How to Use Microsoft Windows XP, Bestseller Edition

Glossary

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activate

Windows XP requires that you activate your product within a set number of days or you won’t be able to continue using it. Activation is a separate process from registration. During activation, a small snapshot of key pieces of hardware on your system is sent to Microsoft. No personal information is required, and none of the hardware information can be used to identify you. In theory, activation prevents people from installing the same copy of Windows on more than one computer--an action that violates the software licensing agreement. See also register.

administrator

A user account created during Windows installation that gives full permission to use the computer and modify settings. Administrator is also a title given to a person ...