Windows XP Pro License Issue

[Liver]

I bought an academic version of Win XP Pro (upgrade) and did a clean install on my computer (a new hard drive) about a year ago.

I used my OEM Windows 2K Pro CD as validation.

Can I legally install the Win 2K now? It is not being used anywhere else, except for the installation of WinXP.

Thanks

Liver

 

[stars]

Yes you can still legally install 2k.

 

[nweaver]

I actually don't think you can, as it's tied to that PC as part of the upgrade. I would check the license agreement of both the OEM 2K (very restrictive on moving the license) and XP Upgrade.

 

[corkyg]

You don't have an XP Pro license issue - you have a Win2K license issue.

I see no problem with your using W2K on a different machine. If necessary, you can always call Microsoft and get permission.

 

[jaykleg]

I'm a little confused by your assertion that the academic Windows XP Pro license is an "upgrade". I wasn't aware that academic licenses were ever anything but full licenses. If it is, indeed, an upgrade license, then the Windows 2000 Professional license which was used as an upgrade basis is not supposed to be used on another system concurrently while the Windows XP Pro Upgrade license is in use.

In addition to that issue you have stated that the Windows 2000 Professional license was an OEM license. If it was an OEM installation that came with the computer originally. That license is not supposed to be used on any computer but the one with which it came.

You should be able to discern these facts from reading the End User License Agreements that came with the licenses.

If in doubt, I suggest calling Microsoft, as suggested by corkyg. Give them the straight of it, and they will tell you what the provisions of the EULAs mean.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: jaykleg
I'm a little confused by your assertion that the academic Windows XP Pro license is an "upgrade". I wasn't aware that academic licenses were ever anything but full licenses. If it is, indeed, an upgrade license, then the Windows 2000 Professional license which was used as an upgrade basis is not supposed to be used on another system concurrently while the Windows XP Pro Upgrade license is in use.

http://www.gradware.com/ProductDetailT.asp?ProductID=5002

 

[jaykleg]

Interesting. All our academic software, and all that I've seen others using, was purchased directly from Microsoft online. I didn't remember ever seeing upgrade versions in the list.

So, I'd guess that, if the originator of the thread is using an upgrade version, that pretty much cinches it that he can't use the Windows 2000 license on a different system (even if it ISN"T an OEM Windows version) without violating the EULA.

 

[Liver]

I did not realize it was a upgrade issue of XP when I bought it. I bought it from Newegg, I suppose I did not read the entire description.

So the upgrade version, techinically, can be quite a bit more expensive than the "normal, retail" if it takes another copy of Windows to load it. Interesting.

Liver