activate windows xp

[Guest]

I am trying to do a re-installation of Windows XP. I need to activate the
product, but "Activate" is not a menu option on the appropriate menu. Where
do I find the activation program? Any help will be much appreciated, as this
has been very frustrating.

 

[Malke]

I am trying to do a re-installation of Windows XP. I need to activate
the product, but "Activate" is not a menu option on the appropriate
menu. Where do I find the activation program? Any help will be much
appreciated, as this has been very frustrating.

Is this a retail copy of XP or an OEM copy? If you have a machine from
one of the big OEM's like Dell, HP, Sony, etc. then the activation has
already been done for you. What message are you getting that you need
to activate the operating system?

More details will produce more focused help.

Malke

 

[Pop`]

I am trying to do a re-installation of Windows XP. I need to activate
the product, but "Activate" is not a menu option on the appropriate
menu. Where do I find the activation program? Any help will be much
appreciated, as this has been very frustrating.

It sounds like you don't need to activate. When activiation is required,
believe me, there is NO way to avoid its messages <G> to activate! I don't
understand the mechanics of it, but some OEM systems operate that way; as
long as you're only reinstalling you won't hvae to activate.

Perhaps someone will come along with the link to check on your activation
status; I can't find it at the moment. It's quick and easy to do.

I think you're all set, actually.

Pop`

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

It sounds like you don't need to activate. When activiation is
required, believe me, there is NO way to avoid its messages <G> to
activate! I don't understand the mechanics of it, but some OEM
systems operate that way; as long as you're only reinstalling you
won't hvae to activate.
Perhaps someone will come along with the link to check on your
activation status; I can't find it at the moment. It's quick and
easy to do.

Go to Start | Run and type

oobe/msoobe /a

 

[Guest]

Well, yes, I am trying to re-install with an OEM copy from Dell on a non-Dell
machine. I am re-installing on our home computer. I had earlier tried to
re-install with an upgrade from Windows 98 and it would not activate, so I
backed off and tried the OEM copy. And I get a message saying that I need to
activate within so many days.
I am perfectly legal here. I actually own five copis of XP, two upgrades and
three OEM from Dell. I have three in use at my office right now, so I do own
a copy for home.
When I tried to re-install from the upgrade, things seemed to be going well.
I supplied the 98 disk and installed. But when it came time to activate, I
kept getting an error message even though I was entering a perfectly valid
code from the original packaging!
So, if you can help, I would appreciate it. Otherwise, I guess I will have
to back off and try the upgrade again.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply. I have posted a longer explanation of how I got to
this problem at the other reply to my post.

 

[Malke]

Well, yes, I am trying to re-install with an OEM copy from Dell on a
non-Dell machine. I am re-installing on our home computer. I had
earlier tried to re-install with an upgrade from Windows 98 and it
would not activate, so I backed off and tried the OEM copy. And I get
a message saying that I need to activate within so many days.
I am perfectly legal here. I actually own five copis of XP, two
upgrades and three OEM from Dell. I have three in use at my office
right now, so I do own a copy for home.
When I tried to re-install from the upgrade, things seemed to be going
well. I supplied the 98 disk and installed. But when it came time to
activate, I kept getting an error message even though I was entering a
perfectly valid code from the original packaging!
So, if you can help, I would appreciate it. Otherwise, I guess I will
have to back off and try the upgrade again.

You cannot use a Dell OEM on a non-Dell motherboard. Use one of your
non-Dell (presumably retail) upgrades if it is not already in use.

Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Well, yes, I am trying to re-install with an OEM copy from Dell on a non-Dell
machine. I am re-installing on our home computer. I had earlier tried to
re-install with an upgrade from Windows 98 and it would not activate, so I
backed off and tried the OEM copy. And I get a message saying that I need to
activate within so many days.

Hopefully, you won't be able to activate a Dell OEM license on a
non-Dell computer. That is precisely the sort of piracy that activation
was designed to prevent.

I am perfectly legal here.

Not if you're trying to install a labeled Dell OEM license on any
computer other than the Dell with which it was originally purchased.

I actually own five copis of XP, two upgrades and
three OEM from Dell. I have three in use at my office right now, so I do own
a copy for home.

Doesn't matter. OEM licenses are permanently bound to the first
computer on which they're installed, and are not legally transferable to
any other computer, under any circumstances. Read your EULA.



--

Bruce Chambers

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