and restores from the backup. XP will think it's been pirated. He's better XP allows 3 minor changes before it requires reactivation, and I had luck with replacing a hard drive.
The algorithm used by MS to determine the 3 changes is full of bugs (as most MS software is). I decided to clean my PC one day, so I removed the NIC to be able to get a vacuum into the machine. (Everything was onboard except the NIC). I then put the NIC back into the slot it was before the operation and booted the machine. This required a re-activation of XP and Office 2003. I then wanted to update XP and had to enter the key again on their website to prove authenticity. The website told me that I had an illegal copy of XP. The next day I tried it again. This time it picked up that I had a legal copy of XP and no authentication was required. The owner of the block of flats I live in, decided to built another block of flats next door. The contractors managed to get the power shorted out and it fried my PSU, CPU, mobo and GPU. I replaced all (and installed a UPS) and Windows didn't require activation. A colleague decided to upgrade his computer, but because he already had a legal didn't think it necessary to buy a new copy of XP. He replaced the CPU, mobo, GPU and HDD and installed XP. XP couldn't activate itself and MS told him that he had to buy a new copy of XP. So now he has a copy of XP which he cannot use because of idiotic licensing. We all use SuSE Linux on a daily basis, but need XP as some of the microcontrollers we use can only be programmed from Windows. We also use MS Project and Visio quite extensively for designs and documentation. (If anyone can suggest replacements that will run on SuSE (and can read MS Project and Visio 2003 files) I would be only too glad to kick MS products out of my office) Albert -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.0/103 - Release Date: 15/09/2005