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Windows XP Transferring

S

Shadow Conception

Golden Member
So, here's my situation. I'm getting a "new" rig in which I'm gonna take everything out of this Dell, and stick it in a new mobo and case, including the hard drives. My two questions.

a) Would a simple transfer of hard drives work? Anything I could do to make it work, if not?

and

b) Assuming that the possibility above is just not, err, possible. I have an XP Upgrade CD, that's used. Could I install Windows 98/2000 on the new rig and then upgrade it to XP with that specific CD? As in, me using that CD, and then calling Microsoft for a new key, and so on?

In case you care, specs:
Intel Pentium 4, 3.0GHz w/HT Technology
1.25GB DDR RAM
256MB ATI Radeon X1950GT
Fortron 450W PSU

Everything is carryover from the Dimension 3000 except for the mobo, PSU, and graphics card.
 
A simple transfer of Hard Drives will not work for many reasons.

1): Hardware incompatability would require at least a Repair Install of Windows to work properly.

2): Windows might not activate and would require a call to Microsoft,

3): The OS currently on your hard drive in the Dell is a Dell OEM License of XP and can not legally
be used on a Non Dell Motherboard.

4): As to using Windows 98 / 2000 and then doing an Upgrade to XP, again not Legal as you said the
XP Upgrade Disc was in use ... meaning it's license iis Activated ... so that is a no go.

Legally, unless you have a Retail Copy of XP that is not Installed with it's License Key, you need a new
copy of XP ... or Vista if you want it
 
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
If I decide to format the computer in question and erase it of its XP installation, it becomes legal however, though?
Click to expand...

The Dell OEM version is tied to that motherboard, as such you can't move it to another, that was the point that bruceb was trying to make. Now if that is a retail version (which is unlikely if it came with that Dell), then yes you can move it.
 
Nono, I understood that part.

I meant that if I decided to use the other XP Upgrade CD that I have. Well, that's probably what I'm gonna do anyway.
 
You did not properly interpret my intital reply as to use of your Upgrade CD

You said in your first post: "I have an XP Upgrade CD, that's used. Could I install Windows 98/2000 on the new rig and then upgrade it to XP with that specific CD?
As in, me using that CD, and then calling Microsoft for a new key, and so on?"

Assuming the License Key that came with that CD is in use, then NO you can not call Microsoft for a new Key .. It is ONE Key per Copy of the OS
 
Just get a new Windows license. They sell them. If you want to cheat the system and commit piracy, you might as well do it the usual way, rather than coming here to ask about half-baked methods.
 
Originally posted by: bruceb
You did not properly interpret my intital reply as to use of your Upgrade CD

You said in your first post: "I have an XP Upgrade CD, that's used. Could I install Windows 98/2000 on the new rig and then upgrade it to XP with that specific CD?
As in, me using that CD, and then calling Microsoft for a new key, and so on?"

Assuming the License Key that came with that CD is in use, then NO you can not call Microsoft for a new Key .. It is ONE Key per Copy of the OS
Click to expand...

But I thought if you had a copy of XP, you could transfer it to any computer you wanted, as long as the previous installation was ridden of? 😵
 
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Originally posted by: bruceb
You did not properly interpret my intital reply as to use of your Upgrade CD

You said in your first post: "I have an XP Upgrade CD, that's used. Could I install Windows 98/2000 on the new rig and then upgrade it to XP with that specific CD?
As in, me using that CD, and then calling Microsoft for a new key, and so on?"

Assuming the License Key that came with that CD is in use, then NO you can not call Microsoft for a new Key .. It is ONE Key per Copy of the OS
Click to expand...

But I thought if you had a copy of XP, you could transfer it to any computer you wanted, as long as the previous installation was ridden of? 😵
Click to expand...

yes, as part of the license agreement as I understand it they (being MS) allows you to install the software using the provided CDKey on one system. If you wish to use that copy again you must destroy the old install. However, they cannot detect if you are using it on a different system so it's a grey area as far as what you do with it IMO. I mean legally you're not supposed to install it twice, but people do and nobody knows *shrug*

I don't know if this is all correct, but this is what I got from it. Most OS do this, you can install it on ONE machine, if you upgrade to a new Mobo and CPU and need to reinstall you can (this is akin to buying a new PC). You cannot however, install it twice using the same CDKey/license and run it at the same time on 2 seperate systems without buying 2 licenses.


I have heard that the upgrade disk can be used to do a full install somehow, but I do not know how that works.
 
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Originally posted by: bruceb
You did not properly interpret my intital reply as to use of your Upgrade CD

You said in your first post: "I have an XP Upgrade CD, that's used. Could I install Windows 98/2000 on the new rig and then upgrade it to XP with that specific CD?
As in, me using that CD, and then calling Microsoft for a new key, and so on?"

Assuming the License Key that came with that CD is in use, then NO you can not call Microsoft for a new Key .. It is ONE Key per Copy of the OS
Click to expand...

But I thought if you had a copy of XP, you could transfer it to any computer you wanted, as long as the previous installation was ridden of? 😵
Click to expand...

yes, as part of the license agreement as I understand it they (being MS) allows you to install the software using the provided CDKey on one system. If you wish to use that copy again you must destroy the old install. However, they cannot detect if you are using it on a different system so it's a grey area as far as what you do with it IMO. I mean legally you're not supposed to install it twice, but people do and nobody knows *shrug*

I don't know if this is all correct, but this is what I got from it. Most OS do this, you can install it on ONE machine, if you upgrade to a new Mobo and CPU and need to reinstall you can (this is akin to buying a new PC). You cannot however, install it twice using the same CDKey/license and run it at the same time on 2 seperate systems without buying 2 licenses.
Click to expand...

Basically, Microsoft's position is:

Retail copies of their OS can be installed on one system at a time, but you can upgrade that system however you want and/or move the OS to a new system at any time (provided it is only installed on one system at a time).

OEM copies of their OS are 'married' to the first computer they are installed on. For a PC, this basically means that copy of the OS has to be used with the same motherboard (but you can upgrade/replace anything else). If the motherboard breaks, you're supposed to try to replace it with the same model. If it's no longer available, you can get a new motherboard and keep the OEM license. Otherwise, you cannot replace the motherboard and keep the license, or move the license to another PC. If you sell the motherboard the OS license is supposed to go with it.

If you have two computers, you need two keys/licenses to be legal. The provisions about not moving/upgrading OEM copies are a little questionable, but it seems unlikely that a US court would rule that you can legally buy one copy and install it on multiple systems when the intent of Microsoft's licensing is clearly the opposite of that. A ruling like this would completely screw a lot of software companies.

I have heard that the upgrade disk can be used to do a full install somehow, but I do not know how that works.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's some procedure you can go through that will let you do a full install from an upgrade CD. However, you're still supposed to actually own something that you can upgrade from, and you shouldn't be using that key anymore after upgrading.
 
Alright, I'm gonna just try and do a direct transfer of hard drives. If I use an XP CD I have and attempt to do a "Repair Install" of Windows XP, will it boot up properly?
 
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Alright, I'm gonna just try and do a direct transfer of hard drives. If I use an XP CD I have and attempt to do a "Repair Install" of Windows XP, will it boot up properly?
Click to expand...
Your Dell's OEM Windows license doesn't entitle you to transfer it. It's stuck to the Dell in more than just the literal sense 😉 How about get a new Windows license?
 
Yeah, I think I might just do that.

Other, if I'm feeling cheap that day, I'll just get out my (uninstalled) copy of Windows 2000 Professional and stick that in. 😛

But wow, Dell and Microsoft strive to make as much money as possible, don't they? -_-
 
Arghh should I just install Vista though? I have a legitimate Vista Upgrade CD right next to me, and it's tempting, but I'm frightened that my gaming performance would suck, and/or the X1950GT wouldn't even be supported.
 
Read the fine print of the EULA for the OS license. Some EULAs do allow for a 1-time transfer to another machine. A number of Compaq PCs with OEM Windows 2000 had that in their EULAs. 🙂
 
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