Number 234 - October 2002

XP Activation Tip
by Frank Bucca
This tip is NOT a way to pirate software, or to crack or foil Windows Product Activation (WPA). It only works on the machine on which Microsoft XP software was originally installed; it will not work if you move the files to a different machine. It is a partial workaround for legitimate users to avoid having to reactivate Microsoft XP software after they have had to reload it. The trick is to copy and re-use the c:\windows\system32\wpa.dbl file. It is small (mine is just 13K), so it will easily fit on a floppy disk.     Copy the c:\windows\system32\wpa.dbl file onto a floppy disk or to another safe location on your hard drive.     Once that is done, reinstall XP normally.	Either boot to a DOS floppy or start in XPs Safe Mode/Command Prompt (i.e., press the F8 key when your system beeps during the boot process).     Copy your original wpa.dbl file from its safe location back into the c:\windows\system32 folder.     Reboot.     Because nothing on your system has changed (it is the same BIOS, CPU, RAM, etc.) and because you are installing the same copy of XP that was previously installed, the old WPA key should be accepted as valid, saving you the hassle of reactivating the software.     Copyright Greater Tampa Bay PC User Group
Number 234 - October 2002