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
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| 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.)