XP Activation

[jonys]

Hi guys.
I've read quite a few things on here about activation in XP. I have the problem with the countdown (just over two weeks to go!) and not knowing where I stand with it.

Let me explain my situation.

I bought a PC about two years ago with Windows XP Home pre-installed. It came with a little shiny sticker on the back with a product key (I never got a CD with it) and with that, I didn't have to activate it or anything. In fact, until recently, I've never even heard of activation.

Recently, I bought myself a new PC (I live in a different country now) and installed Windows 98. A friend of mine borrowed me a copy of XP Home and I promptly installed it (clean install). I figured that I could just use the Product Key that I got with my original PC from two years ago.

As far as I was aware, I had technically purchased a copy of Windows XP Home so therefore, I could use the product key on any install that I ever used (Very naively, probably - I'm none too crash hot with computers).

So, with this current install, I used my old product key and it starts telling me that I have to activate. What I want to know is where I stand. If I try and activate, will it allow me to? Or will I get problems? And if so, what sort of problems will they be?

I don't mind going back to Win98 but would obviously prefer to keep XP. I don't want to try and go around or deceive any activation measures, I just want to know where I stand.

Any help greatly, greatly appreciated.

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rjfvillarosa - moderator

[Spools]

Is the "2 years ago" pc still in use somewhere?

[glc]

Legally, the product key on the old computer is only valid for that exact computer. You MIGHT be able to activate what you have, but then again, you might not.

You did not buy a copy of XP Home - you bought a license to USE XP Home on THAT computer only.

[rwest]

Your 'borrowed' xp disk can be used only on one pc with the cd key (license it came with) you can use the disk to load XP to another pc but you will have to purchase a new license (cd key) to legally own and operate the OS.

Spools is asking if the the OS is in opertion on another pc, in order to establish if the guidelines have been broken. You need a seperate license (cd key) for every pc the OS is installed on.

GlC's comment states that the orignal manufacturer bought the license for that specific unit, and was never intended to be moved to another unit.

Could the OS be be activated over the phone, probably really depends on if the representative you get is having a bad day or not. But two criteria must be made: 1)the cd key you want to use must not be on any other pc 2) the OS disk you have is not installed with the same cd key on any other pc