I so upset im new at htis WHOLE thing but here's the situation.
i bought a computer for my brother and it had windows xp
then after i bought him his mine crashed so someone said just install windows xp from his computer we both have dells
so i did then  it was running like new heres the problem  it says i have to register it with product key  or it will be no longer available in 30 days can this be true?? and is so is there a way around this? i bought that pc for my brother i dont have a dime and lady at dell told me 80 do;;ars and i have to buy my own copy  please any help would be so appreciated as if i have to buy this i will be with out computer for MONTHS while i save money  it angers me as i have had this dell 9 years and then bought that one for him and they want more  money  ugfgghg   THANKS for any help  
kimberly  :-?Your issues are with Microsoft, not Dell. Microsoft says you pay for one copy of WIndows and can use it on one computer. If you want it on another computer it has to be off the first computer. To enforce this, they have devised the activation scheme you are dealing with. IF trhe other computer is not being used you can call Microsoft and explain.

You can install his copy of WIndows on your computer if you use the 25 digit registration code that is on your computer. Since it is a Dell it should be affixed to the side or top of the machine. If you look at the codes, yours and his are different.

Any questions call Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/activation.mspx
thank you so much your the first person to help me
so instead of giving them his  dell code if i give mine i should be all set?
as it was his software and he is still using his windows xp
thanks in advance this was REALLY worrying me i cant thank you enough
kimmyalso will it matter that i was running mellenium and not windows xp they will know  that  ? thanks  kimmyLet me clarify a little more. It's not a Dell code, it's a Windows code - 25 digits like xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx and is on a litle sticker that says Windows and the version (like XP). Windows ME and Windows XP are not the same. If he is still using his version of XP you cannot use it and it cannot be activated while still activated to him.

If there is only one running computer, you can use XP on that, if there is only one copy involved.

Again, Bill Gates says one copy of Windows for each computer. You can't share. Also, you don't even own it - ever. You are paying for the right to use it. Read this:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/eula.mspx





oh bummer  not good news for me thank you sooo much again
kimmy
You're welcome, and good luck!W2K Rules! Yep, still does. ...NONE of the fluff......