Windows activation question.

M

MicroHard

New Member
I just bought a legit copy of Windows XP Pro from ebay. I installed the software, but i have not activated windows yet. (Got 30 days) My question is...Will microsoft let me install SP2 before i activate it? Or do i have to activate it first in order to install SP2? Sorry for a stupid question, but i only get one chance with windows and i want to make sure it's done properly.

Once i get SP2, will it give me security features like firewall and such?

Thanks.
 
I'm confused, because only Windows w/ SP2 requires activation. If you have a pre-SP2 version then it would not ask you to activate, if you already have SP2 then theres no need to install it again.

Also, you can activate more then once. You just need to call Microsoft.
 
MicroHard said:
I'm gonna call microsoft and activate it, instead of doing online.
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That won't make any difference. You will not have an issue activating it online if it's legit, but you should check to see if you have SP2 already before trying to re-install it.
 
MicroHard said:
I don't have SP2. It's an old but brand new copy. (If that makes any sense)
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It makes complete sense. I have an OEM copy of Windows XP Home SP1.

When I reformat my HD and install XP, and after it asks for network information, all I need to do is click "OK" when it says "Let's activate Windows".
I don't have to enter any product key or anything.
Within two seconds I get a message saying that XP's activated.
Then I install SP2 and all my saved Windows Updates that I've collected since SP2 was released.

Tom
 
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[-0MEGA-];987011 said:
I'm confused, because only Windows w/ SP2 requires activation. If you have a pre-SP2 version then it would not ask you to activate
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Windows XP needs to be activated, regardless of SP version. I have an SP1 CD that requires activation every time I do a reinstall on my system. Purchased it retail back in '03. The first few times, it was simply 'click Activate and I'm good', but as the reinstalls progressed, and MS wondered why it was being Activated so many times, I had to reenter the Product Key and get a new one from MS phone support.

As OM mentioned, since OEM is tied to a specific manufacturer, it'll go without a hitch; click Activate, blink once or twice, and you're golden. I never have trouble with my wife's Dell or my Client's OEM systems.

Edit: Sorry, forgot the original question. Some updates can be installed prior to Activation, but yes - you need to activate before Installing SP2.
 
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umm ive got a windows pro xp1 disc that ask for activation withing the 30 days, the corporate version didnt require activation
 
" Sorry, forgot the original question. Some updates can be installed prior to Activation, but yes - you need to activate before Installing SP2."

You can install sp2 before u activate windows, u do not need to activate before doin so, if u had to activate before installing sp2, then u would not beable to slipstream sp2 to xp and burn it on a disc and install.. imsati where did u make this assumption at
 
imsati said:
Windows XP needs to be activated, regardless of SP version. I have an SP1 CD that requires activation every time I do a reinstall on my system. Purchased it retail back in '03. The first few times, it was simply 'click Activate and I'm good', but as the reinstalls progressed, and MS wondered why it was being Activated so many times, I had to reenter the Product Key and get a new one from MS phone support.

As OM mentioned, since OEM is tied to a specific manufacturer, it'll go without a hitch; click Activate, blink once or twice, and you're golden. I never have trouble with my wife's Dell or my Client's OEM systems.

Edit: Sorry, forgot the original question. Some updates can be installed prior to Activation, but yes - you need to activate before Installing SP2.
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Yeah, I was trying to find some more specific information, I believe it may require activation with SP1 or newer, I remember though that Windows XP didn't originally come with activation being required, that I know of. I thought it was an add-on of one of the service packs/updates.
 
You can install sp2 before u activate windows, u do not need to activate before doin so, if u had to activate before installing sp2, then u would not beable to slipstream sp2 to xp and burn it on a disc and install.. imsati where did u make this assumption at
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Nobody said anything about Slipstreaming, and it's hardly an assumption.

Take a pre-SP2 Windows XP disc and install. Upon the first fresh boot, go to Windows Update and let it do it's thing. You'll get a few on the first go-around, install, restart, yada yada yada. Without Activating, keep going to WU - see how far you get. SP2 needs to have WGA installed before it, and Activation takes place before WGA.

Yeah, I was trying to find some more specific information, I believe it may require activation with SP1 or newer, I remember though that Windows XP didn't originally come with activation being required, that I know of. I thought it was an add-on of one of the service packs/updates.
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Ya know, come to think of it, I'm not certain about the default WinXP. I know 98 didn't need Activating, not sure about 2k. One of my SB Clients has an original XP CD, IIRC - if you want I can give it a go-around on their next service.
 
imsati said:
Ya know, come to think of it, I'm not certain about the default WinXP. I know 98 didn't need Activating, not sure about 2k. One of my SB Clients has an original XP CD, IIRC - if you want I can give it a go-around on their next service.
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Well I know reading up on Windows XP it says that it's the first OS which requires activation and a legit CD key prior to installing. I remember though using the original Windows XP CD that did not require activation, but that may be because it was from a Compaq.
 
I have an OEM disc that came with my Dell. I've used it to install Windows numerous times on it. I could install it and it would come up saying "30 days to activation", so I'd click. The activation would come up and say "Windows does not need to be activated."

I'd then go on to install SP2 (I have the disc because I requested one.) After that reboot, the same thing would come up. I'd click it and then have to activate it.

A while ago I used one HDD for video transfers, so I had my main SP2 install and just the XP install. I didn't use that XP install for more than a few days, but one day I tried to (after 30 days) and it said I had to register before I could use it anymore. I found it weird and had to boot into safe mode and install SP2 before I could activate it.

Weird. :confused:
 
u said that u have to activate before sp2 installs, when u slipstream sp2 into a winxp disc, it installs sp2 while installing windows, which in turn sp2 is installed before activation.. thats the point i was making
 
u said that u have to activate before sp2 installs
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To which the answer is, has been, and will continue to be: yes.

when u slipstream sp2 into a winxp disc, it installs sp2 while installing windows, which in turn sp2 is installed before activation.. thats the point i was making
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I understand that point, however, from the OP...
I just bought a legit copy of Windows XP Pro from ebay. I installed the software, but i have not activated windows yet. (Got 30 days) My question is...Will microsoft let me install SP2 before i activate it?
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...which I read he has a pre-SP2 disc, thus a pre-SP2 version of XP installed, hence, yes, he will need to activate it before he can install SP2.

When you slipstream SP2 onto a disk, you download the file and combine it with the windows Setup/Install files. After you burn the image, you no longer have a Windows XP disc - you have a Windows XP SP2 disc. You still need to Activate it, and I highly doubt someone will go through the trouble of:

1 - Installing Windows XP on a System
2 - Downloading the SP2 file
3 - Slipstreaming SP2
4 - Installing the new Windows XP SP2 on a system

just to bypass something that usually takes 4 seconds, and at the absolute most 7 minutes if you have to call MS.

I think we're looking at the same problem from different views.
 
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