ClippyBeer
Moderator
I have to agree. Why go through all of that hassle when we have a tool that will activate XP with a few clicks, no phone or internet required?
Can i activate Windows XP online in 2024?
- Thread starter floradelyon693c
- Start date
I know. But I use the phone activation because it is legit. They did not hide it in Windows Vista and Windows 7, so I use the phone activation, XP too. But Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 are a nightmare to activate by phone, because it never works.As I mentioned, MS is phasing out the option. Hiding it more and more. At the end of the day, here are ways to install all those old software without going through the hassle of calling MS at all. I don't understand the need to call MS. VLK software of that era don't connect to MS servers at all.
XP itself was always a hassle to activate online. Like you couldn't use a SP1 key to activate an SP2 disc without calling MS and hoping for the best. The disc and key had to match. You had to wait for a live representative to assist you. If you upgrade your system too much you could lose activation.
Either way if you like to waste time be my guest
Isn't cracked software pirating, I would not use that.
ClippyBeer
Moderator
The reality is that very soon there will be no way to legally activate XP forcing you to rely on other means.
does that mean we will have to download pre-activated copies of xp?
Here's the thing, if you don't want to deal with cracks or tools to activate XP or Office 2003-07 all you have to do is find an unmodified Pro VLK iso. Then type Pro key and presto! It doesn't require activation and it's not hacked in anyway. It doesn't connect to MS servers at all. I've used those for years. Microsoft won't come knocking on your door.
By the way the software ClippyBeer is talking about is ok too. All it does is mimic a real activation. MS most probably uses something like that to activate your software anyway.
no, but here is a method,
STEP 1: Go on ebay, find xp copies or xp computers with the product key sticker visable
STEP 2: use the key to activate windows by phone
STEP 1: Go on ebay, find xp copies or xp computers with the product key sticker visable
STEP 2: use the key to activate windows by phone
It's been at least 5 years since I did my last Setup of XP, and back then there was no phone or online activation offered by Microsoft.... just dead air in both cases.
Don't quote me on this, but as I recall I removed the WGA files from the Setup, and added the product key with nLite.... (also deactivated "update").
The last time I activated Windows XP was back in 2023. Online and Phone activation did not work. I had to call Microsoft Tech Support to do that. They were very helpful in activating both my Windows XP computers.
BTW, I still have the original Windows XP CDs I bought back in 2002-2023 and their Product Keys.
No, that is the phone number for phone activation. Since phone activation no longer works that is a dead end.
I don't remember where I got the phone number but I think I got it here.
After I called the number, the system asked me whether I needed help with Office or Windows. When I said Windows after a time I was connected to a live support agent. They almost seemed reluctant but I reminded them that I had the original Windows XP CDs and Product Keys. The agent went through the same steps phone activation would have done if it still worked.
Last year I needed to reinstall Windows XP on these computers because I was replacing all the IDE drives with SATA ones. Instead of going through the time consuming activation process again I simply used the "unofficial" offline process given in a thread on this forum. Technically that is not legal but I doubt anyone at Microsoft even cares anymore. In fact off the record they would probably welcome it since then there technical staff could be used for more important support matters.
Note for most versions of Windows the main affect of not activating them is there is a watermark displayed and some customization is limited. Windows XP is unique in that if it is not activated within 30 days it will not let you log in until you do activate it.
BTW, because of health problems I decided I no longer had the time and energy to deal with my two Windows XP computers shown in my signature. A few weeks ago I dismantled these computers and stored their components. I also retired an old laptop with Windows XP/7.
I still have three other desktops and two laptops so that is enough to keep me busy. They have a mixture of Windows 7, 10, and 11. If that is not enough I also have several Raspberry PIs.
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