A n00b question about upgrading to x64 windows

[Ricemarine]

A question about upgrading...

When you give them your CID, will your cd-key be inactive until you receive your new cd? Or will it stay available until you receive it?... Because it would suck not being able to use my computer again just because the cd-key doesn't work anymore.

 

[aGreenAgent]

Not 100% sure, but I believe activating x64 means you can't activate the old pro anymore.

 

[Ricemarine]

bump for better answeR?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
A question about upgrading...

When you give them your CID, will your cd-key be inactive until you receive your new cd? Or will it stay available until you receive it?... Because it would suck not being able to use my computer again just because the cd-key doesn't work anymore.

MS has no ability to remotely 'deactivate' a system. If they did make the old key inactive, you'd have trouble reinstalling if you needed before the new version came. You can most definately use the computer without fear of it being unavailable.

 

[WebDude]

What bsobel said. You don't use the key to operate windows, only to install it. And you could still use the old key to install the old XP (32bit). But the problem would come should you attempt to activate the install. That's when info is sent to MS, and that's when, if I'm not mistaken, MS will see that someone's attempting to use a non-valid CID.

 

[Valkerie]

You can keep the CD key still but after 30 days Windows will render useless as you will need to reinstall Windows using a new CD key to activate it.