Reinstalling Windows (Genuine)

Tired, that's what I'm feeling these last few days. People who use our computer at the internet cafe sometime are irresponsible. They don't care about the lifetime of the computer they use. They came to the cafe, rented a computer. Once they logged on, they installed many softwares such as Internet Download Manager (you know what this program is used to), MegaUpload toolbar (for downloading from MegaUpload), YouTube Grabber (to download files from YouTube). While these programs are useful for the customer, we (the administrator) have a lot of troubles to keep the internet connection stable once they installed the software. Using a bandwith manager also doesn't guarantee a stable connection. Anyone who installed and used this software could get all the bandwith while others will be left with a very slow internet connection.

To correct this problem, we usually uninstall these programs right after the customer left. Here is the tricky part, because we installed DeepFreeze and Billing Explorer we got another problem. Through Billing Explorer we can hide the Control Panel and DeepFreeze ensure that the Windows setting would never be changed. The two programs accidentally canceling each other leaving us with no choice than reinstalling the windows.

Another problem arise. We are using genuine Windows XP Home Edition at the internet cafe. As you know if you have a genuine copy of Windows you have to activate it 30 days after you install it. Now, it has been more than 30 days so I have activated all Windows. If you reinstall it you can't activate it anymore. You have to manually activate it by calling the Microsoft and ask for another activation key. Really why should we go with all these troubles because we are using a genuine product?

Fortunately, after searching on Google, I have came up with these two links, here and here. Both of these two links tell you the same thing, how to preserve your windows activation files before reinstalling. Note these tips would only be successful if you are reinstalling the Windows on the same machine with the same configuration as the time you first activate it. So if you're thinking on buying a genuine copy, install it, activate it and then install it on another computer you can forget that. If you have any major hardware changes such as adding another Graphic Card, you should take it off first, reinstall, reactivate the WPA and then put the Graphic Card back in.

Basically what you need to do is copy the WPA.dbl and WPA.bak files from Windows system folder (usually for Windows XP is C:\Windows\System32). Put it in a safe directory for use later. Reinstall your computer. After finished reinstalling, if you are asked to activate, just say no. Boot from safe mode (press F8 while booting). Go to system folder. You should see that there is a new WPA.dbl file there. Rename this file to whatever name you like, e.g: WPANew.dbl. Then copy your original WPA files and put it in the same folder. Restart your computer. You might be asked again to activate your Windows. Now click Yes, then choose only activate but don't register. After waiting for a few seconds your copy of Windows is activated and you should be able to use your Windows.