Installing WinXP on old computer

[teutonicknight]

Hey, I have a computer with WinXP and I have one with Win98. Can I install Win XP on my old machine with the cd that I used to install it on my new computer?

 

[Convergys]

Well.. Technically you can.. However... I think it is illegal.... lol

 

[cleverhandle]

You can install it, but you won't be able to activate it. One activation key per copy only.

 

[thatbox]

Whats the deal with activation? I'm just curious -- I installed it and entered a key once (except for SP1, that was another key), and I havent seen anything about activation.

 

[igiveup]

Well, activation is what is required when you install XP, except in the case of Windows XP Corporate (ie Volume Licensing). You punch in your 25 digit key code and finish the install. Somewhere at the end XP prompts you to register and activate windows XP. If you are using the corporate version it won't ask you to activate, just prompt you to register, which you can bypass.

If you decline to activate you have 30 days to finish the process and then XP locks you out.