Windows XP Activation question

[ironxman99]

What exactly does this do?

I installed Windows XP Pro (Academic) that my university provides and made it bootable following some steps linked by an AT member in another post. Will I be able to install this copy onto my home computer as well as the one that I just installed it on right now (apt), or does activation prohibit me from doing that?

 

[Heretik]

Activation was designed to prevent you from using the same product key on multiple machines. Most likely, if you already have it installed on one machine and activated, and you try to install it on another machine and activate it, it will prompt you to call Microsoft.

 

[pkypkypky]

disable activation and all your headaches go away

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Heretik
Activation was designed to prevent you from using the same product key on multiple machines. Most likely, if you already have it installed on one machine and activated, and you try to install it on another machine and activate it, it will prompt you to call Microsoft.

Actually, it is designed to force, as a requirement for basic OS operation, the user to "choose" to enumerate themselves, in order to facilitate future "pay to play" content-leasing schemes.

If it were truely only for piracy-prevention, then why do "activation IDs" supposedly purge themselves from the DB after so many months? Wouldn't MS want to keep track of each and every one, to track individual piracy? Why should MS even let you re-activate, after your three chances are up? Shouldn't they force you to buy another copy?
The truth is, MS knew that the "pirates" would crack the activation BS soon after (actually, it happened before) XP was released. The only thing it does, is to inconvenience legitimate users, in order to facilite more control, and for MS increased future revenue opportunites, as now they can sell you software that "times out" after a certain period, unless you continue to pay.

Do you really want to submit yourself to that sort of system?

 

[pkypkypky]

it prevents you from casual sharing of the same license in order to get each person to buy their own copy. MS admits they knew there would be workarounds to this for software pirates, but probably hoped to recover those losses from the casual copiers like most of us are or were. what family would want to pay for two boxes of xp if they could upgrade two systems for one sticker price.

It, as you can see, is already adding to all the anti-MS propaganda out there.

 

[mityfowl]

How would you disable activation?

 

[NogginBoink]

First off, the ultimate answer to your question is in the EULA on the operating system you purchased.

Unless the license agreement says otherwise, you're authorized to install the OS on *one* machine.

There may be ways around this, but the mods take a dim view of discussing these activities. Anyone with reasonable Internet search skills should be able to come to the correct conclusions.

 

[mityfowl]

Ok. Peace! I've just had a little problem with this issue.