Computer Buying  Advice

Online CPA

InfoHQ Free Email
(About Free Email)

InfoHQ Help Board

About Us

Data Privacy Policy

Click here for our Weekly Online Specials!

Copyright© Notice

Getting Past the Registration Dilemma

So I made the leap and loaded Windows XP. I then decided to boot XP to see if it was operating correctly.
After going through the welcome screen I noticed a little exclamation sign in my system tray. I clicked on it and it informed me that I had 30 days to register Windows XP before the installation expired.

< OK, I'll just click on Internet Explorer and register online. Hmmm, no Internet connection reported. What's up with that? I dutifully transferred my settings from Windows Me. Why didn't my DSL settings transfer? Where's Network Neighborhood? Where's the Control Panel? >

Transferring Your Settings One of the options you have on the Windows XP install disk is to transfer your settings from another version of Windows to Windows XP. Per Microsoft, the purpose of the Transfer Settings Wizard is to "... help you move your data files and personal settings from your old computer to your new one, without having to go through much of the same configuration you did with your old computer. For example, you can take your personal display properties, folder and taskbar options, and Internet browser and mail settings from your old computer and place them on the new one. The wizard will also move specific files or entire folders, such as My Documents, My Pictures, and Favorites." Note: This does not necessarily transfer your ISP settings. Make sure you know your Internet connection settings before you upgrade.

After some mad clicking in Windows XP, and confirming no DSL settings had transferred, I knew I had to reconstruct my DSL settings before going further.
... So I decided to boot back into Windows Me and dig up my DSL settings later.

< Forty days later.> @#$! Windows XP expired! Now what am I going to do? Guess I'll try to reload....
< Reload takes about 45 minutes without messing with transferring settings from Windows Me.> .... Now where did I put my DSL cheat sheet? Guess I'll reboot to Windows Me while I'm looking.

So what is this registration thing? All versions of Windows XP (and Microsoft Office XP) require registration with Microsoft. The registration program takes a snapshot of your computer's hardware settings and uses this during boot-up to make sure it is running on the same machine it was registered to. Facts about Registration If you choose not to register, Windows XP becomes unusable in 30 days. If your hardware settings change you may be required to reregister (this prevents you from loading one copy of Windows XP on multiple machines). If Windows XP expires you can reload it. Commonly heard Complaints about Registration Some people are paranoid about giving Microsoft personal information (which you don't have to do) and some people resent the fact that they can't use one copy of XP on 50 machines (Gee, I wonder what caused this whole registration process in the first place?).

<10 days later> OK, I have my DSL settings in and I've connected to the Internet. I register with Microsoft and I'm staring at a blank Windows XP screen. < I should have transferred my Windows Me settings!>

Order Windows XP

<< Windows XP Introduction |  Good and Bad Features >>