Windows XP - Bought on laptop, laptop now damaged,Can i install it onto desktop tower

sandman112

Marty_J wrote: »

It will be patently obvious to Microsoft when he calls to activate it (likely) that it's a completely different computer.

you'd think so, but its not, the code MS use is generated from 5or 6 pieces of equipment within the machine ie motheroard/harddrive/CPu ect so if you change a 'faulty' bit of kit the code changes, you just tell ms that you have changed something and bingo, done it a few times and never failed yet, usually dont even need to speak to anyone, just go thru the automated thing

Jaffa.

sandman112 wrote: »

you'd think so, but its not, the code MS use is generated from 5or 6 pieces of equipment within the machine ie motheroard/harddrive/CPu ect so if you change a 'faulty' bit of kit the code changes, you just tell ms that you have changed something and bingo, done it a few times and never failed yet, usually dont even need to speak to anyone, just go thru the automated thing

OEM codes won't accept a new motherboard. The idea was that you try the code on the under neath of the laptop becuase their not always the same as the code on the laptop and therefore have never been registered because they stick them on after theyve been set up in bulk. It's still an OEM code for an acer laptop but the PC the OP has, has all ready failed validation so you might aswell. It will just tie it's self into that pc. The laptops dead anyway.

Marty_J

sandman112 wrote: »

you'd think so, but its not, the code MS use is generated from 5or 6 pieces of equipment within the machine ie motheroard/harddrive/CPu ect so if you change a 'faulty' bit of kit the code changes, you just tell ms that you have changed something and bingo, done it a few times and never failed yet, usually dont even need to speak to anyone, just go thru the automated thing

There's a certain degree of flexibility in that if you change one piece of equipment, the code will be slightly different. However, when every component changes, the code will be totally different.

I can only assume that the key you used was't actually in use by the copy of Windows that had been installed on the machine.

Money_Grabber13579

Microsoft can be stupid at times! I had a 3 user copy of publisher that I wan't to use on my computer (4th). Since my sister also upgraded, her old one was scrapped, so it still was only going to be used on 3 computers, albeit not the same 3 as originally intended. Phoned up Microsoft as the key wouldn't activate and told them I was replacing my computer and they gave me a new key!

mrian_2

Just get an oem version of XP from ebay, make sure it is the same version as your laptop coa (Home or Professional). It will load and activate no problem at all. As mentioned above it does not matter wether it is SP1 2 or anything. Or just ask about and see if you can borrow a Dell XP reinstallation CD. These are as good as any oem. Any questions pm me.

PS - No it is not allowed but I am sure that loads of people do it!

mrian_2

Marty_J wrote: »

It will be patently obvious to Microsoft when he calls to activate it (likely) that it's a completely different computer.

Microsoft must have some mighty powerful system to track the 500,000,000+ Pc's in the world and hundreds of millions of motherboards and hard drives that get swapped around. WOW!!

what a load of rubbish

RobTang

500 million hashcodes isn't really a lot of data in relative terms.
lets say a hashcode is 1000 bytes long (say cdkey + s/n of every major component) in 1 terrabyte of data you can have over a 1000 million hashcodes. you wouldn't need a massive amount of hardware to deal to just deal with the raw data.

Google stores over 1000 million website entries which are far more complex then simple hashcodes, although googles server structure is very impressive.

back on topic a bit the oem keys actually allow a number of changes before it will refuse to activate (I think its 4 time, major components only) and when you ring the up I think MS tends to give you the benefit of the doupt anyway.

Alias_Omega

mrian wrote: »

Just get an oem version of XP from ebay, make sure it is the same version as your laptop coa (Home or Professional). It will load and activate no problem at all. As mentioned above it does not matter wether it is SP1 2 or anything. Or just ask about and see if you can borrow a Dell XP reinstallation CD. These are as good as any oem. Any questions pm me.

PS - No it is not allowed but I am sure that loads of people do it!

Its XP Professional.

I did register it to myself when i bought the laptop, or i think i did. I knew i could get updates online ok.

Will it be ok to use as ive already registered it, or would i need to ring and tell them ive changed the hard drive in the laptop, installed the software and it wont let me register it.

Both computers are mine, the other option was to remove the laptop HD and fit it into the tower.

Jaffa.

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Its XP Professional.

I did register it to myself when i bought the laptop, or i think i did. I knew i could get updates online ok.

Will it be ok to use as ive already registered it, or would i need to ring and tell them ive changed the hard drive in the laptop, installed the software and it wont let me register it.

Both computers are mine, the other option was to remove the laptop HD and fit it into the tower.

Is the desktop XP Professional? if so go to activate windows (go Start > run > type in "oobe/msoobe /a" without ""

put in the code on the bottom of the laptop.

Alias_Omega

The desktop computer has some errors anyway, when you click on some things, the computer locks up and asks for the CD to installed.

We want to reformat the computer first, with the CD we have or will need to have so will need to source some software.

Thanks all,