Windows XP limited install.

[siriusblack]

Hey,
I was just re-installing Windows XP and it says that, I needed to activate. But when I did, it said I had used up the number of Windows XP OS's for the installation number. Can anyone tell me how to get around this and continue using it as always?

[vehelpfulguy]

I depends what version of XP you are trying to install. If it is the BOXED or OEM version (as opposed to say the corporate version) then the license allows it to be put on only one PC.

Assuming it is a genuine version and has only been installed at that one PC then the activation should work. 

If you have changed some of the hardware in the PC then XP may see it as a different PC, so assume you are trying to put it on another PC.

One of the options during activation is to do it over the phone so maybe you should do that (if you are happy that everything is legal).

If it is not legal software or a genuine number then note that Microsoft are getting much stricter about activation and now check that it is genuine software going on a PC that it is licensed for.

By sugestion would be to go down the phone route.

[vehelpfulguy]

Thisis what Microsoft says about activation

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_how.mspx

[Gandy]

If you have a copy of OEM software then MS were offering a free conversion to a legit copy.

[TEAK36]

I have a 'dodgy' copy of XP Pro that I have installed on 5 computers.All I did was phone the Microsoft number that is shown during activation,and said that I bought the PC second hand and it came without discs.Each time I was given a new activation code over the phone.