What happens if you don't activate XP?

[rajagra]

I built my system, and didn't want to activate XP until I'd settled on the final hardware. But last weekend, I built a PC for a relative, put XP on it using the same code, activated it & handed it over.
Ordered another copy of XP that should have arrived before my product activation grace period expired, but it was delayed. (*) XP has now expired.

Funny thing is, I'm still able to use that system. I leave it on 24/7 chugging away running Folding at Home, and apart from the repeated pop-up warning me of the expiry, it's just running as usual.

I assume that if I reboot it, it won't let me back in without activating (which I obviously can't do.) But what if I never reboot? Will it just keep running?

I wonder if MS's OS is stable enough to keep running until Scan pull their finger out and deliver my goods? Knowing both companies' track records, I don't rate my chances highly.

(*) Like an idiot I gave Scan another chance, but they let me down AGAIN!!!
Ordered Wednesday before noon;
Received their usual email saying "delay in your order due to an unexpected volume of orders" Thursday after 8PM;
No contact since.
XP grace period expired Saturday.
Thankyou, Scan!
When you say my"custom is greatly valued" I totally believe you, honestly.

[stytagm]

Sorry to hear about your scan problems.

I would have expected xp to stop working tbh, just hold your breath and hope it keeps going 'till monday.

I guess the moral of the story is register sooner not later. I think it's fairly forgiving of a fair amount of hardware changes, and if you change too much hardware, you can ring up microsoft activation, explain the situation, and they will re-activate xp for you. So don't worry too much.

Let us know what happens.

[ikonia]

I don't understand why possible hardware changes (CPU && Mother board excluded) would stop you wanting activating the product.

When XP expires next time you login it should warn you about activation then log you out.

[rajagra]

I don't understand why possible hardware changes (CPU && Mother board excluded) would stop you wanting activating the product.

Because in the past I've had to reactivate XP after trivial hardware changes (e.g. replacing a DVD-ROM with a combo DVD-ROM/CD writer.)
Like many people, I have several PCs and a lot of components lying around. I want to swap parts around when it suits me, not when MS allows me to. By delaying activation as long as possible I'd left more options open.

You do know that MS recently changed the rules about reactivating XP, don't you? Thin end of the wedge IMO.
ZDNet report.

EDIT> Good news is that XP kept running despite having expired, the new copy of XP arrived, and it's easy to change the product key when you activate (choose activate by phone, use the change key option, then go back and activate over the internet normally.)