activating Windows XP

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I have an old pc that I put Windows XP Pro on it. Well I guess the number I use d has already been used too many times. It gives you like 30 days to activate. What If I don't activate it during that 30 day period?

The reason I ask is because I may have to give the hard drive to a church for the computer that my mom uses, that is where she works part time. If they do take the hard drive, they will have to put a new OS on it.

So if I don't activate it within 30 days, will the church still be able to put a different operating system on it without trouble? Will I still be able to use it if I don't activate it within 30 days? I guess if I did have to activate it, will I have to buy a new number or will microsoft give me one for free or a discount?
 
Microsoft will renew it for free....after about 8 hours on the phone and a bunch of crap....Listen, go find another computer that was prebuilt (Compaq, HP, etc) that has XP pro. Look an the back of that computer and there will be the unused activation code. How do I know this will work? I build my computers and this happens quite often. I payed for all the computers I got all 8 codes off of so I'm in legal bounds. The Computer your getting it from doesn't really need it since, well, its running isn't it?
 
Didn't whoever installed windows on a prebuilt machine need to use that code to install windows?

What if I don't activate within the time period? Will I still be able to get a new code?
 
Just give them a call and they'll renew it for you....takes only a few minutes at most. When they ask you if the serial number has been used on only one computer, make sure you give them the answer they want to hear ;)
 
Speaking of activation codes, how does this work? The prebuilt system and retrieving the number of off it, I don't get it. Could you clarify? I think I might be able to use this info in the future.
 
as long as he gets the code from the back of a computer he owns, he legally bought the code and a computer. the code can be used because the prebuilt computers have a reproduced and legally writ-ed version they put on all their hard drives because they obtained the right to make full legal copies of the hard drives. The one on the back is a spare one. Look, He paid for it didn't he? if he uses the code from the back of a computer he owns, ITS LEGAL!!!
 
it all depends if the case originally came with the parts inside it :)

you can take the case out and just put other parts inside it and said that is the original lol
 
most cases are small towers when you buy prebuilt...not something smart to put newer components in....And still, if you took all the parts out and use the case, YOU STILL PAYED FOR IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! I think they give you that code because IF you do major upgrades you need to enter a new one. That's what it could be for. You payed for it, use it how you like, there is nothing against the law about using a code you payed for on a different computer if the code was never activated.
 
So let me see if I got this right. I have a Dell pc that has a different Windows on it then what came on it. So would I be able to use the product key off that and use it to activate the other machine? I have 2 or 3 other windows cd's and I tried those keys to activate it but it said I typed it in wrong.
 
you can not re-activate any code UNLESS talking to Microsoft. It still has the same windows, only prebuilt computers (HP, Compaq, Dell, etc) dont put it OEM OS, they have the data already, then copy that data on all their computers so they save a lot of $$$. You can load the OS or if its already on there then if you have another computer that uses the same OS that you bought, look on the back of that other computer and find the code. you can use that code to activate the computer you want. LEGALY!
 
Another question, if it doesn't get activated, will I still be able to install another Windows with a different cd? I just found out the windows that is not activated , the number is already activated on a different machine.

If I called Microsoft to get a new number, would they give me one even though the number that I tried to use is already activated?
 
I know that but I didn't realize it was already activated.

Now my problem is the other windows cd's I have will not work. One of them is a 64 bit edition and it won't even read the other one.
 
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