XP license

[Volkodlak]

Hi,mI've got a question :rolleyes:

I recently bought a new PC with windows Vista, which I've started to dislike.
I was wondering, my old laptop has a fully functional windows XP as well as a license and an installation CD... Can I use my old license for the new PC if I decide to stop using the laptop?


If possible, how is it done?

[bobbytoad]

The likelyhood is that your xp disk if it came with your pc will be bios locked ie to that manufacturer's kit. if you have an ordinary disk then technically your product key whould work, if u have any probs activating online use the aiutomated telephone service, confirming that software is not installed elsewhere blah blah blah,

[andykn]

Hi,mI've got a question :rolleyes:

I recently bought a new PC with windows Vista, which I've started to dislike.
I was wondering, my old laptop has a fully functional windows XP as well as a license and an installation CD... Can I use my old license for the new PC if I decide to stop using the laptop?


If possible, how is it done?

If your old laptop has an "OEM" copy of XP, i.e. it was supplied with the laptop by the manufacturer, then you cannot legally transfer the licence to the new PC. Is your Certificate of Authenticity (COA) on the laptop itself, if so, it's almost certainly an OEM licence.

If you phone MS for activation, I would expect that they'll know that your Product key is an OEM one and won't transfer it.

I'd persevere with Vista, MS will stop support for XP soon enough.

[AVus3r]

I have a similar problem in that my hard drive is on its way out and I will need to replace it soon. I currently have a OEM copy of XP on a system I built myself. Can I phone up MS and get it transferred to my fresh installation on my new hard drive. Or do I have to buy a new licence.

[andykn]

I have a similar problem in that my hard drive is on its way out and I will need to replace it soon. I currently have a OEM copy of XP on a system I built myself. Can I phone up MS and get it transferred to my fresh installation on my new hard drive. Or do I have to buy a new licence.

MS have "clarified" things recently. They consider any component change apart from the motherboard as the same computer, so you can reinstall XP on a new drive in the same computer with the same licence it had before.

If you change the motherboard, MS consider this a new computer.

And you aren't allowed to take the hard drive and stick it in another PC either.