XP Pro Upgrade Activation

[Guest]

Just wondered does an upgrade version of XP need to be activated, as I have
just installed an upgrade version of XP Pro from Windows 2000 & it doesn't
seem to have the activation notice popping up & there isn't anywhere to
activate it in the Start menu, NOT that I'm complaining about it, I think the
whole activation thing is a real hassle especially if you need to reload XP
at any time.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Yes, upgrade versions of Windows also need to be activated.
Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Activate Windows.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Activation is so simple you may have already done it.

 

[Guest]

I have searched everywhere on the start menu, & under system tools but there
isn't any activate windows. Even if it had been activated it would still have
it under system tools. I just wondered, I thought an upgrade version may not
need to be activated, but anyway it doesn't worry me if I don't need to do it.

Thanx for the reply

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

There is no difference between an upgrade edition and a full edition except
that the installer looks for a qualifying earlier version of Windows before
proceeding with installation. If the activation icon has not appeared in
the notification tray by now then I wouldn't expect to have to activate.
You will see something pop up soon otherwise.

 

[Ron Martell]

Just wondered does an upgrade version of XP need to be activated, as I have
just installed an upgrade version of XP Pro from Windows 2000 & it doesn't
seem to have the activation notice popping up & there isn't anywhere to
activate it in the Start menu, NOT that I'm complaining about it, I think the
whole activation thing is a real hassle especially if you need to reload XP
at any time.

From your other comments it appears that either you have something
other than the retail upgrade version of XP Pro installed, or there is
something amiss with your XP Pro installation.

Open Control Panel - System - General and look at the Product i.d.
value shown under the "Registered to:" heading. If that value
contains the letters OEM then it would appear that what you have
installed is in fact a BIOS locked OEM version of Windows XP rather
than the retail upgrade version/

Did you perhaps acquire this version through the manufacturer or
distributor that you purchased the computer from? That may explain
the situation.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If the OP used the cd to upgrade a previous version of Windows it cannot, by
definition, be an OEM cd of any type. OEM cd's can only do a clean
installation of Windows. Only retail cd's can perform an upgrade.

 

[Ron Martell]

If the OP used the cd to upgrade a previous version of Windows it cannot, by
definition, be an OEM cd of any type. OEM cd's can only do a clean
installation of Windows. Only retail cd's can perform an upgrade.

I realize that, although Dell (and possibly other manufacturers) did
at one time offer uprades for their OEM Windows Me to OEM Windows XP
for those machines sold with Windows Me after the official release
date of XP.

The absence of the "Activate Windows" item from the Accessories -
System Tools menu indicates that this is either a "BIOS Locked" OEM
version or a Volume License version. The information from the
product I.D. will help determine which type of license we are dealing
with.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."