Win XP Home

[Mordrath]

Hey guys...

I just built a new box for a project I'm doing and I put windows on half the hard drive... I'm at boarding school with no internet in my room cause life sucks, but I have it hooked up at my friends apartment right now. I used a friends copy of XP home because I didn't want to fork out the moolah to buy xp pro new (400 flippin bucks at least... almost more than my computer) but it's failing to activate. The disc he gave me to install with came with his Acer laptop, and as such the key is built into the laptop I"m pretty sure... I can't get a hold of him cause he's in Chicago with the laptop right now doing his project, but if the key is on the laptop then I"m kinda screwed. I need some help cause my windows is gonna fart out in 30 days, and I don't have a valid key...

If i remember correctly, xp home only accepts the key that comes with the particular install disc that you have, but I"m not sure on that. Any ideas on how to keep it on there? It's not a huge deal if I don't, I just don't want to reinstall it... that'd be a bitch.

Aights, peace. Oh and a side note, if windows farts out I have linux on there, but its not the gaming platform I want.. so yeah.

Mordrath

[GenDeathRaiser]

Just get an activation crack from somewhere. But you can never do Automatic Updates with that.

[JRules]

You don't physically need the key, you just need to know it. You can call to activate and they will ask you if you brought the software in the store or it came preinstalled and say you bought it. Also they will ask how many computers its on and just say 1. Just go to activate by phone, choose USA, then the phone number is 1-888-571-2048.

Yes I call it a LOT at work.

BTW
XP home is $90 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=335878&CatId=672

XP pro is $140 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2571830&CatId=672

There is no reason to EVER use an activation crack, because microsoft is stupid and will activate it. I have the same copy of pro installed on 5 computers all fully activated by microsoft.

[Deathdragon]

Depending which school or college you go to, you might be eligible for student discounts or free software. Personally, I got Windows Vista Business 32-bit for free from Penn State University since i'm an IST major. I also got Windows XP Professional 32-bit and 64-bit for free as well as Microsoft Office and a ton of other software.

You can get software at a student discount from http://www.creationengine.com
I use that site to get cheap software such as Diskeeper 2007 Professional. Does wonders for defragging your harddrive.

I also activate via telephone. I recommend not doing it too often though because I believe Microsoft looks into it if its activated too often.