How much can you change hardware on XP before buying it a 2nd time?

[davework]

We are close to being at the optimum point of upgrading our hardware to. We might be upgrading the CPU, Ram and Video card within a year. If we instal win XP will it allow us to make that much of a system change with requiring a new license?

 

[HypNoTic]

for a better understanding or the WPA of Windows XP, you should read this

 

[davework]

If I understand that article correctly then my company doesnt have to worry about activation after a hardware change assuming the following;

purchase a full version of Win XP standard for each workstation (we planned on that anyway).
The only hardware changes we plan are faster CPU, more Ram and a new video card.

With those changes in mind we can put off the hardware upgrade until it is optimal for the business and not worry about having to buy win XP a second time for each machine.

again, thanks for the reply and the informative article.

 

[Yomicron]

I believe there is no limit on how many changes you can make before having to buy it again. After you change X number of components, (X changes depending on which devices you change...I think) you have to call MS and explain why your configuration has changed, then they'll re-activate it using the new hardware config. You don't have to buy the software again.

 

[bsobel]

With those changes in mind we can put off the hardware upgrade until it is optimal for the business and not worry about having to buy win XP a second time for each machine.

Yep, you would NEVER need to relicense the OS regardless of how many hardware changes you made. However, if your subject to activation you might need to call in to reactive (which is free)
Bill

 

[Whitedog]

If you get a "Corporate" license for XP, MS will give you a "pre-registered" Code... then you don't ever have to worry about re-registering your computers... ever.

 

[HypNoTic]

FYI,

You can register the same copy a maximum of 8 times during the lifespan of the products, and a maximum of 3 times during the first 30 days.

If you seach the net a little bit, you'll realize the only difference between a corporate edition and a regular edition is the PID (Product ID) that you can change pretty easyly...so you wont have to re-re-re-register the same copy again and again. The main reason to re-register a product is a change of the MAC address (network card) AND of CPU at the same time (count for 50% of the registration string).

 

[Zorro]

Originally posted by: HypNoTic
FYI,

You can register the same copy a maximum of 8 times during the lifespan of the products, and a maximum of 3 times during the first 30 days.

If you seach the net a little bit, you'll realize the only difference between a corporate edition and a regular edition is the PID (Product ID) that you can change pretty easyly...so you wont have to re-re-re-register the same copy again and again. The main reason to re-register a product is a change of the MAC address (network card) AND of CPU at the same time (count for 50% of the registration string).

Please tell me where you found that info.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Whitedog
If you get a "Corporate" license for XP, MS will give you a "pre-registered" Code... then you don't ever have to worry about re-registering your computers... ever.

A corporate license is very expensive.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: HypNoTic
FYI,

You can register the same copy a maximum of 8 times during the lifespan of the products, and a maximum of 3 times during the first 30 days.

If you seach the net a little bit, you'll realize the only difference between a corporate edition and a regular edition is the PID (Product ID) that you can change pretty easyly...so you wont have to re-re-re-register the same copy again and again. The main reason to re-register a product is a change of the MAC address (network card) AND of CPU at the same time (count for 50% of the registration string).

Sounds like a possible violation of the DMCA.... And definitely something a company shouldnt be doing.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: HypNoTic
FYI,

You can register the same copy a maximum of 8 times during the lifespan of the products, and a maximum of 3 times during the first 30 days.

If you seach the net a little bit, you'll realize the only difference between a corporate edition and a regular edition is the PID (Product ID) that you can change pretty easyly...so you wont have to re-re-re-register the same copy again and again. The main reason to re-register a product is a change of the MAC address (network card) AND of CPU at the same time (count for 50% of the registration string).

Sounds like a possible violation of the DMCA.... And definitely something a company shouldnt be doing.

Maybe he doesn't live in the country of screwy laws? 😉

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: HypNoTic
FYI,

You can register the same copy a maximum of 8 times during the lifespan of the products, and a maximum of 3 times during the first 30 days.

If you seach the net a little bit, you'll realize the only difference between a corporate edition and a regular edition is the PID (Product ID) that you can change pretty easyly...so you wont have to re-re-re-register the same copy again and again. The main reason to re-register a product is a change of the MAC address (network card) AND of CPU at the same time (count for 50% of the registration string).

Sounds like a possible violation of the DMCA.... And definitely something a company shouldnt be doing.

Maybe he doesn't live in the country of screwy laws? 😉

Name a country out there that doesnt have screwy laws. 🙂

 

[EeyoreX]

Sounds like a possible violation of the DMCA.... And definitely something a company shouldnt be doing.

Just FYI:

This would technically be illegal only if you used the method to install the OS on more than one machine. If you have a legal licensed copy of the OS and use this method you are not breaking any laws. This was reported in a major magazine (or something similar, I don't have the magazine in front of me and I think it was PC World) as being a viable way to prevent constant re-registering. I don't see PC World as being a magazine that would try to get away with promoting an illegal action.

But again, this is (and they stress) ONLY for a legally purchased copy of XP, and is not to be used as a way to install it more than once on more than one machine.

I can look at my back copies to give the magazine info if anyone is interested sometime when I am not at work.

\Dan

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: EeyoreX

Sounds like a possible violation of the DMCA.... And definitely something a company shouldnt be doing.

Just FYI:

This would technically be illegal only if you used the method to install the OS on more than one machine. If you have a legal licensed copy of the OS and use this method you are not breaking any laws. This was reported in a major magazine (or something similar, I don't have the magazine in front of me and I think it was PC World) as being a viable way to prevent constant re-registering. I don't see PC World as being a magazine that would try to get away with promoting an illegal action.

But again, this is (and they stress) ONLY for a legally purchased copy of XP, and is not to be used as a way to install it more than once on more than one machine.

I can look at my back copies to give the magazine info if anyone is interested sometime when I am not at work.

\Dan

If you happen to be looking at it anyways in the near future, post the name of the lawyer that gave them that information. 🙂

 

[davework]

Thanks for all the help.

Just for gee wiz. Not my company but I am the computer dept. Things get done legal to the letter and then some since its not my money involved!

Thanks!

 

[Frankie]

After reading that article I have a question. I have 3 computers in my house, 2 PC's and a laptop. Did I read right in that I can buy and install 1 copy of Windows XP on all 3 without any problems? That has been one of my biggest problems with XP, in that I'm not going to buy 3 copies of XP for my personal use when all 3 computers are in my house. My other problem is that I upgrade on a regular basis, almost every 1.5 to 2 years..... to me that is regular and that is about how long I can stand without upgrading. 😀 Another question is that someone told me they couldn't get Office 2000 to work on Windows XP. Is that the case?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Frankie
After reading that article I have a question. I have 3 computers in my house, 2 PC's and a laptop. Did I read right in that I can buy and install 1 copy of Windows XP on all 3 without any problems? That has been one of my biggest problems with XP, in that I'm not going to buy 3 copies of XP for my personal use when all 3 computers are in my house.

If I know my licensing (and I dont know it well 😛), you have to have 1 license per computer.

My other problem is that I upgrade on a regular basis, almost every 1.5 to 2 years..... to me that is regular and that is about how long I can stand without upgrading. 😀 Another question is that someone told me they couldn't get Office 2000 to work on Windows XP. Is that the case?

Office 2k shouldnt be a problem.

 

[bacillus]

I have no problems using office 2k with xp!

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

If I know my licensing (and I dont know it well ), you have to have 1 license per computer.

You sir, are correct 🙂

someone told me they couldn't get Office 2000 to work on Windows XP. Is that the case?

Office 2K on XP works just fine.