PCbanter - View Single Post - Activation via Telephone is Still Available

**J. P. Gilliver (John)[_4_]** · September 27th 17, 01:12 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

In message ,
writes:

I clicked on the Activation "key" icon in the System Tray
(bottom right).
[]
the phone's keypad. Note: There is NO live person (automatic).

Next, I dial the toll free number. After responding to some prompts,
[]
etc. Afterwards, I am told groups of six digit numbers (I write down the
numbers) I am suppose to enter in the slots. Note: If you make a
mistake, you
can say "repeat" to hear the same group again.

The above procedure I have done many times on various
computers over the years.

John

With a new key each time?
--
Hi,

Each computer, when I "Activated" WinXP, had a different "key".

Since you've put it in quotes, I presume you mean the string of
characters it put up on screen for you to pass to the activation server.
What _I_ meant was, the (five groups of five characters, IIRR - got from
a sticker) key you put _into_ the computer(s) during installation, when
prompted for one: was _that_ (a) different (b) previously unused, for
each computer?

One exception regarding the "key". The recent "Activation" I did on a
160GB HD that I "split" in half (two 80GB partitions) with C: and D: logical
drives. I installed WinXP on C: and again on D: I activated WinXP on
C:. When I went to activate WinXP on D:, the same "key" was displayed.
Since I write down the "key" and the groups of numbers I hear on the
telephone for "Activation", I did not have to make another telephone call.

John

Interesting! That's one very special case: I imagine any hash made from
the serial numbers of the hardware in the computer involved will be
identical. So - although Microsoft probably wouldn't be too happy about
it if they found out about it - you can probably install multiple copies
on the same computer, using different partitions. Not that I can see why
you'd want to, though just two I can see _some_ reasons for. (Out of
interest, why _were_ you installing two copies of XP on the same
computer?)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes