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

Fonz_2

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Fonz,

Im unsure about piracy, but as i bought the laptop new, and it came with windows XP, then i own this copy of XP and therefore should be able to use it on any PC i use, being that it be only 1 PC. As the laptop cannot be used, this does not mean that i lose my copy of windows XP.

The question i am asking, is how to use this copy of XP onto another computer i have purchased, which does not have a copy of XP registered.

As said here, if it was a Dell computer, i could simply install the software and register the key with the software.

I might give microsoft a telephone call tomorrow and ask them what to do. They might ship me a software disk out, or advise me on what to do.

Alias

This is simply incorrect. You haven't purchased an XP license, the manufacturer of your laptop has paid a small royalty to Microsoft in order to allow them to use the operating system on that piece of hardware.

The license agreement you agree to when turning on your laptop for the first time and setting up windows explicitly prohibits the use of this key on any other system.

So I'm afraid if you proceed with that route it will technically be piracy.

Sublime_2

I use a legitimate OEM version of Windows 98 in Virtual Pc 2007, which I got off ebay. It says OEM version but is actually the full product, and is not tied to a computer. I have had no problems registering it. I know that there are activation issues with xp, but perhaps you can also get a full version that can be used with any pc.

At least you know you have actually bought it then.

gaming_guy

Sublime wrote: »

I use a legitimate OEM version of Windows 98 in Virtual Pc 2007, which I got off ebay. It says OEM version but is actually the full product, and is not tied to a computer. I have had no problems registering it. I know that there are activation issues with xp, but perhaps you can also get a full version that can be used with any pc.

At least you know you have actually bought it then.

thats because win98 didnt have windows product activation as xp was the 1st one with WPA.

Sublime_2

gaming_guy wrote: »

thats because win98 didnt have windows product activation as xp was the 1st one with WPA.

I know that you need windows product activation, but there are unused OEM xp discs (like my win 98 disk) that aren't connected to a pc. (My main OS is vista by the way):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Microsoft-Windows-XP-Professional-Full-OEM-SP3-w-COA_W0QQitemZ280340087949QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Software_Software_SR?hash=item280340087949&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

This is a full version for system builders, so won't be connected to any system. You will have to pay for it, otherwise as I said earlier theres always Ubuntu.

Marty_J

mrian wrote: »

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

Sure, they can maintain 500 million Hotmail accounts each with several gigs of data, but they can't keep track of 500 million licence keys.

That makes sense.

Honestly.

It really does.

Alias_Omega

All appears not as good then,

We will have the other laptop (Toshiba P4 1.8Ghz thing) repaired, have paid the £45 tonight via eBay.

It does the flashy orange light, no power up thing.

mrian_2

Marty_J wrote: »

Sure, they can maintain 500 million Hotmail accounts each with several gigs of data, but they can't keep track of 500 million licence keys.

That makes sense.

Honestly.

It really does.

So does maintain = keep track ??

((Coa + Motherboard + Hard Drive + Processor) X Computations)) X little man in India answering the phone = WOW :eek:

That does not make sense!

Marty_J

They don't keep track of all your stuff. The activation program uses an algorithm to produce a number based on the hardware in your computer. This is then married to the serial number. It's just a string of numbers, not a list of all the components in your computer. Small changes in your hardware make small changes in the number generated, but won't stop the product activating as there's a certain amount of leeway allowed.

Large changes however, will produce a different number which won't match up to the number married to the key. It's all done automatically, and there's no "little man in India" involved unless you call Microsoft.

kwikbreaks

In theory and certainly according to the licence you shouldn't be able to licence a new machine using the key from an old one but in practice I had no trouble doing this - the only components from the old machine I kept were the case and a floppy which I didn't bother to even cable up - I only left it in the case to fill the hole.

If the old machine is trashed then you have nothing to lose by trying to activate the old licence on the new machine. If it works great if not then there is nothing lost.

Alias_Omega

Interesting..

Might end up just sticking the CD's and the COA on eBay for someone to buy.

Cut the loses and put it towards a new version of XP