hmcmak said:
Hi, I have 2 questions that I need help on:
See answers inline:
1. Is there a limit of how many times a complete System Recovery can
be done on a PC, considering we can activate XP twice only?
There is no limit to the number of times you can do a system recovery if
by "system recovery" you mean format the drive and clean-install
Windows. I don't know where you came up with the idea that you can only
activate XP twice. I honestly don't know at what number of activations
a flag comes up and you are told you've activated the Product Key too
many times and then you have to activate by phone instead of over the
Internet.
If by "System Recovery" you mean using an OEM restore disk such as one
supplied by HP, Compaq, Dell, etc. then there is no activation
necessary anyway. It has been done for you by the OEM.
If you are doing something non-standard and want more help with it, post
back with an explanation of what you are doing. Maybe there is a better
way.
2. Must the cable modem be disconnected as well while performing
System Recovery?
It depends on your situation. When I'm doing a format/clean-install I
leave the computer connected to my network since I'm behind a router
and I'm installing XP with Service Pack 2 which has the Firewall
enabled. If you are connected to your cable modem directly without a
router, then it would be smart to leave the computer disconnected from
the Internet until you have the Windows Firewall enabled and your
antivirus installed. Then you can connect to the Internet, activate
your machine, update your av, get Windows Updates, etc.
Malke
