Exactly. But were talking about Microsoft ending activation of Windows XP. Eventually you would need to re-install Windows, and when that happens...

Although you could be lucky and never need to reinstall, it is possible, but the point is if you do, what do you do?

You have a 30-day grace period. Use it. How does that song go again, "Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate"?

Except Microsoft have said nothing about closing activation servers - I doubt they'll do it for ages yet - at least another decade. It's not like they don't need activation servers any more - they can keep on serving XP activation requests on the same servers they use for all their other products.

At the end, I suppose they can always release a "patch" that removes the need to contact activation servers and just keeps it validating the serial locally. You know, like pirates have been doing forever.

http://youtu.be/kFzylCng2Zc Couldn't help myself... XD

True, "Windows XP" did! (as in the user). I guess your right in that they wouldn't close the servers for a while still.



That would pretty much be Microsoft giving out Windows XP for free.

True, but they're a business. When the cost of keeping the activation servers online exceeds the expected income stream they can still generate from XP, it's the only decision that makes sense - I'm pretty sure the EULA doesn't grant Microsoft the right to disable legit Windows XPs by cutting off the activation server.

So the EULA also protects the end user!

I said what I said in the first post because Windows XP is the first Microsoft OS to include online activation. Should have said that...

i am sure win 7 support will be extended coz win 8 is not very good for desktop

Like! I think Windows 7 will end support on 2025...