is windows xp upgrade the full xp program just like the window 98 upgrade was really the full prog with just a previous version check

upgrade does check to see if you are previous license products and it also only allow you to use it on one machine.

I've heard rumors that Windows XP is very restrictive when it comes to computer registration. A co-worker said I would have to call Microsoft if I changed motherboards or other major components. Another person said that was untrue. Could a XP user straighten out the rumor???

M$ claims that you have to change 6 components (hard drive, amount of RAM, etc.) to force a new registration. Independent magazines have said they've had to re-register with just 3 upgrades. You can do electronic registration instead of calling in. The serial is something obnoxious like 50 characters long. I'm using XP without much issue, but I've also loaded things like firewall software and XPAntiSpy to keep XP from "leaking" stuff out. I deliberately disabled the Windows AutoUpdate, but it kept trying to update me anyway. Between my firewall software and XPAntiSpy, I haven't heard a peep from XP in a while. Beware Windows Media Player 7 which has tracking software and a Unique ID number, which M$ would never use ...

It does tie it self to a PC. If you upgrade enough of a PC, you will have to call M$. How much, I don't know. If you change just hard drives, then you probably wouldn't need to; but if you change your hard drive, video card, sound card, you might have to. M$ is the only ones who really know, I think. I would guess that changing motherboards would be enough to require re-activation, but I could be wrong.

I guess what I meant was can I do a clean install with xp upgrade.......with win 98 upgrade all it did was ask for the win95 cd checked it without copying anything and then clean installed 98 without any of win95....does the xp upgrade work the same way? not using 98 except to check that you have a 98 cd?

I think I read that you can do that with xp too. You might check the microsoft site and check their WinXP faq.

Yes glennjan, you can do a clean install with the upgrade disc. You just have to insert a Win98/Me disc when it asks to verify you own an eligible version.

Thanks thats what I was getting at...why would I by the full version for more money if I can buy the upgrade for less and use the 98se cd for the eligibility check...Is there a diff????

So what if you don't have a windows disc, because windowsMe came preinstalled on your computer? Is there anything you can do in that case? As for the original question, I just read about this in WindowsXP inside out, which was published by Microsoft, but not written by them. They say that if you upgrade four or more components from a list of 10 on your computer in a period of 120 days or less, the activation mechanism may mistakenly assume that you've installed the operating system on a new computer. They also say that you should backup a file called wpa.dbl located in the system32 directory. You should save this to a floppy. If you need to reinstall, you can restore this file and bypass the need for activation, if you hardware hasn't changed significantly. This is really a good book, in my opinion. Kevin

Where do you gett a copy of the windowsXP Corp. Edition? Kevin

Now that I think about this, probably the only way to get the Corp. Edition would be to buy it. If I'm wrong, please enlighten me. Anyway, I just want to clarify my position, I'm not interested in acquiring any unlicensed software. I just asked my previous question without thinking about it. And now that I've thought about it... Kevin

Calling M$ in my experience wasn't realy a major hassle they just asked me the circumstances of my changes (motherboard fried, took out video, audio, and ram, amazingly HD was spared! (thanks big blue)) they walked me through creating a new unique number which I read off to them and they gave me a new unlock key took all of five minutes.

I did a clean install with XP Upgrade, and was never asked for prior version verification. Then again I had 98SE Full and it would not let me just upgrade, had to clean install.

I've got XP Home, and after a nasty virus the other day I had to reinstall windows, took just over 1/2 hr which was ok, then I had to ring M$ for the activation code, one 5 minute free call later I was back in business, and it now works faster for some reason

it did try to register over the internet but my slow connection was having nothing of it, anyway it was a relatively painless process to activate and there was a nice sounding girl on the recording to guide me through it :)

EA, your experience goes against the experience that I and others have known. Oh, well. Guess it sucks to be you. heheh I did it for fun on one of my spare machines last night, and nope, no request for a prior version. Just the 20 some odd # CD Key. ~EA

Poser will not open,after installation of Windows XP Upgrade.