Windows XP Activation

Windows XP requires "Activation" :
You must contact Microsoft with a few weeks after
installation, or Windows XP will refuse to continue to work.

You will have in your Start-Menu the entry to "Activate Windows",
and there will also be an icon in your taskbar, reminding you
often to activate.

Activation is NOT Registration:
Activation : based on the serial number of the hardware components
(harddisk, motherboard, network card), a code is generated. Based
on this code, a "Confirmation ID" is created for your system.
The purpose of Activation is to prevent a copy of Windows XP to
be installed on multiple systems (and Microsoft only getting paid for
one license).

Registration : You inform Microsoft about your name, address,
e-mail address, .......

Let's assume that you have no (or not yet) Internet connection and try to activate by calling :

I do not know what caused Microsoft to use such a method, but working myself in a
support organization, I know that most people will have problems telling you accurately
a 50 ( FIVE - ZERO ! ) character number, and there be even more problems for them to note
down such a long Confirmation ID. Be prepared for some long phone-calls..........

Much better and easier:

Configure your Internet connection and activate via the Internet :

You want to register ? Your choice ( I selected NOT to register).

and after a few seconds:

That was easy !