What does it mean to 'activate your system?'

[Laurel]

I recently installed Windows XP -Pro on my PC. I've been getting a message
about x days left to activate your system. Today I installed SP 2, and now
the message is back up to 30 days. What exactly does "activating" your
system involve? Does it put your PC info in a Microsoft database somewhere
or something?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Laurel;
No personal information go to Microsoft.
If you want to continue using your computer past 30 days, you must activate.
More information about activation:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

 

[Laurel]

Thanks for the very helpful link. I read it and have one question. What
happens if you boot up and you're not connected to the internet? Presumably
it skips the test and makes it when you connect? Surely you don't have to
be connected to the internet to boot Windows????

 

[Daniel]

No, but you will have to call Microsoft still - on the phone - to get your
activation info.

Dan

 

[Don I]

Once you've activated, you don't need to call or connect again.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Laurel;
No, you do not need to be connected to the internet to boot to Windows.
Either wait until you are connected to the internet to activate or if it
will be longer than the 30 days, choose the option to activate by phone.
If the 30 days passes and you have not activated, you will be limited in the
use of the computer in Safe Mode.

 

[Al Smith]

Once you've activated, you don't need to call or connect again.

Until the next time.