Corrupt OS - might need to reinstall OS - will it authenticate?

[BBCMember]

A possible client of mine has a system with three hard drives. He was not able to install the updates from Windows Update, so somehow, he installed the OS again on another hard drive and booted up with it (not sure how he did that), and it asked him to authenticate the software by buying a new key (the OS was already installed with the same disk and key on the C drive). When he rebooted, it booted from the orginal hard drive (drive C) and original installation of the OS, which was unable to install the Windows Updates.

Basically, the OS on the C drive either needs to be repaired, or it needs to be reinstalled. And the drive that has the second instance of the OS needs to be wiped out and formatted.

The question is, if the repair does not fix it and the OS needs to be reinstalled, if the second instance of the OS is wiped out, will it still ask him to buy another key? My guess is no, since he will be reinstalling it, but I'm not sure if the second install triggered it so that any future installs, whether they are on the original system or not, will be asked to be authenticated.

Thoughts?

[BBCMember]

The OS was bought for that system (custom built). The second instance of the OS is what prompted the need for authentication.

[ShawnD1]

You can install Windows as many times as you want. After maybe 5 times it will ask you to call the toll free number and get a new activation key, which is completely free.

Delete the second install, reinstall the original.

[BBCMember]

That's what I figured. Thanks.

[Keymaker]

Read, read, read http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

[SeanC]

Formatting both hard drives and reinstalling XP on the first hard drive will be fine. You might have to call MS, but only because of all the reinstalls it's had.

[Keymaker]

Copy wpa.dbl as these hard drive are all on the same system, correct?