activation question

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badgolferman

I have a new computer that will be used on an internal network for a
period of less than six months. It came from the manufacturer with WXP
PRO installed and the installation disk is with it. The genuine
sticker is affixed to the computer's side.

I realize this machine must be activated, but it will never see the
Internet. In addition it will not be used after the test period is
over. I know I must call Microsoft to activate it but I want the
activation be temporary and to reuse the installation disk on another
computer afterwards.

The MS phone number given me is a machine and I want to talk to a live
person regarding this issue. How can I activate this installation and
void it later to install the current copy on another computer?
 
Just activate it the normal way.
When you pull that machine out of service and format that copy of XP off the
machine then you can install it on another machine and activate it again.At
that point a phone call activation might be necesary and all you will need
to do is explain the circumstances.
peter
 
badgolferman said:
I have a new computer that will be used on an internal network for a
period of less than six months. It came from the manufacturer with WXP
PRO installed and the installation disk is with it. The genuine
sticker is affixed to the computer's side.
Click to expand...

More than likely, it's already been activated by the manufacturer. If
it's using an OEM version of XP Pro, you will not be able to use that
OS on another computer. If it's a retail version of the OS, you will
be able to switch it to another machine.
 
badgolferman said:
I have a new computer that will be used on an internal network for a
period of less than six months. It came from the manufacturer with
WXP PRO installed and the installation disk is with it. The genuine
sticker is affixed to the computer's side.
Click to expand...


In that case it's an OEM version. See below for the problem with OEM
versions.

I realize this machine must be activated,
Click to expand...


Perhaps, but probably not. Most OEM machines come pre-activated by the OEM.

but it will never see the
Internet. In addition it will not be used after the test period is
over. I know I must call Microsoft to activate it but I want the
activation be temporary and to reuse the installation disk on another
computer afterwards.
Click to expand...


Unfortunately, what you want to do is against the terms of the OEM license.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of an OEM version is that the license ties
it permanently to the first computer it's installed on, and it may never be
moved to another. Retail versions don't have this restriction, but OEM
versions do; it's one of the main reasons an OEM version is considerably
cheaper than a Full Retail version.

Also note that some OEM versions are BIOS-locked to the particular computer.
If yours is like that, it's not just a matter of the license; you may find
it physically impossible to do what you want.
 
badgolferman said:
I have a new computer that will be used on an internal network for a
period of less than six months. It came from the manufacturer with WXP
PRO installed and the installation disk is with it. The genuine
sticker is affixed to the computer's side.

I realize this machine must be activated, but it will never see the
Internet. In addition it will not be used after the test period is
over. I know I must call Microsoft to activate it but I want the
activation be temporary....
Click to expand...


Activation is activation. There are no varying degrees of activation.

and to reuse the installation disk on another
computer afterwards.
Click to expand...


That can't be done. Based on your own admission, you have an OEM
license for WinXP on that computer. An OEM version must be sold with a
non-peripheral piece of hardware (normally a motherboard or hard rive,
if not an entire PC) and is _permanently_ bound to the first computer on
which it's installed. An OEM license, once installed, is not
legitimately transferable to another computer under _any_ circumstances.

The MS phone number given me is a machine and I want to talk to a live
person regarding this issue. How can I activate this installation and
void it later to install the current copy on another computer?
Click to expand...


You can't. Even with a transferable retail license, there is no
"de-activation" process; one would simply uninstall the OS from one
computer before installing it on the next computer. Of course, this
doesn't apply to your non-transferable OEM license.



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Bruce Chambers

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