By using PE Builder I have created an installation CD of my OEM factory
installed HP Windows XP Home Operating System. As a test case I installed it
to a VMware Workstation 6 virtual machine. I wanted to be sure the install
would work. I accessed a piece of freeware off the internet to find out my
CD key. Using that I installed it to the virtual machine. Now the
installation keeps requesting an activation and tells me I have 30 days.
Presumably this means that within 30 days of installation the Operating
System will die.

How can I now use my OEM license to activate this installation?

I mean after all, I am the legitimate owner of this copy of Windows XP Home.
Thanks.

"Umma Gumma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> By using PE Builder I have created an installation CD of my OEM factory
> installed HP Windows XP Home Operating System. As a test case I installed
> it to a VMware Workstation 6 virtual machine. I wanted to be sure the
> install would work. I accessed a piece of freeware off the internet to
> find out my CD key. Using that I installed it to the virtual machine. Now
> the installation keeps requesting an activation and tells me I have 30
> days. Presumably this means that within 30 days of installation the
> Operating System will die.
>
> How can I now use my OEM license to activate this installation?
>
> I mean after all, I am the legitimate owner of this copy of Windows XP
> Home. Thanks.
>
>
As I understand it, one copy, one license, one install. Read the EULA.

"Umma Gumma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> By using PE Builder I have created an installation CD of my OEM factory
> installed HP Windows XP Home Operating System. As a test case I installed
> it to a VMware Workstation 6 virtual machine. I wanted to be sure the
> install would work. I accessed a piece of freeware off the internet to
> find out my CD key. Using that I installed it to the virtual machine. Now
> the installation keeps requesting an activation and tells me I have 30
> days. Presumably this means that within 30 days of installation the
> Operating System will die.
>
> How can I now use my OEM license to activate this installation?
>
> I mean after all, I am the legitimate owner of this copy of Windows XP
> Home. Thanks.
>
>
More than that, you are the owner of a license to use the software as per
the EULA. You are not the owner of the software itself.

You cannot, per the OEM license, use your product key on any PC other than
the one it shipped with, and a Virtual Machine qualifies as another PC. You
will need to purchase another license to use a VM.

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"Umma Gumma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> By using PE Builder I have created an installation CD of my OEM factory
> installed HP Windows XP Home Operating System. As a test case I installed
> it to a VMware Workstation 6 virtual machine. I wanted to be sure the
> install would work. I accessed a piece of freeware off the internet to
> find out my CD key. Using that I installed it to the virtual machine. Now
> the installation keeps requesting an activation and tells me I have 30
> days. Presumably this means that within 30 days of installation the
> Operating System will die.
>
> How can I now use my OEM license to activate this installation?
>
> I mean after all, I am the legitimate owner of this copy of Windows XP
> Home. Thanks.
>
>

As others have told you you cannot activate this version on a different
machine and my understanding was that you were only testing it to see if
it did work, which it obviously does so I would have thought the sensible
thing now would be to uninstall it.
Joan

Umma Gumma wrote:
> By using PE Builder I have created an installation CD of my OEM
> factory installed HP Windows XP Home Operating System. As a test case
> I installed it to a VMware Workstation 6 virtual machine. I wanted to
> be sure the install would work. I accessed a piece of freeware off
> the internet to find out my CD key. Using that I installed it to the
> virtual machine. Now the installation keeps requesting an activation
> and tells me I have 30 days. Presumably this means that within 30
> days of installation the Operating System will die.
>
> How can I now use my OEM license to activate this installation?
>
> I mean after all, I am the legitimate owner of this copy of Windows
> XP Home. Thanks.

"Umma Gumma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
> By using PE Builder I have created an installation CD of my OEM factory
> installed HP Windows XP Home Operating System. As a test case I installed
> it to a VMware Workstation 6 virtual machine. I wanted to be sure the
> install would work. I accessed a piece of freeware off the internet to
> find out my CD key. Using that I installed it to the virtual machine. Now
> the installation keeps requesting an activation and tells me I have 30
> days. Presumably this means that within 30 days of installation the
> Operating System will die.
>
> How can I now use my OEM license to activate this installation?
>
> I mean after all, I am the legitimate owner of this copy of Windows XP
> Home.

A pre-installed OEM version of the OS is licensed for use only on the
computer on which it came installed. It cannot be transferred to a
different computer including use in a VM. If you want transferability you
need to use a retail license. Even with that only one copy of the license
can be installed at any one time. A VM session counts as a separate
installation.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

"Joan Archer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> As others have told you you cannot activate this version on a different
> machine and my understanding was that you were only testing it to see if
> it did work, which it obviously does so I would have thought the sensible
> thing now would be to uninstall it.
> Joan

Well it does...and it doesn't. It requires activation. So presumably that
means if I use it to install on the primary machine (the host machine in
this case) it will still require activation, ergo...won't work. That's as I
understand it. Am I wrong?

To put everyone's mind to rest, I HAVE UNINSTALLED IT. Right now I feel like
I've made a coaster.....

And by the way, it did work, the copy booted, it just needs activation, as it
would when you restored the image to your orginal machine, if you expected it
to be already activated, then you are mistaken.

"Umma Gumma" wrote:

> "Joan Archer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > As others have told you you cannot activate this version on a different
> > machine and my understanding was that you were only testing it to see if
> > it did work, which it obviously does so I would have thought the sensible
> > thing now would be to uninstall it.
> > Joan
>
> Well it does...and it doesn't. It requires activation. So presumably that
> means if I use it to install on the primary machine (the host machine in
> this case) it will still require activation, ergo...won't work. That's as I
> understand it. Am I wrong?
>
> To put everyone's mind to rest, I HAVE UNINSTALLED IT. Right now I feel like
> I've made a coaster.....
>
>
>

"sgopus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:17488242-C5CD-4C21-9553-(E-Mail Removed)...
> And by the way, it did work, the copy booted, it just needs activation, as
> it
> would when you restored the image to your orginal machine, if you expected
> it
> to be already activated, then you are mistaken.

Yes but if I used it for my primary install rather than going through the 8
CDs HP's disk creation utility created for me how would I activate it?

Umma Gumma wrote:

> "sgopus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:17488242-C5CD-4C21-9553-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>And by the way, it did work, the copy booted, it just needs activation, as
>>it
>>would when you restored the image to your orginal machine, if you expected
>>it
>>to be already activated, then you are mistaken.
>
>
> Yes but if I used it for my primary install rather than going through the 8
> CDs HP's disk creation utility created for me how would I activate it?
>
>

The correct "key" should be on a sticker on the case. THAT is required
of OEMs by Microsoft to be in compliance with the license agreement.