What Options are there to activate Windows XP nowadays?
The "regular" methods provided with XP (phone and online) don't work anymore. The phone number is not valid for activation anymore (J'ai essayé the German one) and the online activation ne fonctionne pas either (in a quick test within a DMZ other protocols like ICMP or HTTP worked fine when I accessed an internet server).
The latest question/answer I could find here on superuser is this one: [XP Activation and Dual Booting](https://superuser.com/questions/710917/xp-activation-and-dual-booting) which doesn't provide an answer to my question. In addition the question asks only if it can be done in general not how (neither does the existing answer say how), and about other problems (dual boot), so I decided to post the question again as specific question just about the activation process.
The solutions can be a workaround (disabling the activation check), but for security reasons, it shouldn't contain a binary download. Preferably it also shouldn't require a network/internet connection. Although there is no way around using WinXP, Je veux minimize security risks.
**EDIT1**: Since quite a few people asked, please note why (in my opinion) this question is **not a duplicate** of [XP Activation and Dual Booting](https://superuser.com/questions/710917/xp-activation-and-dual-booting), please see my explanation above. I made a thorough explanation in meta [here](https://meta.superuser.com/questions/13850/duplicate-question).
**EDIT2**: it was suggested to call MS support and/or sales unfortunately they do not help with WinXP anymore.
**EDIT3**: please be aware that running an outdated OS without security updates poses security risks explained [here](https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/221348/how-to-explain-to-traditional-people-why-they-should-upgrade-their-old-windows-x) as [BurceWayne](https://superuser.com/users/529100/brucewayne) points out correctly. Therefore, if possible vous devriez change/upgrade the OS of your device. **However** in some cases it's not an option to change to a different OS, e.g. because certain drivers/HW/SW is only compatible with Win XP.
**EDIT4**: note, the activation process comes after entering a installation/serial key (e.g. from the licence sticker)
Comment activate WindowsXP now that support has ended?
Re: Comment activate WindowsXP now that support has ended?
J'ai trouvé three solutions. They all work offline, so you don't have to connect the WinXP system to a network (to reduce security risks).
**A) Activating over the phone**
Calling the current MS activation number for a product still in support (e.g. for [activation for Win7](https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/15083/windows-activate-windows-7-or-8-1)) and choosing "Other Products" in the voice menu. This is my preferred one since you don't have to tamper with the system. In my case (Nov 2019) I followed the link to the [Microsoft Licensing Activation Centers worldwide telephone numbers](https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/licensing/existing-customer/activation-centers).
**B) Disabling activation process**
Deleting the value of the OOBETimer key (`HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/WPAEvents/OOBETimer`) and starting the activation via invite de commandes: `msoobe /a`. Cela va disable the activation requirement for good but might cause issues (although J'ain't found any yet) ([source](https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Windows-XP-Genuine-Forever))
**C) Create a phone confirmation ID yourself (3rd party tool)**
-
download [Universal MS Key Toolkit](https://github.com/UMSKT/UMSKT/releases) (cliquez sur Assets et sélectionnez a version corresponding to your host machine or another computer)
-
run `umskt.exe` (e.g., on your host machine or another computer) to generate a product key (skip if you already have one)
-
select the phone activation method in the Windows XP activation wizard.
-
copy the installation ID the wizard provides you
-
run `umskt -i` using the Installation ID
-
copy the code that `umskt` just provided in response, and paste it into the Windows XP activation wizard.
Detailed instructions are given in the readme section of the tool on the [GitHub site](https://github.com/UMSKT/UMSKT). [This post](https://tinyapps.org/blog/202304230700_xp_wpa.html) also has more info.
**Side note:** The number J'ai utilisé for Germany was `+49 89 2444 5093` (checked August 2023) but I would suggest looking at the list provided through the [link](https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/licensing/existing-customer/activation-centers) since those numbers will be updated. US number `+1 888-571-2048` is supposed to work aussi, but I didn't try it.
**Side note 2:** Here's a little note from the developer responsible for the Windows Product Activation on [YouTube: Blame Me: The INSIDER Secrets of Windows Product Activation!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpKNFCFABp0)
**A) Activating over the phone**
Calling the current MS activation number for a product still in support (e.g. for [activation for Win7](https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/15083/windows-activate-windows-7-or-8-1)) and choosing "Other Products" in the voice menu. This is my preferred one since you don't have to tamper with the system. In my case (Nov 2019) I followed the link to the [Microsoft Licensing Activation Centers worldwide telephone numbers](https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/licensing/existing-customer/activation-centers).
**B) Disabling activation process**
Deleting the value of the OOBETimer key (`HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/WPAEvents/OOBETimer`) and starting the activation via invite de commandes: `msoobe /a`. Cela va disable the activation requirement for good but might cause issues (although J'ain't found any yet) ([source](https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Windows-XP-Genuine-Forever))
**C) Create a phone confirmation ID yourself (3rd party tool)**
-
download [Universal MS Key Toolkit](https://github.com/UMSKT/UMSKT/releases) (cliquez sur Assets et sélectionnez a version corresponding to your host machine or another computer)
-
run `umskt.exe` (e.g., on your host machine or another computer) to generate a product key (skip if you already have one)
-
select the phone activation method in the Windows XP activation wizard.
-
copy the installation ID the wizard provides you
-
run `umskt -i
-
copy the code that `umskt` just provided in response, and paste it into the Windows XP activation wizard.
Detailed instructions are given in the readme section of the tool on the [GitHub site](https://github.com/UMSKT/UMSKT). [This post](https://tinyapps.org/blog/202304230700_xp_wpa.html) also has more info.
**Side note:** The number J'ai utilisé for Germany was `+49 89 2444 5093` (checked August 2023) but I would suggest looking at the list provided through the [link](https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/licensing/existing-customer/activation-centers) since those numbers will be updated. US number `+1 888-571-2048` is supposed to work aussi, but I didn't try it.
**Side note 2:** Here's a little note from the developer responsible for the Windows Product Activation on [YouTube: Blame Me: The INSIDER Secrets of Windows Product Activation!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpKNFCFABp0)