The time to activate my windows xp ran out and apparently
microsoft will not let me activate my OS because it was
only intended for one computer at a time (my computer is
the second one to have this XP version on it). although i
have no expectation to be able to use the windows xp on my
computer, i need to know if i can backup the files on my
computer before i format the hard drive and move on.

Roman;
Reboot tapping F8 each second.
Select Safe Mode at the menu.

You have limited functionality in Safe Mode, but you can get in and
copy your data.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...oups/setup.asp
http://dts-l.org/index.html


"roman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:026101c3c1df$70604150$(E-Mail Removed)...
> The time to activate my windows xp ran out and apparently
> microsoft will not let me activate my OS because it was
> only intended for one computer at a time (my computer is
> the second one to have this XP version on it). although i
> have no expectation to be able to use the windows xp on my
> computer, i need to know if i can backup the files on my
> computer before i format the hard drive and move on.