WinXP on multiple machines??

[DLzone]

I just bought windows xp home edition. Is it possible for me to put in on more then one computer? (I have 3) because I would hate to have to buy a copy for each one.

This is not General Hardware related.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[Souljahh]

I'm wondering about the exact same thing.

 

[mcveigh]

ummmm...............no

 

[JHeiderman]

Short Answer: No
Long Answer: N o

- J

 

[John]

Actually the XP eula allows you to install it on 2 pc's. See below for details and decipher at your own will.

 

[Souljahh]

Does it really allow you to install it on two pc's? If so, then I'm fine. I have it installed on my old one and installed it on my new one. Are you sure about the two? I haven't heard that from anyone yet.

 

[John]

read

You could always call MS for confirmation as well....

 

[Workin']

Originally posted by: John
read

You could always call MS for confirmation as well....

This link seems to make it clear that you CAN NOT install it on 2 computers

All the XP OS EULA's I've read allow installation on only ONE computer. Office XP lets you install it on your desktop and laptop, but every current MS OS license requires one license per machine.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Workin'
All the XP OS EULA's I've read allow installation on only ONE computer. Office XP lets you install it on your desktop and laptop, but every current MS OS license requires one license per machine.

Also, Microsoft is adding a three-day grace period for people that use the same product key to install XP on two different systems; in the past, there was no grace period and the user had to immediately activation via phone in order to use XP on the second system. This will give users some breathing room if disaster strikes and you have to install XP on a new system.


What I gather from the paragraph above is that it is legal to install XP Home/Pro on the original owners two computer systems, requiring you to call MS to activate the 2nd system. However another way to decipher the info above would be that your original PC crashed and burned, and you were no longer going to use the system anymore (doesn't make sense). You are then going to build a new PC and use the original copy of XP that was on the other system. As "workin'" stated you can install Office on 2 systems, so it is possible MS carried over the same policy. I have not taken the time to read the entire EULA for Win XP so I cannot comment on the accuracy.

 

[Workin']

This will give users some breathing room if disaster strikes and you have to install XP on a new system.

However another way to decipher the info above would be that your original PC crashed and burned, and you were no longer going to use the system anymore (doesn't make sense). You are then going to build a new PC and use the original copy of XP that was on the other system.

Sounds pretty clear to me, that is the intent of the 3-day clause. And I have forced myself to read the EULA for the retail and OEM versions of XP, since I sell computer systems with Microsoft software pre-installed and I do not like to pay fines or talk to lawyers.

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: John
Actually the XP eula allows you to install it on 2 pc's. See below for details and decipher at your own will.

MS has *never* allowed you to install an OS on 2 computers in the EULA. The *Office* products allow you to install one copy on a laptop and on a desktop, but that doesn't apply to the operating system EULA.