XP Trial Ending?

[dvkid]

I installed XP on my new iMac a few weeks ago and was playing around with it because I happened to have XP install discs from my Dell sitting there tempting me. Now I am getting a message saying that I have only 16 days left to use XP before it must be registered or validated or something of that nature. Out of curiosity, does that mean that XP will refuse to boot after that time? Will it have any effect on my ability to boot my Mac?

Thanks.

 

[Nermal]

You have 30 (I think) days in which to "activate" XP. It's a copy-protection measure that sends back information about your hardware, to ensure that you don't install the same copy on multiple computers. Once the 30 days have expired, you won't be able to run XP until you activate, but OS X will not be affected.

 

[bmcgrath]

ive had this same problem with a dell cd. Tried entering the cd key thats on the bottom of my dell laptop and enter it into the activate windows thingy but it still comes back and tells me to activate it. Any ideas on how to get rid of it? Ive never had this problem with xp before so i just dont know

 

[breakfastcrew]

you have to call the number on the screen because you are activating it a 2nd time.

 

[SpankyPenzaanz]

dell's come with xp activated

 

[balamw]

dell's come with xp activated

But they're also smart enough to tell you're not running it on a Dell.

B

 

[wakerider017]

How do they know you are not running a dell if you call over the phone?

 

[balamw]

How do they know you are not running a dell if you call over the phone?

Perhaps just the fact that the pre-authorization didn't work...

Anyhow, there have been plenty of reports that the phone call gets it going fine, even if that would seem to be against the EULA.

B

 

[breakfastcrew]

you are within your rights to run the dell copy on your mac as long as you remove the copy from your dell. They make you call because they already have that cd key register on their server. You call them and tell them what happen and they usually give you an authorization code. Otherwise there is no way to crack the 30 day thing.

 

[FullmetalZ26]

^ Actually, such OEM copies of Windows XP are only licensed to be used on the computer with which they were sold. Retail licenses are the only ones that legally permit a transfer. It's been like this since before XP, but the old licensing scheme (without product activation) didn't incorporate any concrete way of actually enforcing it.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061017-8008.html <- search the page for "OEM license for Windows"

 

[balamw]

Actually, such OEM copies of Windows XP are only licensed to be used on the computer with which they were sold.

While that is the way I also interpret the EULA in that no OEM license (especially not one from Dell) grants you any transfer rights, many have reported that they have called the number, explained the situation and still been given an activation code.

I can only surmise from this that Microsoft ignores their own EULA just as much as many end-users do, so it's worth the call if you think you're within your rights.

B