Old lady lost windows xp

[John Heinen]

Andrew Farris wrote:
> On Fri, 2009-11-13 at 18:01 +0000, Gordon wrote:
> [snip]
>   
>>> Thanks for your good advise, let me explain this, I need to do this
>>> right, right?
>>> She has window xp on it, someone reinstalled it, {not me), with a bigger
>>> drive 40 gb,  it still has to be validated with the numbers, she doesn't
>>> have them. 
>>>       
>> What do you mean by "validated with the numbers"? That doesn't make
>> sense. Presumably what you mean is ACTIVATE with the Product Key. AFAIK
>> you can't install XP WITHOUT entering the product key in the first place
>> so what Product key was used to install it?
>>     
>
> when you 'activate' windows with the product key, you dont actually get
> an active windows install...the install must first be validated by MS
> before you're allowed to use it, either over the internet, or by phone.
> I'm assuming he means that it can't be validated in this way, and after
> 30 days in this state, windows won't let you in unless you let it call
> home to billy boy to make sure it hasnt been stolen.
>
> Man oh man, I don't miss that crap at all...still makes me sick to have
> to do it for others though.
>
>   
You're right, but what I am looking for, is, to have a way to a clean
drive and be able to accept windows 98 other than xp and off course
puppy linux