Installing XP Home on 2nd computer

T

Tommy Chenault

I have a legally purchased, registered copy of XP home
installed on my primary home computer. I want to take an
older computer and set it up for my son to use (he's at
that age now). The second computer has Windows ME
installed, but I want to get rid of it and install XP
home. Windows ME is a nighmare and kept locking up,
that's why I installed XP when I had a new computer built.

I was told that I cannot put my copy of XP on the second
computer because it will not let me register the same ID
# on 2 computers. Is this true?? I need it registered
to get the updates. I'm not going to buy another copy of
a program I already legally own and plan to use in my
home on computers I already own.

Thanks
 
N

Nicholas

Windows XP requires a separate license (Product Key) for each
installation on a different computer. Otherwise, Product Activation
will fail on the second computer installation. So, you need to purchase
a new license (Product Key) for another installation.

Read your Windows XP End-User License Agreement:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

It clearly states that you may only install one (1) copy
of Windows XP on just one (1) computer. You will
need a new license (Product Key) for each new
installation on a different computer.

Also, open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
and click on "Questions and Answers about the
End User License Agreement".

To purchase an additional Windows XP license, visit:

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Additional licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp


--
Nicholas

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


| I have a legally purchased, registered copy of XP home
| installed on my primary home computer. I want to take an
| older computer and set it up for my son to use (he's at
| that age now). The second computer has Windows ME
| installed, but I want to get rid of it and install XP
| home. Windows ME is a nighmare and kept locking up,
| that's why I installed XP when I had a new computer built.
|
| I was told that I cannot put my copy of XP on the second
| computer because it will not let me register the same ID
| # on 2 computers. Is this true?? I need it registered
| to get the updates. I'm not going to buy another copy of
| a program I already legally own and plan to use in my
| home on computers I already own.
|
| Thanks
 
C

Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)

Snip

I'm not going to buy another copy of
a program I already legally own and plan to use in my
home on computers I already own.

Thanks

If you're not going to, and you do otherwise, you are a thief!
 
M

Mike Brannigan [MSFT]

Tommy,

As Nicholas has already covered all of the appropriate responses, you just
need to be aware that Windows has only ever been licensed on a one copy per
machine.
You should check that all of your PCs are properly licensed - in that you
have a bought and paid for (or came with the machine) copy of Windows for
each and every PC you are running Windows on.
You should also be aware that the use of an upgrade version of Windows XP
removes the ability to use the license for the version of Windows that was
on the PC or is used as the qualifying product. So for example, if you
have a PC with Windows ME on it and you use an upgrade Windows XP on that
machine - you no longer have a license or right to use the copy of Windows
ME that was on that PC elsewhere, as it's license is subsumed into the
Windows XP license now in use on that PC. This is why the upgrade is
cheaper it takes into account the existing license that is becoming part of
it.
I was told that I cannot put my copy of XP on the second
computer because it will not let me register the same ID
# on 2 computers. Is this true?? I need it registered
to get the updates. I'm not going to buy another copy of
a program I already legally own and plan to use in my
home on computers I already own.

You bought a copy of Windows XP that is covered by a license agreement on
its use that you agree to when you install the product. Your ownership of
the hardware is not a factor, nor the fact that they are in your home.
If you install Windows on a PC then you need to have a valid license
("bought and paid for"), THAT PC.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups
 
S

Shenan T. Stanley

Tommy Chenault said:
I have a legally purchased, registered copy of XP home
installed on my primary home computer. I want to take an
older computer and set it up for my son to use (he's at
that age now). The second computer has Windows ME
installed, but I want to get rid of it and install XP
home. Windows ME is a nighmare and kept locking up,
that's why I installed XP when I had a new computer built.

I was told that I cannot put my copy of XP on the second
computer because it will not let me register the same ID
# on 2 computers. Is this true?? I need it registered
to get the updates. I'm not going to buy another copy of
a program I already legally own and plan to use in my
home on computers I already own.

Thanks

There are a lot of people who want to "oppose the Licensing practices".
You are not alone and a lot of the people who will be responding to you
will either be against you or merely explaining what you did previously
(with WindME or 9x) was against the EULA that came with those products
as well and now the product activation helps to enforce the EULA and
others will respond to them saying that the EULA doesn't mean anything
and still others will respond in a flamatory manner, just letting their
emotions get the best of them.

The hard facts are that if you read the End User License Agreement you
clicked OK or CONTINUE to when you installed the product, the text does tell
you that you can install this copy of the software and activate it on only
ONE machine. I would suggest reading more up on this at Microsoft's site..

Learn more about the EULA and Windows XP Product Activation:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/overviews/activation.asp

Order Additional Licenses:
Home:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp
Pro:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp

As for whether or not you have a leg to stand on "fighting the man" ->
Depends on how much time, resources, etc you have. It also depends on your
own moral code and the laws where you live. In truth, you did agree to the
EULA, read it or not, when you installed the OS and especially when you
activated the product. Of course, this has always been true (Win95, Win98,
WinME, WinNT, Win2000) for the Windows OSs, that installing onto multiple
computers with only a single copy(single license) was against the EULA you
agreed to when you installed. Just that "XP's Activation" makes it
"supposedly" more difficult to get around.

I have no opinion to give either way and leave each user to their own
decision, as all the information you need exists out on the Internet, in
other places in this newsgroup and in print elsewhere. However, with that
single registration number, you will not be able to activate the other
computers without with-holding information, lying when asked direct
questions, or finding 'other means' to install Windows XP onto multiple
machines without ever activating.

Owning a license for XP is like owning an analog plug-into-the-wall
(non-cordless) telephone. You get ONE per room.. If you take it into
another room, it is only in that room until you drag it elsewhere - and
unless you unplug it from the wall and plug it into another port - you have
to run a really long cord and stretch it. If you have one license of XP for
one machine, in order to use it on another PC - you have to either move it
completely to that PC or you have to "stretch the law" and find a way around
the activation. You own a single license. You can use it on a single
machine. Legally that is.

--
Shenan Stanley
"Just trying to help"
-------------------------
How to use XPs Help and Support
http://tinyurl.com/fltf

How to Use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups
http://tinyurl.com/fkja

How to use Google
http://www.google.com/help/basics.html
http://tinyurl.com/fkmc
-------------------------
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Greetings --

What planet are you from? Does your local grocer let you walk out
of the market with two loaves of bread when you've paid for only one?
Can you drive two cars home if you've paid for only one? Does your
local clothier allow you to leave the shop with two shirts if you've
purchased only one? Have you noticed a trend, yet? Where in the
world did you ever get the absurd idea that software manufacturers
would sell their products any differently?

As it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating systems,
it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and copyright
laws, if not technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each
computer on which it is installed. The only way in which WinXP
licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is that
Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft
mechanism, Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more
difficult) the sort of multiple installations you're asking about.


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
 
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Let me get back to something I’ve seen as a 'root' of the question...

Suppose I am a family man having two children. One I struggle to get money for to complete college, and another I struggle to keep out of trouble. Say I have rent payments we rarely meet, car insurance and maintained to pay for, and the only thing that keeps our family together is our good graces with the landlord.
Empathize, just for a moment…
In this hypothetical situation, I have managed to keep certain luxuries, and for the most part kept these luxuries legal. A good friend of mine recently gave me an old Toshiba Satellite of his, with the intent that I could give it to my daughter, freshman in college, so that she may have her own computer to use. Now, I have two desktop computers at home, which I have built and maintained over the last few years. They are nothing special, but they run, and work well for my son and wife. Both of these computers I have legal copies of windows XP Home Edition, again, I worked slow using an old version of win98 until I was able to purchase XP (and be legal).
Recently, something has happened however, a family matter of sorts, but my daughter was in the hospital for many days, and although the insurance did mostly cover that matter… it lead to something else. You see, I made a mistake, I did not teach my daughter about how insurance companies work, and she went to get medication (needed in response to the reason she was in the hospital) and did not first go through her primary care doctor. All this said, we have an unexpected expense upwards of 400$ paying for this medication she needs.



….with this situation (and please continue to sympathize), suppose, hypothetically, I have found a way around verifying a copy of Windows XP. Although in the past I may have saved up and purchased a legal copy of XP, I am not able to do this at this point in time.

The simple question at hand is; will I be able to use Microsoft’s ‘Auto Update’ to receive updates?

Will my system not be recognized-- translating that I would simply do without that added luxury? Would it possibly crash both of my XP systems, (the one which was legally verified, and the other which was not)?


It is rather depressing really, that certain things must cost so much, especially when we have no control over it. I ask everyone who responds to anything concerning licensing, simply be polite and understand that not everyone has the ability to go out and purchase another license. (.. I have noticed many rude and hotheaded responses to people on numerous threads.)
 
S

Shenan Stanley

gavin3 said:
Let me get back to something I’ve seen as a 'root' of the question...

Suppose I am a family man having two children. One I struggle to get
money for to complete college, and another I struggle to keep out of
trouble. Say I have rent payments we rarely meet, car insurance and
maintained to pay for, and the only thing that keeps our family
together is our good graces with the landlord.
Empathize, just for a moment…
In this hypothetical situation, I have managed to keep certain
luxuries, and for the most part kept these luxuries legal. A good
friend of mine recently gave me an old Toshiba Satellite of his, with
the intent that I could give it to my daughter, freshman in college,
so that she may have her own computer to use. Now, I have two desktop
computers at home, which I have built and maintained over the last few
years. They are nothing special, but they run, and work well for my
son and wife. Both of these computers I have legal copies of windows
XP Home Edition, again, I worked slow using an old version of win98
until I was able to purchase XP (and be legal).
Recently, something has happened however, a family matter of sorts,
but my daughter was in the hospital for many days, and although the
insurance did mostly cover that matter… it lead to something else. You
see, I made a mistake, I did not teach my daughter about how insurance
companies work, and she went to get medication (needed in response to
the reason she was in the hospital) and did not first go through her
primary care doctor. All this said, we have an unexpected expense
upwards of 400$ paying for this medication she needs.



….with this situation (and please continue to sympathize), suppose,
hypothetically, I have found a way around verifying a copy of Windows
XP. Although in the past I may have saved up and purchased a legal
copy of XP, I am not able to do this at this point in time.

The simple question at hand is; will I be able to use Microsoft’s
‘Auto Update’ to receive updates?

Will my system not be recognized-- translating that I would simply do
without that added luxury? Would it possibly crash both of my XP
systems, (the one which was legally verified, and the other which was
not)?


It is rather depressing really, that certain things must cost so much,
especially when we have no control over it. I ask everyone who
responds to anything concerning licensing, simply be polite and
understand that not everyone has the ability to go out and purchase
another license. (.. I have noticed many rude and hotheaded responses
to people on numerous threads.)

Empathy/Sympathy does not change Right/Wrong.
Of course Right/Wrong depends on point of view and interpretation.

To answer your long-winded question in a short manner..
There's ways around everything and many people (and businesses) employ these
ways everyday and for some time now..
(Be it software or other things.)
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

A Windows XP license can only be used once on
one computer. A second installation requires a second
license.

From the Windows XP EULA:

1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the Software on a single
computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other
device ("Workstation Computer"). The Software may not
be used by more than two (2) processors at any one
time on any single Workstation Computer.

Please read your End-User License Agreement by going
to Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter. Then
click on "End-User License Agreement".

If you already have a retail copy of Windows XP, you can obtain
additional licenses for another computer or laptop by visiting the
following Microsoft Web site:
http://shop.microsoft.com/special/wal/walinfo.asp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

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

:

| Let me get back to something I've seen as a 'root' of the question...
|
| Suppose I am a family man having two children. One I struggle to get
| money for to complete college, and another I struggle to keep out of
| trouble. Say I have rent payments we rarely meet, car insurance and
| maintained to pay for, and the only thing that keeps our family
| together is our good graces with the landlord.
| Empathize, just for a moment.
| In this hypothetical situation, I have managed to keep certain
| luxuries, and for the most part kept these luxuries legal. A good
| friend of mine recently gave me an old Toshiba Satellite of his, with
| the intent that I could give it to my daughter, freshman in college, so
| that she may have her own computer to use. Now, I have two desktop
| computers at home, which I have built and maintained over the last few
| years. They are nothing special, but they run, and work well for my son
| and wife. Both of these computers I have legal copies of windows XP Home
| Edition, again, I worked slow using an old version of win98 until I was
| able to purchase XP (and be legal).
| Recently, something has happened however, a family matter of sorts, but
| my daughter was in the hospital for many days, and although the
| insurance did mostly cover that matter. it lead to something else. You
| see, I made a mistake, I did not teach my daughter about how insurance
| companies work, and she went to get medication (needed in response to
| the reason she was in the hospital) and did not first go through her
| primary care doctor. All this said, we have an unexpected expense
| upwards of 400$ paying for this medication she needs.
|
|
|
| ..with this situation (and please continue to sympathize), suppose,
| hypothetically, I have found a way around verifying a copy of Windows
| XP. Although in the past I may have saved up and purchased a legal copy
| of XP, I am not able to do this at this point in time.
|
| The simple question at hand is; will I be able to use Microsoft's 'Auto
| Update' to receive updates?
|
| Will my system not be recognized-- translating that I would simply do
| without that added luxury? Would it possibly crash both of my XP
| systems, (the one which was legally verified, and the other which was
| not)?
|
|
| It is rather depressing really, that certain things must cost so much,
| especially when we have no control over it. I ask everyone who responds
| to anything concerning licensing, simply be polite and understand that
| not everyone has the ability to go out and purchase another license.
| (.. I have noticed many rude and hotheaded responses to people on
| numerous threads.)
 
J

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

All of what you say is fine, but no one in these newsgroups can authorize
you to violate the agreement.
Perhaps there is an agency in your community that can help.
Most colleges and universities have licensing agreements with Microsoft that
sell Windows, Office and other Microsoft products often about 90% off
retail, check with their IT department..
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top