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WinXP License Re-usability...

G

grandeCC

Senior member
Has anyone tried to recycle the WinXP license of a dead laptop/PC with new PC?
Lots of saving here without contributing more $$$ to Billy's wealth...

Thanks for the great inputs!!!
To save a few bucks before getting a new license, try Microsoft Sales/Licensing/Registration Team at the following (800) 426-9400 (M-F, 6.00am-5.30pm Pacific Time )
 
I have activated my OEM copy of Win XP on 2 machines...

BUT... You really paid for a license???? 😛
 
You can't do this if you're using an OEM version. Of course, Microsoft specifically says that when you upgrade a system, you're not supposed to upgrade more than a certain number of primary components (1,2, or 3...can't remember)at one time.... It's a very gray area though. It should be in the EULA...

If you have a laptop though from a primary manufacturer, the license on the bottom is supposed to stay with THAT laptop. It seems like a waste, but that's why Microsoft coninues to get rich off us.
 
I haven't tried, but my guess would be something like this:

New PCs that come with Windows are (almost) always running OEM versions of Windows, and it's my understanding that the licenses for those copies are tied to the hardware. However, if you took part of the hardware from that computer and put it in the new computer, you might be able to legally transfer the license. I have no idea what you'd have to do to convince the people who do the product activation nonsense was within the terms of the license agreement, though. Just one more reason to hate copy protection.

If it's a full version of Windows that was installed on the old PC, it's not tied to the hardware at all, so there should be no restriction on moving it to a new PC once you uninstall/delete it from the old one. Again, you'd have to go through the product activation nonsense on the new PC, which sounds like a bit of a crapshoot to me.

If you ever do find out, I would be very interested to know what they had to say about it, and I'm sure a lot of others here would as well.
 
I have a retail copy of XP Professional that I have transferred from one coputer that I built to a new one that I built. Just took a quick call to Microsoft during installation to re-activate on my new computer. All I told them was that is what I was doing. No problem at all.

Hope that helps.
 
You are allowed to use your windows license on any computer that you want. You can just only use it on one at a time. Example: You have a desktop with windows xp on it and you decide you want to build your own pc and save some cash by not purchasing an os. You can uninstall the OS from your old system and legally you are allowed to install it on your new system. The license is not bound to the hardware.

Where this gets tricky is when you reach your activation limit. MS only lets you activate a WXP license so many times and then you end up calling them. I typically use a coporate version of xp so there is no activation involved. This is how corps can roll out 100 xp stations at a time. Build one pc and with a corporate key, run sysprep, blow the image up with ghost. You can then use that image on any amount of pcs you want without dealing with MS and there silly activation policies.
 
why only call microsoft for permission to use your own bought hardware and software? crap i call microsoft when i have to #2 or when i want seconds, "please sir may i have more". its awesome, i gave up all control of my life and no longer make any decisions. it does suck sometimes when there call centers are backed up but its not like i'm asking permission to breathe, that would just be silly.
 
There is no worry about the reactivation thing. When you call up and they say "why did you need to reinstall the OS", you simply reply "none of your business", and they will promptly give you your activation.



j

 
Originally posted by: ILikeMagazines
why only call microsoft for permission to use your own bought hardware and software? crap i call microsoft when i have to #2 or when i want seconds, "please sir may i have more". its awesome, i gave up all control of my life and no longer make any decisions. it does suck sometimes when there call centers are backed up but its not like i'm asking permission to breathe, that would just be silly.
Click to expand...

Because you have to call when it doesnt work, how else can you get it to work? Or are you someone that uses their little hacked ghetto versions of everything.

 
Originally posted by: jfunk
There is no worry about the reactivation thing. When you call up and they say "why did you need to reinstall the OS", you simply reply "none of your business", and they will promptly give you your activation.



j
Click to expand...

LoL...Now thats funny.
 
My neighbor bought a computer from a small local computre shop 3 years ago, since then, she had transfer THAT OEM copy twice (cheap computer, dies young), Microsoft does not seem to mind. They did ask her what brand and where she first bought the computer from. Only way to find out is to call MS.
 
Officially, you are not allowed to install an OEM XP on any other machine than it was first installed on. Even if the first machine dies. As it has been said before, an OEM XP license is officially tied to the hardware.

You are allowed to upgrade the computer as much as you want. But, not the motherboard.

Practically, there is a time limit on the database that contains information about activations. After 3 or 4 months, the data is erased and you can activate again. NOTE: This does not mean that it is legal. I am just trying to explain why some people say that they have activated it more than once.
 
aahaha yea i love talking to outsourced "Jane" from India, i just tell that that my harddrive crashed and they have let me call 3 times within the past 4 months
 
Originally posted by: the Juice
Originally posted by: ILikeMagazines
why only call microsoft for permission to use your own bought hardware and software? crap i call microsoft when i have to #2 or when i want seconds, "please sir may i have more". its awesome, i gave up all control of my life and no longer make any decisions. it does suck sometimes when there call centers are backed up but its not like i'm asking permission to breathe, that would just be silly.
Click to expand...

Because you have to call when it doesnt work, how else can you get it to work? Or are you someone that uses their little hacked ghetto versions of everything.
Click to expand...

Calling Microsoft for tech support is like calling Walmart to find out the differences between DVI and HDMI. Either way you are probably talking to somebody who was in the toilette paper department last week.
 
You can uninstall the OS from your old system and legally you are allowed to install it on your new system. The license is not bound to the hardware.
Click to expand...
If you own a Full Packaged Product (i.e. Full Retail or Retail Upgrade), this is true. As already stated, OEM is permanently bound to the hardware with which the software was distributed.
 
Originally posted by: tcsenter
You can uninstall the OS from your old system and legally you are allowed to install it on your new system. The license is not bound to the hardware.
Click to expand...
If you own a Full Packaged Product (i.e. Full Retail or Retail Upgrade), this is true. As already stated, OEM is permanently bound to the hardware with which the software was distributed.
Click to expand...


So if I take the case fan I bought to satisfy OEM (must be purchased with hardware) requirements and move it with the OS to another system.......

 
Originally posted by: Navid
Officially, you are not allowed to install an OEM XP on any other machine than it was first installed on. Even if the first machine dies. As it has been said before, an OEM XP license is officially tied to the hardware.

You are allowed to upgrade the computer as much as you want. But, not the motherboard.

Practically, there is a time limit on the database that contains information about activations. After 3 or 4 months, the data is erased and you can activate again. NOTE: This does not mean that it is legal. I am just trying to explain why some people say that they have activated it more than once.
Click to expand...


I would like to see where this is stated. I transfer licenses from machine to machine all the time (yes oem) and have never thought I was in violation.
 
Originally posted by: mparr1708


Should have scrolled down a bit more I guess. This is crazy. I've been around PCs for a long time and this has never come up. Also, if this is the case my company is in deep caca. My feeling is this is a rule that was put into place so that MS avoids having a grey area but is very rarely enforced.
Click to expand...

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

Your company may have a special arrangement with Microsoft. I don't know anything about big companies and how they deal with supporting thousands of employees and computers.
 
Seems like there's alot of non-hot deal threads in here lately.

This one stands out with the well-thought out disclaimer/topic summary "Delete me if it's not in the context of this forum". I bet you searched your topic in the hot deals forum before you posted and couldn't come up with any hits. :roll:
 
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