Licensing question...

[Mike]

I have 2 computers I need to set up for a customer over the weekend & my
distributor was out of copies of XP Pro (another way M$ is trying to force
Vista on us?)
Can I load one of my copies, not activate it & the when my copies come in
activate them using the product keys from the new copies?

 

[Alias]

I have 2 computers I need to set up for a customer over the weekend & my
distributor was out of copies of XP Pro (another way M$ is trying to force
Vista on us?)
Can I load one of my copies, not activate it & the when my copies come in
activate them using the product keys from the new copies?

No, the product key must entered during installation and can't be
changed later.

Alias

 

[Anna]

No, the product key must entered during installation and can't be changed
later.

Alias

Mike:
I don't see why not you can't do what you propose. Obviously you'll use the
same edition - presumably XP Professional - to install the OS. Later when
you receive the new XP installation CD and its accompanying product ID you
could use a program like the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to change the
Product ID and then activate the system. You probably already have that
program or a similar one. They're available all over the net.
Anna

 

[John John]

I have 2 computers I need to set up for a customer over the weekend & my
distributor was out of copies of XP Pro (another way M$ is trying to force
Vista on us?)
Can I load one of my copies, not activate it & the when my copies come in
activate them using the product keys from the new copies?

How to change the product key at the time of activation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810892

John