mean, are files decrypted that or downloaded that cant be changed by any other means? Just wondering how stuff like this works and what stops a program changing a setting to "activated" or a file.

jak731 · 7 Jan 2011 at 02:46

If you don't activate within 30 days windows stops working, think it just resets whenever you try to boot it.

koolpc · 7 Jan 2011 at 09:08

Changed a few mobos over the years with the same OEM and never had an issue. Always activates ok. Wether or not it is ethical to do so is up to the individual.

Sp00n · 7 Jan 2011 at 12:54

SiriusB said:
Windows scans the hardware and generates a big long code. If you change hardware the code changes.

The code changes even if you don't change any hardware and reinstall.

I changed a graphics card recently and it caused my copy to need reactivation, online didn't work so I had to call them but it's just as easy, just tell them you are reinstalling, I've had to do this a few times when I formatted PC's due to virii/malrware.

Bane · 8 Jan 2011 at 12:51

With Vista retail (probably same checks) I've had to use the phone service twice. Talking around six month between reinstalls, with first being a graphics card and second a new HDD.

AJK · 8 Jan 2011 at 13:17

On the other hand, I had to activate by phone the very first time I installed Win7 (x64 Retail Home Premium) on my brand new system, the internet activation didn't work. Haven't had a problem since, but was still weird.

Pawnless Endgame · 8 Jan 2011 at 16:53

More related to MS Office, but when activating by phone, is it just me or does the touch-tone number entry always fail on you? I dial in the long number, it fails, try again and still fails so I get redirected to India and the number goes in fine then. Being a tech in my old job, I had to reinstall / reactivate Office pretty much on a daily basis and the phone method only ever worked when I got put through to India, never ever by dialling.

dazzerd · 8 Jan 2011 at 17:10

mick4545 said:
I clean re-instal regularly, you can re-instal many times before having to phone. Even then its no problem.

Edit: as you have the retail version, change of components doesn't matter. You can instal to a completly new machine. (Povided it is removed from the old one of course.)

+1 me too I think I have an OCD about it....

My hunch is that it allows a normal activation once a month but if your reinstall it more than once a month you have to do the automated phone route.