Windows XP Professional Activation ????

I just installed XP Professional on a computer for my girlfriend and installed XP Pro on it... however I can find no way to activate it.

I bought the computer new, without XP installed ( I told the store I would be installing it myself ), but an original XP Pro Cd was included.

After installation and after the mainboard drivers etc were installed I went to activate it however I can find no way to activate it.

Any ideas why I can't activate it?? Nothing has popped up saying I need to activate XP. I know in XP Home it shows keys until you activate it, but there is not even anything like that that I can find in XP Pro....

I'm positive it needs to be activated, or am I wrong???

 

I just typed the following : oobe/msoobe /a to see if Windows for some reason thinks it has been activated. And yes it tells me it has been activated..

So now another question, how is this possible when the computer with XP Pro "is NOT" connected to the internet and no call was made to MicroSoft to activate it???

 

it sounds like you installed it with a volume license key. Since those dont require activation, you wouldnt be prompted. Where did you obtain the cd and cdkey you used to install it with?

 

If you mean where did I buy the computer.... I bought it from "Future Shop ".

I've bought many computers from them and have always installed Windows myself, but have never had Windows not need to be activated.

I have spoke to Future Shop about this and the only thing they would say is I would have to bring the computer to them and they could "check" it out for a cost....

 

Was it an Origionally packaged XP Pro CD with Official Microsoft sticker with key on the sticker?

 

It was an originally packaged XP Pro CD ( I had to open it ) with the MicroSoft Sticker and CD Key.

It looks identical to the other XP Pro installion Cd I have for another system.

 

I suppose main thing to note is if it asks you for activation. If not you should not worry too much. If you are concerned that it will stop working, back up your data and put your clock forward a month. See if windows lets you boot completely. If so your activation will hold.

There are versions of Windows, i and other OEMs can buy that dont require activation. They are usually bought under volume licence keys (vlk) and usually only for a corporate client or mass distribution like by Dell or HP. They technically shouldnt be distributed individually unless preloaded before you got the PC, but it isnt really a problem. They would have paid the same for the licence for that CD as they would have for a single key OEM version. thats how it works with Microsoft, you dont get discounts for buying bulk in most cases. 1000 licences often costs you 1 normal licence cost x 1000.

The place who provided this CD may just have had leftovers from a vlk client or is authorised by MS to sell many OEM brand PCs with 1 vlk.

Dont worry about it. It's cosher and legal. As long as the CD is not a copy.

If you are worried about your version of Windows, try running Windows Update on that PC. Microsoft will not let you update and will tell you that you may have pirated copy, if your rego isnt good or acceptable.

Dont worry MS doesnt take info from you and men in long coats dont come to get you. Microsoft will not be after you if you get this warning. They wont know who you are. Not being able to update will encourage most people enough to get a good copy. You really need the patches as they come in with Windows of any version.

 

Its not a name brand computer...

But i've taken Dez Bradley's advice and am just not going to worry about it.
I set the computer ahead 45 days and it still worked no problem... as for updating it... there was no problem there either.... everything runs perfectly...


Thanks everyone....