Activation question

[kato]

I went out and got XP home upgrade the weekend it was released, along with all the free stuff from best buy. I installed and activated it and it's been fine. I'm upgrading my computer shortly with a XP pro retail. (reformat clean install) my understanding of activation is that after 4months it resets itself. Is this correct? I'm wondering because I'd either like to sell my home upgrade, or install it on a family members computer but I want to be legally activatable. I don't want to unintentionally engage in illegal activities.

[Damned Angel]

You should have no problems activation it on another machine, but if you do, phone in the activation and explane the situation.

[Gameguru]

Selling it or installing it on another computer isn't against the EULA as long as you remove it from the original computer. I don't know Microsofts policy well enough to tell you for sure but I bet that if after you install pro and CALL them for a verification code, and explain what you are doing, they will give you a new code for the home version on the new computer.

JM2¢

[kato]

that's pretty much what I thought. Just wanted to poll the audience for validation. thanks guys!

[Archer]

AH!??? I may be off track here but......
But isnt the "new revised" version of the EULA for "one set of hardware" not "one installation".
Which kind of implies it is for the origional PC for which it was licenced only and no other installation,even if removed from the origional.

[MacGyver]

Windows XP re-activation will not occur after a certain time has elapsed. Look here for the top ten myths about Windows XP product activation: <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/myths.asp" target="_blank">http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/myths.asp</a>

[Wayward Clam]

Actually, those are myths # 2 through #11.

The #1 myth regarding activation is "This has a purpose other than to further screw the world out of another buck."

[MacGyver]

[quote]Originally posted by Wayward Clam:
<strong>The #1 myth regarding activation is "This has a purpose other than to further screw the world out of another buck."
</strong><hr></blockquote>

The real reason that product activation is necessary, and the way it is designed, is to prevent computer builders and corporations from buying one copy of WinXP and installing it on many computers. Because of this past abuse and the ensuing revenue loss to MS in the past, now every user whether Joe Schmuck in his Basement or Michael Dell in his corporate corner office, has to do product activation. And don't give me any crap about Ms making x amount of money and some phony cheesy ethics. If I published a book or software and people were copying it, I'd be P.O.'ed, too!

To quote a local computer consultant: "If you want a free OS, get Linux."

[SuBz]

Corporate versions of WinXP do not require activiation. Only retail versions of the OS require activiation. There is no way in hell most corporations would put up with having to jump through the activation hoops for each one of their 100s of computers.

[MacGyver]

That is correct, corporate versions do not require activation. But the company pays BIG for that privilege, as explained on <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/pricingvolume.asp" target="_blank">this website</a>. So anybody is still prevented from buying a single copy of the software and installing it on multiple machines. That is what product activation is designed to prevent.

[kato]

[quote]Originally posted by SuBz:
<strong>Corporate versions of WinXP do not require activiation. Only retail versions of the OS require activiation. There is no way in hell most corporations would put up with having to jump through the activation hoops for each one of their 100s of computers.</strong><hr></blockquote>

gotta agree on with SuBz.

The real targets are the casual copiers.
This has been the case all along. When only techs and power users had CD burners, copy protection wasn't really an issue. Now that Joe Average User has a burner and actually knows how to work it, activation is introduced.

[Wayward Clam]

Materialists!

[Ya_know]

[quote]Originally posted by kato2274:
<strong>

gotta agree on with SuBz.

The real targets are the casual copiers.
This has been the case all along. When only techs and power users had CD burners, copy protection wasn't really an issue. Now that Joe Average User has a burner and actually knows how to work it, activation is introduced.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Activation is there to prevent small business owners from stealing software. Larger corporations have far too much to lose to steal the software. They are also in a greater spotlight because any disgruntled employee could nark them out; Corporations can afford volume licenses. There is little practicality of this purchase for a small business. Small business owners used to go down to Best Buy and get one copy of the latest OS, one copy of the latest word processing suite (the pro version of course), then go back to the office and upgrade 15 or 50 PC's. This is the lost revenue MS wants back. MS doesn't give a hoot for a casual copier, however activation slows them down too. MS knows that if Joe Gamer wants to get XP, he is going to gain access to a volume license version, but he is small potatoes compared to small business.

The other culprit is the mom & pop system builder. Every small time shop is guilty at some point of pirating software. They usually get away with it, some more than others. Because of activation, they have to charge people for the license, because they paid for each copy. It makes them honest…

[mrwilhelm]

Here's another activation question... I'm going to be upgrading my kid's PC to XP when they come up to visit during Spring Break. I have noticed that you can now buy bare licenses (no CD, no documentation). Would you need the full version to take advantage of this or should the upgrade version work as well?

[gxavier]

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