Activation

[NoWayJose]

I bought an OEM version of Office 2003 about five months ago. The computer
that I installed it on continually crashes for some unknown reason. I want
to do a fresh install of WinXP Pro, but am worried about what Office 2003
will do when I try to activate it after reinstalling WinXP. The only
changes I have made to the desktop's harward has been to replace both the
CD-ROM and CD-R drives with DVD-ROM and DVD+/-RW drives. Will these changes
be enough to cause Office 03 not to work on my desktop ?

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

You can replace about 5 components - except the motherboard. The software is
"married" to that.

 

[NoWayJose]

Thanks. I'll post the results after reinstalling WinXP

 

[garfield-n-odie]

There have been several posts claiming that replacing a single
component (such as a DVD drive or a graphics card) triggered the
re-activation prompt. See
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.office.misc/browse_frm/thread/cb34110defe2e7ce
and
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-b0ae60d3f4bb&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc
as examples. Who knows... maybe these guys had each replaced
four other components earlier, and they're not fessing up.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

I don't doubt that. I'd heard the approx 5 component rule and was just
repeating that. Let's face it - Murphy's Law can (and will) strike.

 

[Can-So]

It varies some components have a equivalent to two parts such as a NIC
This url gives some more information on the hardware hash and components.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpactiv.mspx

Take in mind some software does create "virtual" drives and who knows thing
might be considered a component under some circumstances..

I don't doubt that. I'd heard the approx 5 component rule and was just
repeating that. Let's face it - Murphy's Law can (and will) strike.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

There have been several posts claiming that replacing a single component
(such as a DVD drive or a graphics card) triggered the re-activation
prompt. See
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.office.misc/browse_frm/thread/cb34110defe2e7ce
and
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-b0ae60d3f4bb&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc
as examples. Who knows... maybe these guys had each replaced four other
components earlier, and they're not fessing up.

 

[NoWayJose]

I reinstalled Windows XP Pro and Office 2003 without any activation
problems. Will MS forever keep a record of my hardware changes forcing me
to eventually have activation problems?

 

[Echo S]

I reinstalled Windows XP Pro and Office 2003 without any activation
problems. Will MS forever keep a record of my hardware changes forcing me
to eventually have activation problems?

This link is about Windows activation, not Office activation, but it's
pretty interesting and informative.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm It says

"If, following the activation after setup, you do not need to contact the
activation center for 120 days (any changes you make during this time being
seen as acceptable when the system boots), then the sheet is swept clean and
you can start again using the current hardware as the new baseline to make
more changes."

I'd imagine something similar happens with Office.

 

[Bob I]

I suspect the "claimant" forgot the other changes made in the preceding
months.