Thinkpads Forum

Hello,

I have a 600X with WinXP Pro installed. Since the 600X doesn't have built-in Ethernet, I installed an IBM Ethernet PCMCIA card into the available slot on the right-hand side of the 600X. Works great!

To be able to use the 600X in a wireless configuration, I have to remove the Ethernet card, and install my Motorola 801.11g wireless adapter. Herein begs the question using WinXP:

As all of us know, WinXP only allows a certain number of changes in specific hardware before it requires a reactivation. Since I have to swap between the Ethernet card and wireless card, depending on my requirement at the time, will this cause XP to shut down after a few changes and require reactivation? I think the network card in the XP hardware registration scheme is considered a significant item.

Any thoughts on this? I hope I've explained my question well enough, if not I will try again.

Tnx,
Don

Oops, I meant to say 802.11g wireless adapter . . . sorry!

w9cw wrote:As all of us know, WinXP only allows a certain number of changes in specific hardware before it requires a reactivation. Since I have to swap between the Ethernet card and wireless card, depending on my requirement at the time, will this cause XP to shut down after a few changes and require reactivation? I think the network card in the XP hardware registration scheme is considered a significant item.

Probably not, but it depends upon if you have made changes in other hardware catagories. I just learned some of these issues researching this for you. See link below:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

I have a 600X running XP Pro, and I switch from a WiFi CardBus card to a wired CardBus card (very fast) to no network card. I've done it dozens of times over 18 months, and have not had any activation issues.

Now if you were to switch the NIC, hard drive and video controller, you might have issues. But really, I think laptop hardware is so locked down you will have a hard time getting Windows Activation to be uppity.

Whizkid, I suggest you read that link I left above your last post.

FYI, I once flashed a BIOS on a desktop PC running Windows XP Pro, and I was forced to reactivate. Microsoft reactivated my OS for me without any real hassle. I just had to explain to them what I did.

Thanks for assuming that I didn't read the article. I did.

I am relating the real experience I have had with XP Pro on a 600X, the OP's exact configutation, not a desktop BIOS.

I'll also add that I often change from a battery to CD-ROM to DVD-ROM in the UltraSlim Bay too, and still have never had an activation issue.