Windows XP Pro

Kingsd316

Hi all,

Quick question just purchased a New laptop that came with windows XP pro and the relevent installer disk, my Home PC has Windows ME, Can i use the software disk i got with the new laptop to upgrade my Home PC computer, using the product key from the laptop??

Thanks

Mr_Meanie

I doubt it, usually the machine that comes with XP installed has it put on a hidden partition on the hard drive, I guess you only have a rescue/restore disk which enables the laptop to reinstall XP from the hidden partition.

BillScarab

Assuming it is a proper install disc I'm sure it would install, however it would be illegal.

You also have to activate XP and I would have thought it would flag that the product key had already been activated. Also when you update your PC Microsoft check if it is a legal copy or not, a lot of updates cannot be downloaded unless it is a legal copy.

Kingsd316

BillScarab wrote:

Assuming it is a proper install disc I'm sure it would install, however it would be illegal.

You also have to activate XP and I would have thought it would flag that the product key had already been activated. Also when you update your PC Microsoft check if it is a legal copy or not, a lot of updates cannot be downloaded unless it is a legal copy.

How is it illigel, if i bought a laptop and bought the software for it, or are you saying it can only be installed on 1 machine?

superscaper

Kingsd316 wrote:

How is it illigel, if i bought a laptop and bought the software for it, or are you saying it can only be installed on 1 machine?

You bought the licence which is for one machine only, putting it on a second pc while it is still on the first is definitely illegal. You certainly wouldn't be able to activate it.

tawnyowls

superscaper wrote:

You bought the licence which is for one machine only, putting it on a second pc while it is still on the first is definitely illegal. You certainly wouldn't be able to activate it.

Well, that's the official line, certainly. Were I in the OP's position, I might want to see what happens - not that I'm suggesting I've ever tried it, much less that it might have worked. Of course.

ukbill69

I licence per machine e.g. one cd key

AMO

tawnyowls wrote:

Well, that's the official line, certainly. Were I in the OP's position, I might want to see what happens - not that I'm suggesting I've ever tried it, much less that it might have worked. Of course.

What happens is that it doesn't work (especially as the CD comes from an OEM) and it asks you to ring Microsoft. It will give a key which Microsoft need you to read to them. They then verify a couple of details like where you got the PC from and ask you to verify that the machine you are installing on is the only one its going to be on. This is the bit where you lie. Then they give you a code which will enable it to install on that machine just the one time.

You need to ring up Microsoft everytime you install using the disc.

AMO

amcluesent

>just purchased a New laptop<

Which make? The OEM XP CD-ROM that comes with Dell's will check if it's being installed on a Dell and bomb-out if not - most others are the same.

tawnyowls

AMO wrote:

What happens is that it doesn't work (especially as the CD comes from an OEM) and it asks you to ring Microsoft. It will give a key which Microsoft need you to read to them. They then verify a couple of details like where you got the PC from and ask you to verify that the machine you are installing on is the only one its going to be on. This is the bit where you lie. Then they give you a code which will enable it to install on that machine just the one time.

But it may not come to that.

chuckles1066

amcluesent wrote:

>just purchased a New laptop<

Which make? The OEM XP CD-ROM that comes with Dell's will check if it's being installed on a Dell and bomb-out if not - most others are the same.

nope, the Dell XP CD checks the BIOS to see if it's a Dell it's being installed on.

If it is, there is no need to enter the product key from the COA or to ever activate the OS.

If it's not, you have to enter the product key and also activate after 30 days......and it's this activation where you'll encounter problems.