Do I need to buy a new copy of windows?

Jonathan · #1 12-16-2006, 11:01 AM

Hi,
I bought a macbook and installed parallels on it to run windows.
I have a windows xp home cd (oem version) that came with a dell
inspiron that I purchased 5 years ago. The product Key sticker came
pasted to the bottom of the inspiron. I installed this on the mac under
parallels using this product key. The installation of both parallels and
windows went smoothly and all my windows programs work just great
on the mac....much better than on the old inspiron.

However, windows warns me that it will expire in 30 days unless I go
their website and "activate" my copy of windows. If/when I do this,
will microsoft see that it is installed on a different machine and disallow it?

Do I need to buy a new copy of windows for the mac, even though the copy
I installed is a legitimate copy that I have already paid for?

Thanks,
Jonathan

Jeff_B · #2 12-16-2006, 12:17 PM

No activate it and if it doesn't work just call the number and they will ask you why you are reactivitating just tell them you got a new hard drive

Jonathan · #3 12-16-2006, 03:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
No activate it and if it doesn't work just call the number and they will ask you why you are reactivitating just tell them you got a new hard drive

[/ QUOTE ]

Won't they ask me for a receipt for the drive?
Maybe it would be better to say that I reformatted my hard drive
to get rid of viruses?

Freakin · #4 12-16-2006, 03:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
No activate it and if it doesn't work just call the number and they will ask you why you are reactivitating just tell them you got a new hard drive

[/ QUOTE ]

Won't they ask me for a receipt for the drive?
Maybe it would be better to say that I reformatted my hard drive
to get rid of viruses?

[/ QUOTE ]

just say you upgraded from your old computer (the truth). You have a license to run XP home. You're running XP Home. They won't ask you for any receipts.

udbrky · #5 12-17-2006, 01:59 AM

Yeah, I had to do this one time - upgraded a couple components, but by no means enough to raise flags - and had to call MS to activate. It's quick and painless. Plus, given that Vista's coming out soon, they're probably not as concerned as they used to be.

Jonathan · #6 12-17-2006, 06:04 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I had to do this one time - upgraded a couple components, but by no means enough to raise flags - and had to call MS to activate. It's quick and painless. Plus, given that Vista's coming out soon, they're probably not as concerned as they used to be.

[/ QUOTE ]

Vista on the horizon is another reason I would hate to have to buy a
new windows now. I won't mind paying for Vista when it comes
out, but if they give me any problems I'll be incensed. Sounds
like it shouldn't be a problem though from your experiences.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Terry · #7 12-17-2006, 03:10 PM

Just a small hijack regarding Windows activation.

My small way of protesting the Windows activation scheme is to never use the online registration. I always call them on the phone and I always seem to have a poor connection that makes it hard for me to hear them so it ends up taking a long time -- about as much time as I feel willing to waste at the moment. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I think it would be great if millions of people all over the world were to have some fun by tying up the customer support people in the “activation” department.

LuckyTxGuy · #8 12-17-2006, 04:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]

I think it would be great if millions of people all over the world were to have some fun by tying up the customer support people in the “activation” department.

[/ QUOTE ]

While I admire your thoughtfulness on this one, if millions of people did this, Microsoft would just go up on the price of their software by another $10 or so. In reality it = very bad idea.