[KoRn]

"That's completely incorrect. Legitimate users of Windows have to deal with activation for a minute or two and in the vast majority of cases they never see it again."

Until you replace your motherboard or get a new BIOS.

[flintsilver7]

Hence my statement "in the vast majority of cases." Unless, of course, you're implying that replacing your motherboard is a frequent occurrence. I've never had a problem with BIOS upgrades in terms of activation.

Seeing as the motherboard is the most basic (and least likely to be replaced) component of a computer, replacing it makes it seem to the software that it's on a different machine.

[postaldave]

actual i got tagged on xp for a harddrive change on an oem box.