even if you format it, to my knowledge, it requires activation.
Dats y I opened this threadI don't think XP OS comes for specific hardware. So, it should not ask for activation due to change in hardware.
But, if you have the windows XP home edition CD & key, you shouldn't have problems?
No.....I m using & Formatting XP for abt 4 years & it never asked me 4
activation
^ ^ exactly my point. I think then what you use is a pre-activated version of windows Home, which unfortunately doesn't come from MS. It just is not possible for XP to not ask for activation after formatting!!
As for your question, it shouldn't ask. you can upgrade.
if you dont have a printed CD key either in the PC or in the CD it may not be an original copyI have CD but dont have CD Key & I dont need it bcoz it never
asked me 4 a CD KEY while installing....
well, what confuses me is that you don't have a key!It is genuine XP dude & what do u mean by "pre-activated version" do u mean 2 say dat MS has pre-activated in the CD itself..........
if you dont have a printed CD key either in the PC or in the CD it may not be an original copy
may be a pirated OEM copy
yes, it (os) can be genuine. oem version do not need activation...and about the key..........it never asks him to enter the key means his copy of windows is customized............ means serial is pre entered in setup.......... so it may be legal ..............to confirm it tell your brand (like dell ,hp)of pc...if it is branded then it may be genuine .....otherwise not........