XP Activation With an MSDN Subscription

[Farrar]

I have searched this board for this particular topic but have yet to see it displayed although I have done quite a bit of reading on XP activation. My understanding from this board and the Microsoft KB is that XP can be installed as often as desired on the same machine. Even if it were the 20-25 install limit I have seen discussed, that doesn’t seem to be a problem. I format and reinstall on average about twice per year.

But, here is my question. I have an MSDN Professional subscription and my product ID sticker says that I can install the product on up to 10 machines across all language versions. Here also is an excerpt from an article at the Extreme Tech web site:

Microsoft has said that they will be giving MSDN subscribers some slack on Windows XP. Microsoft has said the MSDN versions of Windows XP will have ten licenses, so a developer can install on ten machines with no questions asked. According to Microsoft's Technical Bulletin, users will be able to automatically reactivate with new configurations (massive hardware changes) up to four times per year per license. MSDN subscribers will also be given 60 days to activate rather than the normal 30-day limit.

I have found that the 60-day span to activate is true as this was displayed after installing XP Pro. My question is how does Microsoft keep track of my particular product ID to ensure the 10-machine limit? I assume that is exactly as the 1-machine license so maybe I have asked and answered my own question.

Any other MSDN subscribers out there with some info on this?

Thanks!

Jeff

[Ya_know]

Have you asked Microsoft?

[Low Level Owl]

here is the way i would think it's done...

your product id allows for it to be installed on 10 machines. you install it on one machine and activate...microsoft now has one configuration for that id....install on another and activate...microsoft how has two configurations for that id....so on and so forth....until you get your 10 configurations.