windows xp registration and activation

[Unhappy@discussions.microsoft.com Mr. Unhappy]

The Question:
If I install a retail box version of XP on a box that I did not register or
activate
neither by internet or telephone, can a reinstall that version of XP on
another
machine and register and activate it on that one without any conflict?

The Sad Story:
I replaced a crashed hard drive.
I could not find the Gateway OS disc to reinstall XP.
Finally bought a retail box of XP and installed it but did not register it
or activate it.

I found the Gateway OS disc the next day.
I formatted the disc and went back and installed XP from the Gateway OS disc.
Since I never registered or activated the retail box version of XP neither
by internet or telephone, nothing on the retail disc should cause a problem
if I install that copy of XP on another compueter should it? I can still use
the key again since I did not register it or activate it?

[Shenan Stanley]

Mr. Unhappy wrote:
> The Question:
> If I install a retail box version of XP on a box that I did not
> register or activate neither by internet or telephone, can a
> reinstall that version of XP on another machine and register
> and activate it on that one without any conflict?

<snipped>

A retail version can be transferred to another machine provided it is not
installed/in use at the time of the transfer/activation. Doesn't matter if
you ever activated it or not - if it is not in use currently on another
machine - you can install and activate it. One of the great advantages of
buying a retail copy over buying/owning an OEM version of the same product.

Given your sad story (I snipped it) --> why did you not just return the
Unused Windows XP to the store?

The 'sad story'...
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment/browse_thread/thread/9b48d7de4e5e9b40/deb809ef1144e759?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#deb809ef1144e759

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html