Robbbert wrote on 2026-01-25, 20:43:

Well, seeing that XP is so old and unsupported, there needs to be a program that simply removes the activation feature entirely, so that it "just works" all the time just like w2k and win9x.

Why? Just go for the corporate, after all that's XP Pro without all that activation stuff.

OM606 wrote on 2026-01-20, 16:32:

Why not install the VL version with no activation required? I've been doing that since 2006 and never had to activate XP ever since.

OM606 wrote on 2026-01-20, 16:44:

VL means Volume License. I't just a regular WinXP Pro with the only difference being the absence of everything related to the activation so you won't be bothered ever again with activation with this version. You can easily find the ISO on archive.org, amongst others. Actually, i never understood the reason for using anything other than XP Pro SP3 VL.

Ditto

ChrisK wrote on 2026-01-19, 13:02:

As rumors say MS did end the possibility for activation by phone entirely at the end of 2025, at least as long as you don't have an account at MS and can do it over some webpage, what's the options left?

It's no rumour, https://aka.ms/aoh is the URL and in truth it's much easier than phone activation ever was, the only downside is AFAIK you need a MS Business Account.

As I need to MS sign the SIV Kernel Mode device drivers I have one and have just activated Windows XP-x64 😀 then added Menu->Manage->Activate Windows for SIV V5.86 Beta-05 that links to the MS site.

Please will you update your post with this information so it's easy for others to find.