BeachgalSuz wrote:

> I am the Librarian at my children's school. A parent saw that the
> library didn't have a computer, so she bought one at a yard sale.
> She said that the man told her the computer works "just fine". He
> even gave her the Windows XP Home Edition disk, in case there were
> any problems. Well, we decided it was best to re-install Windows XP
> due to problems.


Good! If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly, what is
missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live
with somebody else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddie porn,
etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone else do either.


> It downloaded perfectly,


No, to "download" is normally to transfer a file from the internet to your
computer. You mean "it *installed* perfectly."


> but I keep getting the
> message to complete registration. The problem, WE DON'T HAVE THE
> INTERNET AT SCHOOL!! How can I register the product?!?



Don't do it. Registration is completely optional and has no benefit to you.
It is only used for Microsoft's marketing purposes.

It's "activation" that is required, and I'm sure that's what you mean.


> I thought about bringing the computer home and using my connection,
> but would that make the computer registered to my account?


No. Activation is completely anonymous. It ties the operating system to the
hardware, not to a person.

You can do that, or, more easily, just take the option to activate by voice
call to an 800 number.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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