Activation

[Ed]

I have a friend who has two computers. One runs Windows
98; the other has Windows ME. He would like to upgrade
both to XP. So, he asked, if he first upgrades the 98
machine and activates the installation, what happens if
he then attempts to upgrade the Windows ME machine with
the same XP disc? I realize this is exactly what
Microsoft is trying to prevent, but I'm curious about the
exact process. I assume the second upgrade will install
but activation will fail. Is that correct? Or does
Microsoft have some way to change the XP disk when the
activation of the 98 machine takes place? Can they keep
the second upgrade from even taking place? If the second
upgrade installs but activation fails, how long will the
second upgrade run before it fails? Will the machine then
revert to ME?

[Amethyst]

Ed wrote:
> I have a friend who has two computers. One runs Windows
> 98; the other has Windows ME. He would like to upgrade
> both to XP. So, he asked, if he first upgrades the 98
> machine and activates the installation, what happens if
> he then attempts to upgrade the Windows ME machine with
> the same XP disc? I realize this is exactly what
> Microsoft is trying to prevent, but I'm curious about the
> exact process. I assume the second upgrade will install
> but activation will fail. Is that correct? Or does
> Microsoft have some way to change the XP disk when the
> activation of the 98 machine takes place? Can they keep
> the second upgrade from even taking place? If the second
> upgrade installs but activation fails, how long will the
> second upgrade run before it fails? Will the machine then
> revert to ME?

To answer your last question first, no it won't revert to ME. It will
basically lock you out of the system and the only way out would be to format
and reinstall ME clean. If he installed both systems from the same ME disc
he was in violation of the EULA (1 licence, 1 system same as it always has
been).

It will install, activation will fail, and the only way to revert to the
previous OS would be a clean installation. After 30 days he'd be locked out
of the system completely.


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Cassandra
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[Nicholas]

If you use the same Product Key to install Windows XP on
two different computers, the installation on the second computer
will proceed normally, but Product Activation will fail. You'll
then have 30 days to decide to purchase a second Product Key
(license) for the second installation.

--=20
Nicholas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ed" > wrote in message:
...

| I have a friend who has two computers. One runs Windows=20
| 98; the other has Windows ME. He would like to upgrade=20
| both to XP. So, he asked, if he first upgrades the 98=20
| machine and activates the installation, what happens if=20
| he then attempts to upgrade the Windows ME machine with=20
| the same XP disc? I realize this is exactly what=20
| Microsoft is trying to prevent, but I'm curious about the=20
| exact process. I assume the second upgrade will install=20
| but activation will fail. Is that correct? Or does=20
| Microsoft have some way to change the XP disk when the=20
| activation of the 98 machine takes place? Can they keep=20
| the second upgrade from even taking place? If the second=20
| upgrade installs but activation fails, how long will the=20
| second upgrade run before it fails? Will the machine then=20
| revert to ME?

[Jim Eshelman]

Ed wrote:
> I have a friend who has two computers. One runs Windows
> 98; the other has Windows ME. He would like to upgrade
> both to XP. So, he asked, if he first upgrades the 98
> machine and activates the installation, what happens if
> he then attempts to upgrade the Windows ME machine with
> the same XP disc?

It will upgrade,but then will not activate. So you'll have an upgraded
computer that will stop working in 30 days.

> I realize this is exactly what
> Microsoft is trying to prevent, but I'm curious about the
> exact process. I assume the second upgrade will install
> but activation will fail. Is that correct?

Yes, correct.

> Or does
> Microsoft have some way to change the XP disk when the
> activation of the 98 machine takes place? Can they keep
> the second upgrade from even taking place? If the second
> upgrade installs but activation fails, how long will the
> second upgrade run before it fails? Will the machine then
> revert to ME?

It will not revert. You can read more about Windows Product Activation on
the WPA FAQ here:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

--
Jim Eshelman
MS-MVP, Windows Shell/User
http://aumha.org/
http://WinSupportCenter.com/