Is activation of XP still tracked by Microsoft.

I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
Windows XP. Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
same copy. I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
relax the rules for using XP.

Very bad assumption.
"Reds" <redex1398@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:redex1398-3D7710.13111718032008@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com ...
>I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
> Windows XP. Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
> same copy. I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
> relax the rules for using XP.

Windows XP licensing will always remain the same:
One (1) license on one (1) computer only!

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Reds" wrote:

I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
Windows XP. Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
same copy. I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
relax the rules for using XP.

Yes, MS continues to support XP activation as they have in the past. Read
the XP End User License Agreement for your copy of XP and continue to comply
with it. This will not change even after XP is out of extended support six
years from now.

Of course they care if XP is installed on more than one computer at a time.
Doing so requires additional licensing considerations.

"Reds" <redex1398@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:redex1398-3D7710.13111718032008@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com ...
>I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
> Windows XP. Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
> same copy. I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
> relax the rules for using XP.

> One (1) license on one (1) computer only!

I totally agree, but about a month ago, I finally got fed up with a
misbehaving 5-yr old motherboard, so I installed a new one and
also replaced the HDD (320 vs 120 GB) while I was changing
things. I then re-installed XP Pro (orig -slipstreamed to SP2) and
fully expected to have to phone in the activation which completed
in a millisecond ... the preferred way.

So I must suspect MS made a change in the way the h/w hash is
determined. And with all the other post SP2 updates and Office
XP updates, the licenses have been re-validated a dozen or more
times since. Go figure.

Regards,

Ed


>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Reds" wrote:
>
> I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
> Windows XP. Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
> same copy. I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
> relax the rules for using XP.

Changing a mobo does not always require reactivation. It depends on what
devices are on the mobo versus which add-ins that you are carrying over,
like the NIC. Don't worry about it.

"Ed Covney" <ed(dot)covney(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote in message
news:u6bAv6SiIHA.5956@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> One (1) license on one (1) computer only!
>
> I totally agree, but about a month ago, I finally got fed up with a
> misbehaving 5-yr old motherboard, so I installed a new one and
> also replaced the HDD (320 vs 120 GB) while I was changing
> things. I then re-installed XP Pro (orig -slipstreamed to SP2) and
> fully expected to have to phone in the activation which completed
> in a millisecond ... the preferred way.
>
> So I must suspect MS made a change in the way the h/w hash is
> determined. And with all the other post SP2 updates and Office
> XP updates, the licenses have been re-validated a dozen or more
> times since. Go figure.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ed
>
>
>>
>> --
>> Carey Frisch
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "Reds" wrote:
>>
>> I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
>> Windows XP. Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
>> same copy. I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
>> relax the rules for using XP.
>
>

Ed Covney wrote:

>>One (1) license on one (1) computer only!
>
> I totally agree, but about a month ago, I finally got fed up with a
> misbehaving 5-yr old motherboard, so I installed a new one and
> also replaced the HDD (320 vs 120 GB) while I was changing
> things. I then re-installed XP Pro (orig -slipstreamed to SP2) and
> fully expected to have to phone in the activation which completed
> in a millisecond ... the preferred way.
>
> So I must suspect MS made a change in the way the h/w hash is
> determined. And with all the other post SP2 updates and Office
> XP updates, the licenses have been re-validated a dozen or more
> times since. Go figure.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ed
>

No change to the overall scheme of things for WPA. The requirements
are still the same. The WPA database still allows a discrete number
of activations for any given Product Key within a 120-day period. A
no-nonsense activation of a properly installed Windows XP product
just means that this number of activations for this particular Product
Key has not been exceeded within the current 120-day period. And this
result can be probably expected for an ancient but still valid Product
Key.

The people who really know the answer to this won't tell,
and those who tell don't really know. Just use your common
sense, taking into account the price of Vista, the price of XP,
the number of people wanting to re-install their old XP after
"experiencingi: Vista, and your own experiience (which does
NOT involve risking death or imprisonment or fines).

*TimDaniels*

"Reds" wrote:
>I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
> Windows XP. Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
> same copy. I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
> relax the rules for using XP.

Reds wrote:
> I would like to know if Microsft still tracks activation of copies of
> Windows XP.


Yes, of course.


> Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
> same copy.


Yes, of course they're still opposed to theft.


> I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
> relax the rules for using XP.


Why would you ever assume such a silly thing? Microsoft still hasn't
"relaxed" the licensing terms for MS-DOS.


--

Bruce Chambers

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In article <DF6AEDA1-EA2B-45C1-AD4C-9B92B09EB26F@microsoft.com>, Colin Barnhorst wrote:
> Yes, MS continues to support XP activation as they have in the past. Read

The more interesting question may be whether they will at some point
choose to no longer provide the activation service for XP, and force
a true "end of life" to the product.

--
Roger Blake
(Subtract 10s for email.)