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richnsue
08-20-2004, 04:29 PM
can you tell if your xp has been activated. a friend recently bought a sony vaio pc and there is no activation link where it should be. we wondered if it was already done. we cannot find anywhere on microsofts site to activate xp. there are many links and pages about activation, but after browsing for an hour we could not find how to actually do it. unbelievable but true.:confused:
Midknyte
08-20-2004, 05:32 PM
most OEM systems don't require activation. It has something to do with the OEM licensing since they are given restore images, not full winxp cds.

make sure your friend creates the restore cds. I know the newer sonys prompt you to burn your own cds. kinda dumb, but also true.
rraehal
08-20-2004, 10:55 PM
Our Dell systems do have XP install CD's. If you put them on a non-Dell system, setup will not start because it does not see the BIOS identifier, but I can use any CD Key on the Dell that I want.

Dell only modified the boot operations to check for a Dell BIOS. If I copy the CD (I386) and use a downloaded boot image (say from the Slipstream instructions) I can still install XP from the Dell files on any system.
Midknyte
08-21-2004, 12:05 AM
Dell is an exception. Compaq, HP, Sony, Emachines, etc. all use restore cds.
rraehal
08-21-2004, 12:33 AM
Good to know. My mom's HP came with restore disks, but a few of the later ones have the restore partition.
Midknyte
08-21-2004, 04:16 PM
you can still get restore cds, even on the newer models. you just need to request them from HP.

1-800-227-8164
pawprint
08-23-2004, 01:30 PM
Windows XP will typically remind you to activate the product (most users will have 30 days to activate XP after installation). To activate XP manually, you can use the Start menu shortcut in the System Tools Accessories folder. At the command prompt, type

oobe/msoobe /a

In case you're wondering, msoobe stands for "Microsoft Out of Box Experience."

you can also do start>run>oobe/msoobe /a to check if XP is activated on your current system
cheers, ~pawprint~ :cool:
richnsue
08-23-2004, 02:50 PM
thanks Pawprint, that's a handy little tip which puts our minds at rest. :)
dajogejr
08-23-2004, 07:07 PM
All HP Desktop and Notebooks we've gotten at my work in the past year have an XP Pro CD, SP1, (full, not restore) and an app and driver CD....
Midknyte
08-23-2004, 07:15 PM
are they HP corporate or home computers? home computers all have a restore partition on the hdd.

kayaks, brios, etc are in a totally different market.
dajogejr
08-23-2004, 07:41 PM
Sorry...MK.
You're correct, these are Corp PCs.

D330 and 530 series....

I'd bet the XP Pro PCs come with the OS disk, while...XP Home PCs come with the restore...
Rediranch
08-26-2004, 01:58 PM
FYI, I just worked on a Dell laptop that was purchased in December, and it had a restore disk, no XP cd.
ShadeZeRO
08-26-2004, 07:42 PM
Mom has a sony laptop also, no need for activation :)
You dont need to activate with sony if u do that restore stuff (or sometimes it comes with it restored for you.