Windows Key Issues

Idiophreak

Hi All,

I appreciate that this thread is pretty borderline with legal issues - but I'll do my best to keep it clean and I assure moderators etc that I'm posting this precisely to seek a legal solution to my situation.

Basically, my PC died, so I've bought some new bits and will be doing a fresh install of XP.

Now, my previous PC had a hacked version of XP on it, but obviously that's not ideal (with the blasted "genuine advantage" and other stuff these days), so I'd rather have a legal copy. I also have a couple of laptops that have died, one of which has MCE on it, which I'd prefer over Pro just for easier use on the 360 - now, as the lappy came pre-installed with MCE, there's no installation disk as such and just the key stuck on the bottom.

Is there any way I can use that key and install a fresh copy of MCE on the new PC?
Is there anywhere I can download an installer (or .iso) from for the disk? Would the key even work?

Many thanks for your input, guys!

mr_fishbulb

Hmmm bit of a grey area. The laptop has a license for MCE, but its an OEM license as it came pre-installed so is not transferable to another system.

However, the key should work on a new system as long as you install with an OEM copy of MCE. Where you get that from is difficult. Most P2P sites will have a copy, but how much can you trust it?

dogmaryxx

Is this what you want

Idiophreak

dogmaryxx wrote: »

Is this what you want

Seems just to link back to the MS site - where you can't actually download the thing (as far as I can see..)

[Deleted User]

Idiophreak wrote: »

Is there any way I can use that key and install a fresh copy of MCE on the new PC?

If it's an OEM version (which it's highly likely it is) then the terms of the EULA do not permit it to be transferred to another machine. Even if you do install it, there's a very likely chance that it won't activate.

Is there anywhere I can download an installer (or .iso) from for the disk? Would the key even work?

The only places that it's available to download is with an MSDN/Technet Plus subscription, or through the online Microsoft Store. Anywhere else is not only illegal to do so, but could be infected.

You don't need WMC to stream to a 360, WMP11 can handle that.

bob_man_uk

if you get MCE installed (i too like mce over xp pro) you can try using xppid to change the key, but like others have said microsoft may not activate it.