Windows XP Registration Question

[geeze]

My younger sister found a copy of Windows XP Home Upgrade edition in a retail box with CD, Product Key and Certificate of Authenticty in her new dorm room at college. Since I am a linux user and frankly haven't touched windows for close to five years, I need to be brought up to date on how windows activation and registration work.

Question:
Is there a way to find out, without installing windows with the key, if the product was used or is currently registered?

Would there be any adverse effect on the original owner if this copy of windows is installed on there machine? Windows Update or otherwise?

Should I just drop the whole issue and toss windows in the garbage?

 

[GreNME]

Brief breakdown of Windows Acivation

Registration is basically the same thing as registering any other software.

 

[GreNME]

And if you don't want it, I'll pay shipping for you to "toss it" my way.