I will need to keep an OEM version of XP on one machine to run a number of expensive older programs. I propose to leave that machine unconnected to the Internet so security support is not a problem. The question still remains though, if I need to do a clean re-install of that XP can I re-activate it after April 2014?
Also I need to build a new machine and dual boot another OEM copy of XP Professional (from a discarded machine) with Windows 8.1.
Does anyone see any problems in doing that?
Will I be able to activate a reinstall of XP after April, 2014?
The end of Windows XP support will not affect activation, but rather security updates and phone/online technical support.
A spokesperson confirmed that activations will still be required for retail installations of Windows XP post April 8. "Windows XP can still be installed and activated after end of support on April 8," the spokesperson noted.
In a posting on PC World, Microsoft publicly responded to affirm that Windows XP activation will be unaffected by the Windows XP support end date.
Source, Source, Source, Source
As for:
"..and dual boot another OEM copy of XP Professional (from a discarded machine)"
Legally you can't do that. OEM OSs die with the system they were sold with.
Although MS's official statement is that users should be able to activated WinXP more or less indefinitely, for a lot users internet activation does not work and the phone numbers provided in the activation dialogue have changed.
Therefore I want to link here to (my) follow-up question on how to activate WinXP nowadays (with a focus on non-online activation methods): How do I activate Windows XP nowadays (in 2019)?
