virtualbox.org

Just started using VirtualBox and have created a new XP MCE virtual machine in Vista. I want to use the virtual machine to test software primarily.

The XP MCE is a genuine copy that was supplied on DVD with the Dell desktop machine that I want to use it on (in the virtual machine).

Can someone please explain how to successfully activate XP as I have tried to enter my genuine license code but it won't accept it.

Do I need to contact Microsoft over the phone and more to the point will they give me the information I need to activate XP successfully?

Any help greatly appeciated.

Many thanks.

Your install medium is for a Dell machine, not a VM. What you want to do, is not covered in your license and therefor illegal. Your license agreement states that you may install it on the physical hardware of the machine that came with it, but you're not allowed to install it on any other hardware, including a virtual machine (which has different hardware).

There are some tricks on the forum to let XP think you run it on the machine itself. See the Windows Guests forum for more info.