Running Windows XP Home Edition for First Time

[John Barnett [MVP}]

There is a differnce between registering the software and
activation. registering is voluntary - you don't really
need to do it. Activation, on the other hand, is
compulsary. You should normally get a message in the
system tray telling you how many days are left before you
need to activate. However, you say that your pc is new.
It maybe that the activation has been locked to the bios
by the computer manufacturer or retailer in which case
your pc is has already been activated. It may be worth
going back to your pc supplier and asking if the machine
has already been activated.

Hope this helps

John Barnett [MVP]
Associate expert
>-----Original Message-----
>Hi There
>
>Anyone know the answer to this. I bought a new computer
>switched it on and Windows software started to ask
>various questions, asking me to input a name etc.
>
>However, on trying to do this I discovered that the
>keyboard (USB connection) was faulty. Only half of the
>keys worked.
>
>So I swapped it for my old keyboard (PS2 connection).
>
>Had to then switch off the power to the computer to
>restart it.
>
>When Windows came back on it didn't ask me any questions.
>
>And as far as I know I haven't registered the Windows XP
>software with Microsoft via the Internet, which I think
>is what is supposed to happen.
>
>Anyone encountered this before? Is there some way of
>registering the software? Is my computer just going to
>stop working after a period of time because I haven't
>registered the software?
>
>Thanks
>David
>
>.
>