Does Winodws XP need to be "deactivated" on one PC to be installed on another?

[Via]

I googled, but evidently not well because I couldn't find the answer.

I have a complete, non-OEM copy of XP that I might want to install on a laptop. I had originally installed it on a desktop around six years ago. I've lost track of the HD it was installed on.

The last time the PC that it was installed on accessed the internet was about two years ago.

Am I safe to install and activate it on another PC, or are there some hoops I need to jump through?

Thanks

 

[Dahak]

You should be fine, the worse case would be you have to call the activation line and get it activated that way

 

[Via]

Thanks. I just wanted to be sure.

My dad got that message from Microsoft all of those years ago saying his copy of XP wasn't valid and demanding payment. I'd like to avoid any "surprises".

 

[postmortemIA]

I think 3 activations in 90 days is what triggers activation server to "question you". Everything less that that should be fine.

 

[postmark]

I think I heard something about the xp license server online only caching for about 10 days now instead of 90. So it's something like 3 installs in 10 days now.

 

[ViRGE]

My dad got that message from Microsoft all of those years ago saying his copy of XP wasn't valid and demanding payment. I'd like to avoid any "surprises".

Slightly off topic, but MS doesn't do that (demand payment). If you paid up you were had.

 

[Via]

Perhaps I'm not remembering right. Maybe MS didn't demand payment, they just threatened to neuter the OS if you didn't buy a valid key.

I'm not sure exactly what my dad ended up doing, I just remember the little notice in a box on the bottom left side of the screen saying your OS is invalid or something. I thought a fair number of people got that message.

 

[ViRGE]

Perhaps I'm not remembering right. Maybe MS didn't demand payment, they just threatened to neuter the OS if you didn't buy a valid key.

I'm not sure exactly what my dad ended up doing, I just remember the little notice in a box on the bottom left side of the screen saying your OS is invalid or something. I thought a fair number of people got that message.

Ahh. Failing Windows Genuine Advantage would be something different altogether.

 

[FalseChristian]

I have a $99.99 OEM copy of Window 7 64-bit HP SP1. Am I legal to use this if ever I drastically change my computer? If not I will wait for Windows 8.1's release and buy a retail copy of it at full price.

Thanks.

 

[ViRGE]

I have a $99.99 OEM copy of Window 7 64-bit HP SP1. Am I legal to use this if ever I drastically change my computer? If not I will wait for Windows 8.1's release and buy a retail copy of it at full price.

Thanks.

Win7 OEM is tied to the first motherboard it's installed to. So if you were to significantly upgrade your computer such that the motherboard was also upgraded, then you would be in violation of the license for that edition. Win7 OEM is cheap because you can't reuse it, unlike retail.