Can I use XP PRO w/o registering?

[PC]

I will be getting another computer shortly, (w/ NO O.S.)
and want to install XP PRO. I have many questions.

1)What to buy?...I see OEM, full oem, full retail. What
is the pro and cons for using or buying each? Which is
better?

2)Is a "full oem" version the same software as a full
retail?

3)Can I put XP on my new comp and then again on a third
one that I plan to buy a month later?

4)What is all the hype about registering. Can I install
and use the full software without registering w/Microsoft?

5)Can you still do live update without registering?

6)If I'm not allowed to use it on more than one computer,
that's fine, but how will they know? I ask this not so
much to use one copy for a million computers but in
curiosity on HOW Microsoft would KNOW...are they allowed
or have ways where they look into your computer (snoop)
and "verify" things??

7)If I buy a copy from EBAY or somewhere, what happens if
they lied about it not being registered. A friend told me
that it wouldn't matter as long as I just use it without
registering it. Is that true. How can I know if I have a
legal copy without necessarily letting Microsoft know
which copy I have?

8)If I want to also install Office pro 2003 do I need to
buy 3 copies for 3 home computers? That would be $1500
and seems a bit much (to put it nicely) for one poor soul
to put it on all his personal computers.

 

[JAX]

Registration is optional, activation is required.

LOL JAX

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

1) Generally, an OEM version cannot be installed on any other hardware
except the hardware with which it is sold so, legally, it cannot be moved.
Also, some OEM versions cannot be used to upgrade and must be used on a
clean formatted hard drive. If that's an issue, buy retail.

2)Aside from the above restrictions, yes.

3)If it's a retail version, you can install it on a another system but only
after removing it from the previous system but that really isn't the
question you are asking. You are asking if you can install it on more than
one computer at the same time and the answer is no.

4)No hype about registering, you don't have to register XP, never, ever,
ever, ever! However, you must activate XP which takes me back to question
3. XP can only be activated on one computer at a time. If you activate on
one, you will not be able to activate on another and if you install on
another and don't activate, you'll lose access to the system after 30 days.

5) You can update without registering. If you don't activate, you may lose
some or all of that function but after 30 days, it's a moot point because
the OS will cease to function.

6)They don't know, the OS knows if it's not activated because activation
triggers a handshake between two computers, a hash is placed on your system
that lets the system know it's activated and the same hash goes into a
Microsoft database.

7) There's that word again, registration! It's activation and they'll know,
see above. If you are concerned about what you are buying on Ebay I can
only say, buy from a reputable dealer. Your friend is wrong.

8) Gee, three home computers could easily by $1500 or more, not such a poor
soul. Yes, the license for Office Pro 2003 requires separate licenses for
each computer. Some licenses do allow for installation on one desktop and
one laptop but you'd have to check and if you don't have a laptop, it
doesn't apply. Office 2003 uses the same activation routine as Windows XP,
if you don't activate, you lose access to all office modules after 30 days.