Deactivate for HD format?

edbro · 08-19-2007, 01:56 PM

I plan to reformat my hard disk shortly and I'm wondering if I need to deactivate my reader before hand. If not, can I reactivate after the format without using up one of my activations? It will be the same computer with the same computer name.

monkeywrench · 08-19-2007, 02:10 PM

Hello edbro,

You will need to deactivate before the format and then reactivate afterwards. If you don't you will use up one of your activations.

edbro · 08-19-2007, 02:14 PM

Thanks.

Nate the great · 08-19-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeywrench

Hello edbro,

You will need to deactivate before the format and then reactivate afterwards. If you don't you will use up one of your activations.

You should deauthorize the computer, not the reader.

edbro · 08-19-2007, 02:38 PM

Yes, I worded it incorrectly. I mean the computer.

I was just curious as I don't really know what they look at for the activation; some hardware hash, computer name, etc? My hardware, OS, and computer name will all be the same. In any case, I will deactivate the computer first just to be safe.

_Sin · 08-19-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbro

Yes, I worded it incorrectly. I mean the computer.

I was just curious as I don't really know what they look at for the activation; some hardware hash, computer name, etc? My hardware, OS, and computer name will all be the same. In any case, I will deactivate the computer first just to be safe.

Quite often it's the HDD volume ID. This used by Mobipocket, and is also used as one of the (many) identifiers for XP. If it's anything else, it's unlikely to change when you reformat anway.

It's well worth noting down your volume ID (type VOL at a command prompt) and then restoring it afterwards (before activating any software, including XP itself though!). A util to change the ID can be found on the sysinternals website (which is now part of Microsoft).

JSWolf · 08-19-2007, 10:38 PM

So if you have your volume ID as unlabeled, leave it that way after to reformat right?

But to be honest, there's no reason to reformat and mess things up. I've reinstalled XP before and NEVER reformatted. All I did wasd rename Windows, Program Files, and Documents and Settings and then reinstalled the OS. That way, I was able to keep all the data on the drive and get back anything I needed.

_Sin · 08-20-2007, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So if you have your volume ID as unlabeled, leave it that way after to reformat right?

But to be honest, there's no reason to reformat and mess things up. I've reinstalled XP before and NEVER reformatted. All I did wasd rename Windows, Program Files, and Documents and Settings and then reinstalled the OS. That way, I was able to keep all the data on the drive and get back anything I needed.

It's not the label that matters, it's the Volume Serial Number - this is randomly assigned any time you format the partition, but can be manually set as it's just a number stored in one of the root blocks. I don't think anything really pays attention to the label, that's just there for your own use.

08-19-2007, 01:56 PM	#1
edbro Banned Posts: 640 Karma: 4911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grapevine, TX Device: iPad4	Deactivate for HD format? I plan to reformat my hard disk shortly and I'm wondering if I need to deactivate my reader before hand. If not, can I reactivate after the format without using up one of my activations? It will be the same computer with the same computer name.

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08-19-2007, 02:10 PM	#2
monkeywrench Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 42 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Kindle Keyboard	Hello edbro, You will need to deactivate before the format and then reactivate afterwards. If you don't you will use up one of your activations.

08-19-2007, 02:14 PM	#3
edbro Banned Posts: 640 Karma: 4911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grapevine, TX Device: iPad4	Thanks.

08-19-2007, 02:38 PM	#5
edbro Banned Posts: 640 Karma: 4911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grapevine, TX Device: iPad4	Yes, I worded it incorrectly. I mean the computer. I was just curious as I don't really know what they look at for the activation; some hardware hash, computer name, etc? My hardware, OS, and computer name will all be the same. In any case, I will deactivate the computer first just to be safe.

08-19-2007, 10:38 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,973 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	So if you have your volume ID as unlabeled, leave it that way after to reformat right? But to be honest, there's no reason to reformat and mess things up. I've reinstalled XP before and NEVER reformatted. All I did wasd rename Windows, Program Files, and Documents and Settings and then reinstalled the OS. That way, I was able to keep all the data on the drive and get back anything I needed.

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