Re: transfer unused oem XP home from hard drive to my laptop

Preinstalled OEM versions of Windows XP are
non-transferrable to a different computer. The
license is permanently tied to the original computer
it shipped with.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"DNA" wrote:

Bought a new computer a year ago that came with preinstalled "XP home".
Already had XP Pro and installed a bigger hard drive with the XP Pro in the
computer. Never used the other Hard drive. Now want to transfer XP Home (oem)
from unused hard drive to new hard drive in old laptop (dell latitude). Can I
do it?

DNA <DNA@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Thanks for the response but are you saying I couldn't put the hard drive in
>another computer and have it work? Or migrate it to another hard drive?
>

If the computer was from a large OEM then they probably used a "BIOS
Locked" OEM version which means that it cannot be activated on a
computer that does not come from that same OEM.

If it was from a very small OEM, such as one that uses the generic OEM
installation CDs from Microsoft then what you propose might be
possible, although perhaps not legitmate in terms of the End User
License Agreement. But if the XP CD has the name/logo of the OEM on
it or if it has a hidden "System Recovery" partition on the hard drive
instead of a CD then it is almost certainly BIOS Locked.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."