Registering Product Key for XP 64bit

[Guest]

I recenlty bought windows XP 64 bit edition, and installed/registered the
product key on my new 64bit processor system. It works great, except for the
fact that most of my software is not supported yet (certain antivirus
software). I since then re-installed windows XP 32bit. The 32bit XP version
I had to register also. I am planning on building another computer later on,
and hopefully 64bit will support my software later, but my question is; will
I be able to install windows XP 64bit on another computer and register the
product key, without it thinking it was already installed and registered? I
mean, I already had it up and running on machine A, now I want to put it on
Machine B after uninstalling and putting a different XP and different key on
machine A. Any help, please!!!

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I recenlty bought windows XP 64 bit edition, and installed/registered
the product key on my new 64bit processor system. It works great,
except for the fact that most of my software is not supported yet
(certain antivirus software). I since then re-installed windows XP
32bit. The 32bit XP version I had to register also. I am planning
on building another computer later on, and hopefully 64bit will
support my software later, but my question is; will I be able to
install windows XP 64bit on another computer and register the product
key, without it thinking it was already installed and registered? I
mean, I already had it up and running on machine A, now I want to put
it on Machine B after uninstalling and putting a different XP and
different key on machine A. Any help, please!!!

Presuming this is either a retail or volume license version, you can install
it on the hardware of your choice. You may find that after activating it
previously you can no longer activate electronically, but need to call in -
this isn't that big a deal.

 

[Barry Watzman]

First of all, registration and activation are two different things.
Which did you do?

You should not have activated the OS (any microsoft OS, as a general
rule) until you were certain that you were satisfied with the
installation and were going to stay with it, or until you had to
register it. All MS OS' will run for a period of time without
activation. Depending on the OS in question and which version you have,
that time period can vary from 2 weeks to 60 days.

Now, as to whether or not you will be able to reinstall the OS on a
different machine, maybe. First, if you registered but did not
activate, then yes, you should be able to do so (it's activation that
ties the product key to the machine). Beyond that, if you did activate,
if the machines are similar enough (almost identical, same motherboard
models and everything else) it might not be detected as a different
machine. You could help yourself out a lot here if you can move the
network card to the new machine (the network card's MAC address plays a
major role in the determination of "is this the same machine"). Also,
cloning the volume-serial number of the drive partitions can help.
Additionally, some versions of Windows get their product keys "reset" on
the Microsoft activation server if there is no activity for 120 days, so
if you wait 4 months, the OS MIGHT be seen as never having been
previously installed (even if was previously installed and activated),
but it's not totally clear to what products this does and does not apply.

Finally, if all else fails, you can call the Microsoft activation line
and beg nicely, but this may or may not work depending on the version of
Windows and the circumstances (and the mood of the person you end up
talking with).

 

[Guest]

Ok, I did 'activate' but not register the software. Sorry, I forgot there
were two steps which could sound similar. So, I guess the product key is
tied with my machine (even though it is now uninstalled). So, do you think I
should be able to call in when I decide to re-install the software, and get a
new or have that key re-instated?

Thanks for your reply!
Brandon.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I recenlty bought windows XP 64 bit edition, and installed/registered the
product key on my new 64bit processor system. It works great, except for the
fact that most of my software is not supported yet (certain antivirus
software). I since then re-installed windows XP 32bit. The 32bit XP version
I had to register also. I am planning on building another computer later on,
and hopefully 64bit will support my software later, but my question is; will
I be able to install windows XP 64bit on another computer and register the
product key, without it thinking it was already installed and registered? I
mean, I already had it up and running on machine A, now I want to put it on
Machine B after uninstalling and putting a different XP and different key on
machine A. Any help, please!!!

No. By your own admission, you'll have an OEM license for WinXP.
(WinXPx64 is available to the general consumer market only as an OEM
license.) 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 PC on which it's installed. An OEM
license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another computer
under _any_ circumstances.

You need to purchase a new WinXPx64 license for the new computer.

Wouldn't it be simply just to switch to a 64-bit antivirus application?
Almost all other 32-bit applications will work just fine on WinXPx64.
(I know....., it's what I use.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

First of all, registration and activation are two different things.
Which did you do?

You should not have activated the OS (any microsoft OS, as a general
rule) until you were certain that you were satisfied with the
installation and were going to stay with it, or until you had to
register it. All MS OS' will run for a period of time without
activation. Depending on the OS in question and which version you have,
that time period can vary from 2 weeks to 60 days.

Now, as to whether or not you will be able to reinstall the OS on a
different machine, maybe. First, if you registered but did not
activate, then yes, you should be able to do so (it's activation that
ties the product key to the machine). Beyond that, if you did activate,
if the machines are similar enough (almost identical, same motherboard
models and everything else) it might not be detected as a different
machine. You could help yourself out a lot here if you can move the
network card to the new machine (the network card's MAC address plays a
major role in the determination of "is this the same machine"). Also,
cloning the volume-serial number of the drive partitions can help.
Additionally, some versions of Windows get their product keys "reset" on
the Microsoft activation server if there is no activity for 120 days, so
if you wait 4 months, the OS MIGHT be seen as never having been
previously installed (even if was previously installed and activated),
but it's not totally clear to what products this does and does not apply.

Finally, if all else fails, you can call the Microsoft activation line
and beg nicely, but this may or may not work depending on the version of
Windows and the circumstances (and the mood of the person you end up
talking with).

 

[Guest]

I need to find out where i type my product key # for windows xp, I have been
having problems finding site to enter it.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

No legitimately. WinXPx64 is available only as an OEM license, which
means that it's *permanently* bound to the first computer on which it
was installed. It's not legitimately transferable to another computer
under any circumstances. (This doesn't mean that it can't be don't;
just that an honest person, one who honors contracts to which he's
freely agreed, wouldn't attempt it.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I need to find out where i type my product key # for windows xp, I have been
having problems finding site to enter it.

You enter the Product Key when prompted during the installation.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell