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Want to use my Win XP Home OEM for another build...

Caveman

Platinum Member
I'm building a new rig...

First rig I used the somftware on is 3 years old...

I reinstalled Windows on that same machine after a reformat about 4 months ago. Now, I want to build a completely new rig and use the software on the new rig. Not looking to abuse my "rights" as a consumer but I am curious if XP can be installed on this new machine with no hassle...

Yes?

 
There might be some hassle. It is possible that when you try to activate XP, it will tell you that your hardware has changed and that you need to call MS. Search for "Question on OEM Licenses" under Operating systems in Anandtech forums.
 
4moths, it might ask you to call to activate because it had allready been used, however i reinstalled and activated my OEM version like 8 times in 5 days when i was having some serious comp issues and i didnt have to call in and get it working
 
The XP activation rolls over after 120 days i.e. your details are supposedly expunged from Microsoft's computer, so if you give it another week or so then you should be able to reinstall on your new system and activate without running into any hassle.
 
OEM OS is suposed to be tied to the hardware that you bought it with......................SO................you would be breaking the EULA to install on another machine.
 
If I understand the EULA correctly, the OS is yours, but if you want to put it on another rig, you have to uninstall the other installation. You cant have the same OS installed on two different rigs, that's a violation of the agreement. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's how it goes.
 
so let me see if i got this straight...

you can deactivate winxp as many times as you want and use it on as many computers you want with as many different hardware configs as you want, but only can do this on one pc at a time?
 
This is kinda confusing. I work for a retail store and recently I requested some information from microsoft on this exact topic. This is what I understand.

Retail and OEM copies of Windows OS's are treated very differently. If you have a retail copy you may use it on another compter as long as you have removed it from the first one. Now, this is not true for OEM copies. The oem software is linked directly to your hardware in Microsoft's mind. So you're not able to transfer it even if the original machine doesn't work or isn't being used. Why the OEM is seen differently from the Retail copy, I don't know. Here is a link to microsoft's website where it says basically what I just wrote

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/YourPC_do.mspx

I hope this helps you out.
 
Originally posted by: gamesandguns
This is kinda confusing. I work for a retail store and recently I requested some information from microsoft on this exact topic. This is what I understand.

Retail and OEM copies of Windows OS's are treated very differently. If you have a retail copy you may use it on another compter as long as you have removed it from the first one. Now, this is not true for OEM copies. The oem software is linked directly to your hardware in Microsoft's mind. So you're not able to transfer it even if the original machine doesn't work or isn't being used. Why the OEM is seen differently from the Retail copy, I don't know. Here is a link to microsoft's website where it says basically what I just wrote

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/YourPC_do.mspx

I hope this helps you out.

Agreed. This is what MS wants you to think. However, I have yet to find any information on this issue in the EULA, where it should be. Can anybody point me to the right spot?
 
well all i want to do is to install xp on my old system and test it out for less than 30 days, or just long enough for me to get my new one built and then install it on there. so if i don't activate it will i be able to do this?
 
Thats interesting because I was about to do the same. Uninstall XP from my older P4 1.7ghz and install it on new Athlon 64 rig. So do I have to buy a new copy now? I will never use the old machine anymore?
 
Why the OEM is seen differently from the Retail copy, I don't know.

Because it's only supposed to be sold by OEMs. You're supposed to buy a whole PC from someone like HP and you and they both get a discount on the Windows license because it's OEM and tied to that machine and with the next PC you buy you have to get a new Windows license.

There's nothing technically different, it's just licensing.

Not looking to abuse my "rights" as a consumer but I am curious if XP can be installed on this new machine with no hassle...

If the hardware that came with your OEM copy is not in the new machine, it's illegal to install Windows on that machine. Will it work anyway? Sure. It's up to you whether or not you want to run a pirated copy of Windows.

Uninstall XP from my older P4 1.7ghz and install it on new Athlon 64 rig. So do I have to buy a new copy now? I will never use the old machine anymore?

You only have to buy a new copy if the old on was OEM and the hardware it came with is not in the new machine. If you bought a 'normal' retail copy of XP, then it's legally yours no matter what machine you install it on but you can only legally have it on one machine at a time.
 
Both "gamesandguns" and "Nothinman" hit the bullseye.

If you want to take the OEM version that came with your dell (example) and slap it on a pc you build from scratch, you'll have to crack the activation. the OEM version is intended to stay with the PC it came with and you would have to head out and purchase a retail copy. Which is why most manus are releaseing their PC's with "RESTORE CD's" and not an actual OS installtion CD. The last time i ever heard of a manu releasing an OEM version without a restore cd was around the win 98se era.
 
How do I know is I have an OEM version? I have the Windows CD, Green booklet and the serial number sticker.
 
Well never mind I do have an OEM version. Will it work if I use the same hardware components from my P4 such as video card, sound card, memory and cd-roms?
 
Don't get so technical about it. If you purchased the copy of XP yourself and installed it yourself on your own computer, you probably aren't using a restore cd, which means if you want to move it to another computer you can. Uninstall it from whatever computer you are using, and install it on your new rig. When you are prompted for your activation key, punch it in. It may take it, it may not. If it doesn't, there is a number you can call that's toll-free. Call it and tell the person your key and he'll give you the activation code. if he asks whether you had it installed before just say yes, but that you had to do a reinstall or whatever. just tell him whatever, the'll give it to ya.

I am always installing OS's on different computers depending on which one i need(gaming, server, testing, etc), so usually i just end up calling and say, "Yea, I just had to reinstall my OS. System crashed...blah blah blah."

That easy.
No Sweat.
 
If you purchased the copy of XP yourself and installed it yourself on your own computer, you probably aren't using a restore cd, which means if you want to move it to another computer you can.

Legally it's not so cut and dry. Yes, technically that will work 90% of the time, but it's still illegal.
 
The whole reason I'm asking the question is because I'm about to do a system builds and need my old rig to run while I build in case I run into any issues... So, uninstalling it on the old rig is out of the question. I hope I can use it on the new rig... I have no "wrong intention", my old rig will collect dust when I'm done...

 
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