Well, in the last several months, I've reinstalled FSX numerous times for varying reasons.-On my old system, I reinstalled several times to switch between RTM and SP2, becuase I was having problems with blurries with SP2.-I also reformatted at least twice for other reasons.-I then upgraded my system, buying a new mobo, case, PSU, CPU etc. I sold most of my old system, but I kept the harddrive, meaning there's no way the buyer will be able to play FSX (the license only allows you to install on one PC at a time AFAIK).-Initially I used integrated graphics with the new system, while trying to find a good deal on a videocard. After buying a Geforce 8800GT I once again reformatted (integrated graphics was ATI, so I didn't want any possible conflicts with the new Nvidia card).Upon reinstalling FSX after this last reformat, I had to make a call to the Microsoft mothership to request permission to install FSX. A harsh, 1984-esque automated voice basically accused me of installing it on more than one computer, but after a few button presses, I was allowed to activate.The thing is, I'm now thinking about switching from XP to Vista. But how will Microsoft react when I once again want to reinstall? Will they deny the activation, forcing me to buy a second copy of FSX? Or will they send the anti piracy force unit over to my home to investiagte?

Eventually you'll get a live person, explain and you will be activated. Not a big deal.Q6600 G0 CPU 2.4 o/c 3.65Evga 680i A1 with P31 BIOS 2G XP2-8500 DDR2 1066FSB Mushkin 996535 RAM 5-5-4-12-2T320G 7200 HD partitioned for XP/Vista/Programs 2 - 74G Raptors in RAID0 500G 7200 HD for backup SATA DVD burner Evga 8800GTS 640 PCIx XG 174.74 702/1620/792Kandalf LCS case w/ built in liquid cooling 850W Thermaltake power supplyVisit the Virtual Pilot's Centerwww.flightadventures.comhttp://www.hifisim.com/banners/hifi-supporter-sigbanner.jpg

"big deal" or not depends on a number of things. If the person is very rude and arrogant, it can be a #### to justify why you want to reinstall software you've paid for. Also, if it's friday night and you're looking forward to a whole weekend of flight simming, you won't be happy to find out that you have to wait until monday morning before you can reinstall FS because the "ministry of trust" is closed over the weekend. The option of illegaly finding a way around the activation system will then be very tempting.Also, if I switch to vista, find it isn't what I expected and switch back to XP, that will be yet another reactivation.Nah.. I think Microsoft lost a potential Vista buyer because of the FSX activation scheme. XP does what I want at the moment.

>"big deal" or not depends on a number of things. If the>person is very rude and arrogant, it can be a #### to justify>why you want to reinstall software you've paid for. Also, if>it's friday night and you're looking forward to a whole>weekend of flight simming, you won't be happy to find out that>you have to wait until monday morning before you can reinstall>FS because the "ministry of trust" is closed over the weekend.>The option of illegaly finding a way around the activation>system will then be very tempting.>>Also, if I switch to vista, find it isn't what I expected and>switch back to XP, that will be yet another reactivation.>>Nah.. I think Microsoft lost a potential Vista buyer because>of the FSX activation scheme. XP does what I want at the>moment.I have reactivated FSX as well as Vista via phone countless times and have never had an issue.The bottm line is if you own a legal copy you will have zero problems getting it reactivated.As stated above its no big deal.

You call they activate, that's it.

Get Norton Ghost. Make a ghost of your hard disk, then when you decide to reinstall it (from the ghost), it is already activated.And if you go to Vista, you will get a friendly voice like I did (no, not for vista) and you can re-activate.Or, better still, get a Vista 'upgrade'. So, if I am not wrong, you can continue using your copy of FS, because the upgrade shouldn't wipe your hard disk. Then make a ghost of this (Norton) and then you can reinstall again and again, whatever OS you made a ghost of, XP or Vista in these instructions, without having to ever reactivate Microsoft stuff again!