Question about Windows XP activation

[jc]

We recently replaced one of our home computers. I wanted to
reformat the disk and do a clean OS install before giving it away.
*After* I formatted the disk, I discovered that what I had was
an *upgrade* copy of XP, which I had used to upgrade it from
WinME (excuse my language) several years ago. It refused to install
on an empty disk.

I was afraid I might have to reinstall ME just to upgrade it, but then
I just used
a disk that came with a different computer.

I was a little nervous which product key I should use to activate it,
since
these were two slightly different versions of XP, but *it never asked
for
one*. The OS just came up working. Of course, I had a legal right
to the OS, since I paid for the XP (even though, IMHO, MS should
have given it to me, plus some hardship pay for suffering through
WinME), but *how did it know that*. Did the website use the MAC
address or something to verify the identity of the computer.

Just curious.

-jc

 

[Shenan Stanley]

We recently replaced one of our home computers. I wanted to
reformat the disk and do a clean OS install before giving it away.
*After* I formatted the disk, I discovered that what I had was
an *upgrade* copy of XP, which I had used to upgrade it from
WinME (excuse my language) several years ago. It refused to install
on an empty disk.

I was afraid I might have to reinstall ME just to upgrade it, but
then I just used
a disk that came with a different computer.

I was a little nervous which product key I should use to activate
it, since these were two slightly different versions of XP, but *it never
asked for one*. The OS just came up working. Of course, I had a
legal right to the OS, since I paid for the XP (even though, IMHO,
MS should have given it to me, plus some hardship pay for suffering
through WinME), but *how did it know that*. Did the website use the
MAC address or something to verify the identity of the computer.

Just curious.

No one owes you *anything* for "suffering" through something you could have
just researched more completely before purchase. ;-) Agreed - Windows ME is
something that shouldn't have existed.

Sort of like the clean install - where if you had researched you would know
that you can perform a clean installation from "upgrade" Windows XP media as
long as you have the installation CD of the previous OS you are upgrading
from. (If you threw away or never had a Windows ME CD for the computer -
that's a mistake.)

If the flavors (Windows XP Home, Professional, Media Center, Tablet PC,
Professional x64, etc) of the disk you used to install and the Windows XP
Upgrade media/license you gave away with the laptop - then you have no
issue. You just need to change the product key (of the installed and
running OS) to the proper key.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

If they were different flavors - then you have a problem. Even using your
idea behind your rights - you do not have the right to 'any' flavor of
Windows XP you wish - just the specific flavor(s) you own. Just because you
have a red car of a given make/model/year - doesn't mean you can go to any
dealership and trade out with a green one of the same make/model/year. ;-)

 

[jc]

No one owes you *anything* for "suffering" through something you could have
just researched more completely before purchase. ;-)  Agreed - Windows ME is
something that shouldn't have existed.

Well, that was sort of a joke, but I'm not so sure that Windows
ME didn't rise to the level of a class action suit. Once upon a
time, software was an entertaining diversion. Now it's an important
part of our lives, and yet it's the only product on the market that
can absolve itself of *all* responsibility with a simple disclaimer.

Imagine if you bought a television set with a little sticker that said
"This
television might work or might not work, and it might short
out and burn down your house. We don't care, and don't even
think about asking for your money back.". Windows ME was
marketed as an "operating system", which implies some minimal
level of functionality that it didn't possess. I do believe
MS "owes" me a working operating system. Nevertheless,
I paid for an upgrade, so that's a red herring.

That said, you didn't really answer my question. Why didn't
the new install ask me for any activation key? Is it the
old activation key somehow stored on the computer, or
is it keyed off of the ip address/MAC address, or what?

-jc