Can Windows XP still be activated?
I haven't had to reinstall XP on any computer for a long time now. I'm using Windows 10. So I'm wondering if it is still possible to activate Windows XP, just in case I ever need to reinstall it on an older computer I have. Is Microsoft still running its activation server for a network-based activation? If not, are they still running the call-centers responsible for telephone-based activation?
Has anybody on this forum recently tried to install a legitimate copy of XP, and if so, were you able to activate it?
Comments
When I had XP installed on a fresh new VM I had under VPC 2007, I was able to activate it over the net okay, but I had my own license key as a back-up (as I got the XP Disc as part of my old computer, which had proved to be very handy for future use).
That was about... last year I believe.
I know this is illegal to discuss about activating Windows XP or later on WinWorld.
It is not (If you use the legal methods)
Technically it is, just use a valid serial and follow the instructions in the Activation. The telephone activation works too, just call the numbers that come in the activation too
There is no reason to discuss about activation about XP or higher.
WinWorld still doesn't allow to share XP.
Why not ask about activation to Microsoft directly?
Has someone actually tried that lately? I would like to hear the answer to this too. In theory one should be allowed to activate a LEGITIMATE license that someone PAID GOOD AMERICAN CASH for until the end of time, but as we all know companies disappear, pull the plug, change technological measures, or otherwise want to be evil.
I was under the vague impression Microsoft had pulled the plug on this. But I have not tried recently. There is also the problem that Windows XP may no longer be able to connect to "secure" internet servers, since it is more than 5 minutes old.
I will remind everyone that discussing ways to BYPASS activation is not allowed here.
I've got a legitimate copy of Windows 7 stashed away here, and it bothers me that Microsoft will pull the plug on that too eventually.
Of course, I told everyone product activation was a retarded idea back in 2001 but nobody listened.
I hope you don't care if I link to BetaArchive (Since that answers what you are asking)
https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=38147
Well @SomeGuy is talking about it, and he didn't close the thread. I wonder why...
@droem
I also wonder why.
Anyway, I think WinWorld is Not for disussing about Windows Activation.
I think it is okay, as long as it is a legal method. (i.e. no sharing of cracks, keys, etc. for OSes like this.)
Bypass is not Activation, it's a way to skip it, and it's illegal, so any cracks, keygens and things that bypass the activation (And by mean illegal), are not allowed, but normal ways ARE allowed. So talk about how to activate XP is allowed always that it is a legal method
But wonder it be illegal to do it on an abandoned version for Windows, like 95 or 2000?
I can share my latest experience. I found an old XP Home Edition CD in a drawer, and installed it in a VirtualBox VM. After using IExplorer to test the internet connection, to make sure that my VM was configured properly for internet access, and turning off the software firewall on the host PC, as well as the hardware firewall in my router, I went and performed internet activation. Or at least I tried to perform internet activation. It said it couldn't connect to the server.
So it seems Microsoft has finally taken down their XP activation servers. However, there's nothing on Microsoft's website to state this. In the past, they stated that no longer supporting XP simply meant they would no longer provide updates. They never said they'd stop providing activation. I bought that product, so I have the LEGAL RIGHT to use it! It seems that Microsoft loves screwing over its customers!
I just hope that Microsoft is still running their XP activation call centers, where you read one code to the person at the call center, and they give you another code in response, that you then type in to activate XP. If anybody here has recently attempted phone activation of Windows XP, let me know. I don't want to waste anymore time trying to activate XP, so I'll let someone else test out the XP activation call center. I've got other projects I'm working on, so I won't waste time on this, until I can be sure that I can actually activate Windows XP, when somebody on this form lets me know.
They, in fact, have still alive the Windows Activation Phone Line. (You can read the BA topic that I posted).
And why would it be illegal? It's just like saying that setting up your OS is illegal. In the contract, nowhere it says that it can't be activated after the EOS/EOL, so if it's not said in the contract (That can't be done), then it's not illegal
Good to know. Otherwise, I was going to suggest that the admin of WinWorldPC contact MS, and ask them if it would be ok to start hosting XP ISOs on the website again. If what it says on the XP page of WinWorldPC is correct, that MS asked the site admin to take it down, then maybe MS could be convinced to allow it to be posted again, when MS truly does stop providing all activation services for XP.
I did set up a Windows XP VM and said that Windows could not be activated a while back.
If you use internet connection. But if you use the Phone Activation you can activate Windows XP of course
I activated a new install of XP just last week. Phone Activation was up. Windows update works after Service Pack 3 Install. My 2 cents...
And why then? Windows 2000 still can download updates, and is hosted here, so Windows XP could still be activated and updated until the last update provided, and anyway it could be hosted here.
The point is that there's no reason to not host XP if it is still update-able and activa-ble.
The only reason to not host XP is for that people won't download it (and use it). Or why do you think Microsoft didn't wanted to see XP nowhere? Because they really wanted to kill XP in favor of Windows 7 and 10
And next they'll kill 7 in favour of 10.
Also, funny to know that XP still received updates... but I don't recall this happening to Win2000 when I first made a VM of it, as support for that was cut almost eight years ago. Not a concern though as I made use of patches downloaded from here
In order to download Windows 2000 updates, you must install Windows Update Agent 3.0, Internet Explorer 6, and a certificates update. After that, enabled Automatic Updates when prompted, and go to update.microsoft.com in IE6. Reload several times until you get the page to load
How about activating with a phone? Do you have one?
And that is a perfectly legal method of activation for anything above XP.
That has been said in this post, the way to activate XP legally is, to call to phone (Provided in the activation setup) and follow the onscreen instructions.
This is great (And recent)
This proves my point (For now)
I recently installed Windows XP Pro. The license key works in Windows XP Pro. EverythingEpan shows license key of Windows XP Pro.
Yes, I have installed XP on Dell e6540 and activated it (last December, three times, because it took some modification and attempts to overcome the AHCI predicament)
Over the years I purchased 6 machines with XP stickers, so feel entitled to licenses.
Millions of people still use XP, if they need to reinstall (and they do) they have to activate if they don't have factory (Dell, IBM, HP, Toshiba) CDs. If MS took down the activation server wouldn't there be legal ramification ?
Nope. Not at all, unless Microsoft had contracts in place with someone saying they would continue support until some later date. And even then it would only be between MS and whoever the contract is with.
Otherwise, they can do whatever they want.
Now that is annoying. I expect to use XP for another 10-15 years, and I only have Toshiba and HP factory CDs, but several Lenovo and Dell computers.
It would be annoying, but there are, um, ways around it that aren't too hard to find. I'm not saying anything else about it due to forum policy, but they're out there in the case that MS stops activating XP. I usually use their phone option and it's worked just fine, with the exception of Windows XP Pro x64 Edition. For some reason I get an error that says "The product does not exist", which of course is false.
It's somewhat annoying that we never got that update that would remove activation from XP. I remember back when it came out and everyone was up in arms about Windows having activation, MS said they'd remove activation after support ended with an update. Actually, thinking about it now, I'm not sure if MS themselves ever said it or if it was just all the tech sites reporting on it. Either way, we never got it and I doubt we ever will.
I managed to acquire Dell and IBM CDs; and learned what OEMs do to pre-activate