XP Product Activation Issue

[FZWG]

Appreciate some assistance.

Have a friend who had XP PRO installed on his computer which used to have W98SE. He has no idea (totally computer illiterate) whether XP PRO was installed as an upgrade, or as a full install.

A friend of a friend did the job, and he did not get an XP PRO CD or any kind of a Product Key when he got his computer back, so we are rather leary about the whole thing.

Believe that installing XP PRO (full install) requires the Windows Product Activation, but does installing XP PRO as an upgrade over W98SE require the Product Activation procedure?

Thank you in advance for the help.

[raftero]

i think xp has to be activated ,if you want to check that computer go to start,programs, accessories , tools, and activate windows. if it has been it will say so.if not you need to find the installer and get the key. xp can be installed legally only on one computer unless there is a multiple license purchased.

[FZWG]

Thanks for the info.

If XP was activated, will there still be sometning in Accessories>System Tools?

[Panama Red]

If you click on the short cut in System tools to Activate Windows, it will either attempt to activate or tell you it is already activated. Also, to answer your earlier question, yes you do have to activate an upgrade install of XP Pro.

[el_novato]

Start>Control Panel>Add Remove Programs...If it shows XP Pro in the list of programs, it was an upgrade over 98SE. If it was a full install, it would not show there, but that would mean the hard drive was reformatted and wiped and a clean install was done.

Hth,

e.n.

[MulderMan]

did he pay to have it upgraded to xp pro? most of the time where you dont recive a product key or cd hints piracy and a cracked version of xp installed.

[FZWG]

"Start>Control Panel>Add Remove Programs...If it shows XP Pro in the list of programs, it was an upgrade over 98SE. If it was a full install, it would not show there, but that would mean the hard drive was reformatted and wiped and a clean install was done."

Thanks very much for the info. Will check it out.

[Statica]

XP Pro needs to be activated. You can check the activation status by going to START > RUN and typing this:
oobe/msoobe /a
It will then tell you the status.

The best thing to do at this stage is to ask the friend who did the install. Please note that just because it may show that XP is activated doesnt really mean its legal. And it is important that you get a legal copy of the OS running. Among other things - the XP service packs will detect that it is an illegal copy.

HTH

[FZWG]

Thank you very much for the info.

Trying everything in my power to find out what is going on.

My friend is out of State, so can't hop over to see what is going on.

Anyone who starts throwing some technical terms at him is got him, because he is NOT technically inclined.

Trying to find a way to throw a monkey wrench into the OS so that he is forced to go back to the guy who installed it. If the OS stops working, that, he will understand.

[Statica]

Well chances are he will come to know in a few months when SP2 comes out. If SP1 was any indication, a LOT of people running illegal versions got trapped.

[FZWG]

Thanks for the info.

Found out that he has the OEM version of XP PRO, not the corporate version.

If he is using the OEM version, could it have been activated somehow, or is he in for a surprise?

[Floppyman]

Originally posted by Statica Well chances are he will come to know in a few months when SP2 comes out. If SP1 was any indication, a LOT of people running illegal versions got trapped.

I've actually heard rumors that SP2 might be free to everyone. Don't know if there's any truth to this or not.

[FZWG]

So what is the point of the Activation?

[Statica]

Originally posted by Floppyman I've actually heard rumors that SP2 might be free to everyone. Don't know if there's any truth to this or not.

No it wont. It was rumored to be so .. but later was denied by MS. http://www.securitypipeline.com/show...cleID=20300861

[MrAustin]

Good to know... I've seen it reported in many magazines and e-zines that MS would provide the upgrade to all users (even those known to be pirated). Good to know that the freeloaders aren't getting what we've all paid for.

[bigandy]

I completely agree MrAustin, it's annoying that we pay money for this software, then somebody just spends a few hours and downloads it off the internet, and all they spend is the cost of a CDR. And I'd like to think that SP2 won't work for these people, but I'm sure, as is usually the case, somebody will come up with a crack to get around it.