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Window XP uprade: is it re-usable?

videopho

Diamond Member
Bought a Win XP upgrade copy @ Costco years ago then used it to upgrade one of my PCs from Win 98.
That PC now is rusting off somewhere in the landfill.
Is my XP upgrade copy still valid if I decide to give it to someone else who may need it?
 
Yeah, it is still legal as long as you only have that copy installed on one pc at a time.

There are some catches, however:
1. For an upgrade, the person is going to have to have Windows 95, 98, or ME on their computer, unless the copy you own is XP Pro, then any previous Windows will work. With home, however, only 95, 98, and ME.

2. Whenever the person you give it to installs it, the activation is not going to work. They are going to have to call MS and get a new activation number. Be sure and let them know, so it does not come as a surprise.
 
Agree with regnez! As for the activation, since this is a retail version, you might be able to do this auto online. The worst scenarion is calling and talking to a computer to activate it.
 
Originally posted by: regnez
Yeah, it is still legal as long as you only have that copy installed on one pc at a time.

There are some catches, however:
1. For an upgrade, the person is going to have to have Windows 95, 98, or ME on their computer, unless the copy you own is XP Pro, then any previous Windows will work. With home, however, only 95, 98, and ME.

2. Whenever the person you give it to installs it, the activation is not going to work. They are going to have to call MS and get a new activation number. Be sure and let them know, so it does not come as a surprise.

#1 is partially wrong, you DO NOT need to have WIn98, or ME "installed" on your PC. You just need the cd.

I have WinXP Pro Upgrade, and everytime I install it, all it asks for is a previous windows CD (for me that would be Win2k). So, when you install it, just have your old cd ready, for when it asks to insert it into the CD drive.
 
Originally posted by: Shamrock
I have WinXP Pro Upgrade, and everytime I install it, all it asks for is a previous windows CD (for me that would be Win2k). So, when you install it, just have your old cd ready, for when it asks to insert it into the CD drive.

He's right, I should have mentioned that in my first response.

I actually do the same thing as Shamrock when installing Windows, except instead of using 2K I have an old copy of 98.

 
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