Computer change

[Travis King]

My grandma has an old Compaq 5340 with a 40GB hard drive
and a 60GB hard drive, 218MB of SDRAM, A 52x24x52 CD
burner, a 56k modem, an AMD Athlon K-6 @ 400MHz, etc. If
I were to build her a new computer, but transferred some
of the parts from her Compaq over to the new computer,
(both hard drives, her burner, and her modem) would I be
able to use XP (the same disc) on her new computer AS
LONG AS I don't use it in her Compaq? Will I have to
have her get XP again even though we will have no more
use from that Compaq with XP?

 

[Jason Rivers]

should be fine, when ACTIVATING XP use telephone, tell them whats happening,
and all should be fine, they'll give you a new key

Jason

 

[davetest]

My grandma has an old Compaq 5340 with a 40GB hard drive
and a 60GB hard drive, 218MB of SDRAM, A 52x24x52 CD
burner, a 56k modem, an AMD Athlon K-6 @ 400MHz, etc. If
I were to build her a new computer, but transferred some
of the parts from her Compaq over to the new computer,
(both hard drives, her burner, and her modem) would I be
able to use XP (the same disc) on her new computer AS
LONG AS I don't use it in her Compaq? Will I have to
have her get XP again even though we will have no more
use from that Compaq with XP?

Assuming you have the retail XP, and not an OEM/Compaq version,
you'll most likely have to speak to Micro$oft.
If you tell them the old PC is essentially dead, at least
with repect to XP; they should allow you to install and activate on
the new PC.
good luck
Dave

 

[Bob Knowlden]

It depends.

If it's a retail XP license, it will be transferable. If you transplant the
hard drive, you'll almost certainly need to do a repair install
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341) to get the
hardware recognized properly. (In brief: change the BIOS setting on the new
system to boot form the CD drive. Boot from the XP CD. Choose to install,
rather than going to the repair console. Under install, choose to repair the
existing installation rather than a new one. You'll lose everything
installed via Windows Update, but it should preserve most files and
settings.) You will have to reactivate it. You may be able to do it over the
Net, but the worst case is that you'd have to make a toll-free call and get
an activation code from a Microsoft employee. (Takes five minutes.)

If it's an OEM license, it may not be possible to activate it in a new
system. (If it's the sort of OEM that is locked to the machine's BIOS, it
wouldn't install on any other make.)

Good luck.

Bob Knowlden

Address may be altered to avoid spam. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[Travis King]

It is retail because we went out and bought XP at Best
Buy.

 

[Alex Nichol]

My grandma has an old Compaq 5340 with a 40GB hard drive
and a 60GB hard drive, 218MB of SDRAM, A 52x24x52 CD
burner, a 56k modem, an AMD Athlon K-6 @ 400MHz, etc. If
I were to build her a new computer, but transferred some
of the parts from her Compaq over to the new computer,
(both hard drives, her burner, and her modem) would I be
able to use XP (the same disc) on her new computer AS
LONG AS I don't use it in her Compaq?

Provided this is a retail copy of XP, and not one that came with that
Compaq (unlikely I would think) or is an 'OEM' one 'for supply only with
a new computer' then you ca\n install it on a new machine, as long as it
is only on one at a time. When it comes to activation, you may find it
will go through on the net anyway - if more than 120 days since you last
did it certainly will. If not, you will have to phone a toll-free
number that will be given, to explain and swap one long number for
another to check back as you type it in

OEM copies are licensed solely for the machine when first installed