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WinXP activation after MS ends support

B

bendixG15

Diamond Member
Lets face it, many people out there are still running Win98 and can
continue to do so forever. Why even 95 is plodding along.

Now what happens when Microsoft ends support for WinXP and
you need to activate it ??
I don't think MS is going to pay to maintain
a telephone staff around the world for an "archaic" operating system.

Does that mean when MS ends support for XP , then XP is dead ?
 
They claim when it runs out of life they will release a universal key for anybody wanting to use an unsupported unpatched OS.

 
Originally posted by: Genx87
They claim when it runs out of life they will release a universal key for anybody wanting to use an unsupported unpatched OS.
Click to expand...

I remember hearing that as well. Dont remember where and I cant find the link. Was one of the M$ articles, I think. Anyway, seems it said something to the effect that once XP support expires they will issue a key that will permanently activate XP and stop it from monitoring your hardware. Makes sense.

EDIT-
Oh, I remember better now. Seems they said they would actually issue a key or something that actually disables the entire WPA process in XP all together. I remember that, now.
 
Found it......

Will Microsoft use activation to force me to upgrade? In other words, will Microsoft ever stop giving out activation codes for any of the products that require activation?

No, Microsoft will not use activation as a tool to force people to upgrade. Activation is merely an anti-piracy tool, nothing else.

Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP throughout its life and will likely provide an update that turns activation off at the end of the product's lifecycle so users would no longer be required to activate the product.
Click to expand...

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx
 
Wow, it is legal to have two installs of XP with the same key at the same time, one just has to be a laptop. Same with office. 🙂Taz's linky

How does Microsoft Product Activation work?

Product Activation works by validating that the software's product key, required as part of product
installation, has not been used on more PCs than is allowed by the software's end user license
agreement (EULA). In general, Windows XP can be installed on one PC and Office 2003 or Office XP
can be installed on one PC and the laptop computer used by the user of the one PC. (For specifics,
please see the EULA accompanying your product.) Product key information, in the form of the product
ID, is sent along with a "hardware hash" (a non-unique number generated from the PC's hardware
configuration) to Microsoft's activation system during activation. In Windows XP SP1, the product
key itself is sent in addition to the product ID. Activation is completed either directly via the
Internet or by a telephone call to a customer service representative. Activations on the same PC
using the same product key are unlimited. Product Activation discourages piracy by limiting the
number of times a product key can be activated on different PCs.

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx


Or am I reading it wrong?
 
Originally posted by: Genx87
They claim when it runs out of life they will release a universal key for anybody wanting to use an unsupported unpatched OS.
Click to expand...

Then I say that WinXP will be the longest supported OS that MS ever had..
 
Wow, it is legal to have two installs of XP with the same key at the same time, one just has to be a laptop. Same with office.

Or am I reading it wrong?
Click to expand...

Um... read more carefully.

In general, Windows XP can be installed on one PC and Office 2003 or Office XP
can be installed on one PC and the laptop computer used by the user of the one PC.
Click to expand...

Should be read as:

1) Windows XP can be installed on one PC.

AND

2) Office 2003 or Office XP can be installed on one PC and the laptop computer used by the user of the one PC.

One Windows license per system.
 
I would be surprised if MS isn't going to use the same system for windows until the end of time so they will just have vista people answer the phones.
 
Yeah. I don't see Microsoft making Windows XP "free" anytime soon......

"Free" Windows 2000 is probably costing them a few bucks already. Not to mention Win98.
 
afaik Win98 is not a supported OS anymore. Win2K has some life left in her, WinXP probably minimum 5 years more support IMO.

 
Originally posted by: Genx87
afaik Win98 is not a supported OS anymore. Win2K has some life left in her, WinXP probably minimum 5 years more support IMO.
Click to expand...

I think that XP Pro will be around for a while. However, I bet that MS wants people to dump XP Home and start buing into the media oriented versions of Vista.
 
I see that Microsoft NOW says that "Dates are currently under review. Microsoft will publish new end dates for Windows XP availablity in early 2006." Until very recently, Microsoft said that "mainstream support" for XP Home would end in early 2007.

Now, the Microsoft Support Lifecycle chart for XP Home now says "Mainstream support will end two years after the next version of this product is released".

There won't be a "free" version of XP Home until 2011 at this rate.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
Originally posted by: Smilin
Originally posted by: Nothinman
Settle down beavis.

MS isn't going to hose you.
Click to expand...

And we're supposed to take your word for it?
Click to expand...

Yes.
Click to expand...

Forgive me if I'd prefer to have real, tangible proof.
Click to expand...

Look, whatever dude. You've just convinced yourself that MS is out to get you somehow. Do you really need real, tangible proof? You gonna keep XP for another 10 years are you? :roll: You just want to argue. The phone system is automated already and it doesn't cost that much to maintain. The amount it will be used will begin to decrease drastically as XP goes past end of life. It's just not that big of a deal for a company the size of MS to keep maintaining such a simple thing to keep their customers happy. The backlash of making an old OS unusable would be severe.

I don't know what steps they'll take after end of life but I know this:

MS isn't going to hose you.

 
Originally posted by: Smilin

I don't know what steps they'll take after end of life but I know this:

MS isn't going to hose you.
Click to expand...

The sad truth is that MS has been hosing you and you don't even recognize it.
 
Windows would probably have to release a new windows version for 32 bit first.

Is Vista Released yet? Does it support 32 bit and 64 bit or what?
 
Originally posted by: bendixG15
Originally posted by: Smilin

I don't know what steps they'll take after end of life but I know this:

MS isn't going to hose you.
Click to expand...

The sad truth is that MS has been hosing you and you don't even recognize it.
Click to expand...

Shouldn't you be under a bridge bothering goats or something?
 
Look, whatever dude. You've just convinced yourself that MS is out to get you somehow.
Click to expand...

No, I'm convinced that they don't give a sh!t about me because they're a commercial entity and their bottom line is all that matters.

Do you really need real, tangible proof? You gonna keep XP for another 10 years are you?
Click to expand...

No, but I bet some people will want to. There are still people using DOS and Win95.

You just want to argue.
Click to expand...

Not really, I'd rather I was able to get my jabs in without anyone refuting them =)

The phone system is automated already and it doesn't cost that much to maintain. The amount it will be used will begin to decrease drastically as XP goes past end of life. It's just not that big of a deal for a company the size of MS to keep maintaining such a simple thing to keep their customers happy.
Click to expand...

Well that's good to know.

The backlash of making an old OS unusable would be severe.
Click to expand...

And there's been no backlash from software that doesn't run on Win98/ME anymore?
 
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